Wraparound Surrey: A Youth Driven Plan for Gang Violence Prevention

Brief Description

Wraparound Surrey utilizes the Wraparound approach which offers a comprehensive and holistic method to respond when children or youth experience serious mental health or behavioural challenges. Wraparound Surrey centers its work with youth in frequent contact with law enforcement, at-risk of gang involvement, youth who display gang associated behaviours, and those currently involved in gangs. This work places the youth and family at the center of care planning, and with a collective effort from a team of professionals and natural supports, a collaborative and individualized plan of care is devised. A Wraparound Surrey case manager supports the thoughtful implementation of this plan, monitors its efficacy, and continues to work towards the positive development of the youth over time by providing pro-social alternatives, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

The program is centered on community mobilization; conflict resolution; counselling and social work; family therapy; job employment; leadership and youth development; mentoring; skills training; parent training; school-based strategies; social emotional learning; substance prevention/treatment; and truancy prevention.

Goals

The main goals of Wraparound Surrey are to:

• Prevent gang-related crime in the community through the application of a Wraparound approach for supporting youth in frequent contact with law enforcement, at risk of gang involvement, youth displaying gang-associated behaviours, and those currently in gangs;
• To empower these youth to better understand the root of their behaviours and address these issues by putting them back in charge of their lives so that they don’t feel powerless and helpless, in turn allowing them to direct their own change process and evoking the idea that life can be different; and
• To provide these youth with opportunity to engage in proactive, prosocial opportunities that allow for personal and professional development and alternatives to find belonging and means of earning a living/providing for themselves and their loved ones.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for Wraparound Surrey are youth of all gender identities between the ages of 11 and 18 years old who are in frequent contact with law enforcement, at risk of gang involvement, display gang-associated behaviours, or are currently involved in gangs.

Participants are referred to Wraparound Surrey by school staff, members of the RCMP, and other community-based organizations. To participate in the program, youth must be enrolled in Surrey’s School District #36.

Core Components

Wraparound Surrey consists of:

• Tailored care plans: Each plan utilizes the principles of the Wraparound approach, identifying the specific risk and protective factors of a youth, as well as an inventory of family and community supports and resources that can be accessed. Each plan is closely monitored for efficacy and revised as needed. 

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: The lead organization must have solid skills in outreach, intake and assessment, case planning, and program delivery.
• Partnerships: The success of Wraparound Surrey depends on its partnerships with the Surrey School Board, the Surrey RCMP, the City of Surrey and other community-based organizations.
• Training and technical assistance: Staff must be trained in the Wraparound approach and the appropriate risk assessment tools.
• Risk assessment tools: Youth are evaluated using a variety of assessment tools both validated and local.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

Public Safety Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy provided funding to implement Wraparound Surrey in Surrey (British Columbia) between 2008 and 2013. Wraparound Surrey was implemented by the Surrey School District #36.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

As part of Public Safety Canada’s funding, an outcome evaluation study^Footnote1 of Wraparound Surrey was conducted in 2009 to 2011 by R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. A quasi-experimental matched comparison group design that incorporated multiple lines of evidence was used to evaluate Wraparound Surrey. Pre- and post-testing was also incorporated to assess the net impact of the program on the criminal activity of the participants.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

• The evaluation showed a significant decline in the negative police contacts of the participant group relative to the comparison group. Specifically, it showed a 67% decrease in negative police contacts among Wraparound Surrey participants. Negative police contacts began to decline from the time of entry to the program with the average number of negative contacts reduced from 0.42 to 0.14 per month. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-program average (M = 0.42, SD = .39113) and the post-program average (M = 0.14, SD = 0.23519) for the participant group (t (44) = -6.268, p<.001). In contrast, the comparison group showed an increase in negative police contacts, from 0.46 to 0.70 per month.

For more information, refer to the National Crime Prevention Centre’s (2013) publication.

Cost Information

Currently, the cost per youth involved in Wraparound Surrey is approximately $7,700 (CAD) per youth per year.

References

National Crime Prevention Centre. (2013). The Surrey Wraparound: A Youth Driven Plan for Gang Violence Prevention. Evaluation Summary. Ottawa, ON: Public Safety Canada. Available from: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/srr-wrprnd/index-eng.aspx

R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. (2011). An Evaluation of the Abbotsford Youth Crime Prevention and Surrey Anti-Gang Wraparound Projects. Final Evaluation Report. Submitted to the National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada (Unpublished report).

For more information on this program, contact:

Rob Rai

Surrey School District #36 – Safe Schools Department

14033 92 Avenue

Surrey, British Columbia V3V 0B7

Telephone: (604) 595-6195

Website: https://www.surreyschools.ca/EducationalPrograms/Pages/WRAP.aspx