The Regina Intersectoral Partnership - TRiP

Brief Description

The Regina Intersectoral Partnerships (TRiP) is a three-component, multi-sector, collaborative and risk-driven initiative designed to improve community safety and well-being in Regina, Saskatchewan.  These components include the Children 11 and Under Initiative (11UI), and twelve & up Initiative (twelve&up), and the Rapid Human Service Response to Acutely Elevated Risk (Hub).

This dedicated group provides the most appropriate, culturally relevant supports and services with at risk children, youth and families. This collaborative approach increases awareness of need, reduces duplication of services and provides an efficient and effective use of resources

Goals

The main goals of the TRiP program are to:

• Generate risk reduction, and ultimately reduce vulnerability to children and their families;
• Mobilize interventions of support to prevent crisis and harm;
• Reduce barriers to pro-social activities and promote school engagement for youth; and
• Promote positive behaviour change for offenders.

Clientele

The appropriate clientele for the TRiP program are youth under the age 11 or between the ages 12-18 that have shown expressions of self-harm, are unable to form healthy relationships with peers, and are involved in criminal activity and gang association.

Youth are referred to the program by schools or other concerned parties. Referrals can be made if the child/youth are in a position of vulnerability based on these elements:

• The child/youth exhibits multi-faceted behavioural challenges;
• The child/youth is showing or is affected by composite risk factors;
• Previous engagements in services have shown little progress in the child/youth; and
• The child/youth has experienced personal, situational, and/or institutional barriers to services and support.

Core Components

The TRiP program components^Footnote1 include the:

• 11 and Under Initiative (11UI): The 11 and Under Initiative (11UI) is a partnership aimed at supporting children under the age of 12 who are exhibiting behaviour that put them at risk for criminal involvement or are at increased risk for victimization. Through early identification of risk factors and targeted intervention, the challenges faced by referred children and their families will be addressed and their potential optimized;
• Twelve&up Initiative (twelve&up): The twelve&up Initiative is also a risk intervention model that functions on the same principles as the 11UI. This component of TRiP focuses on young people aged 12 to 18. Recidivism is an additional crime issue dealt with for this age group; and
• Hub: The Hub is a discussion between multiple government agencies that deliver human services taking place twice per week for an hour and a half. The Hub, however, is only a discussion and does not have any actual case management role or authority; case management and service delivery fully remain with the agencies. The Hub discussion focuses on providing immediate coordinated and integrated responses through mobilization of existing resources to address situations facing individuals, families or environments with acutely elevated risk factors, as recognized across a range of service providers.

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: TRiP is governed by a steering committee made up of executive leaders from the participating agencies. The role of TRiP’s steering committee is to provide strategic vision and organizational guidance to TRiP’s Intersectoral Collaboration Team. The team, responsible for implementing the 11UI and twelve&up initiatives, consists of a coordinator, initiative strategist, administrative support, referral and intake officer, case manager, school engagement officer, 2 school liaisons, 3 sector representatives, 1 post-secondary intern, and 2 casual support workers.
• Partnerships: Current service delivery partners include Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Services, Regina Police Service, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, Regina Public School Division and Regina Catholic School Division.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: The TRiP Needs Based Risk Assessment Tool is used to help staff determine the overall level of risk of new candidates.
• Materials & resources: Critical resources for the TRiP process include the Caregiver Referral Form, the Agency Referral Form, the Caregiver Intake Guide, the Child and Youth Intake Guide, and a school background report. Additional end-of-service instruments include the Caregiver Exit Survey, Child Exit Survey, and post-TRiP school background report.

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

The TRiP initiative is implemented in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

In 2015, TRiP approached the Living Skies Centre for Social Inquiry to conduct an evaluation of the two active components of the model: 11UI and twelve&up. During the summer of 2015, consultations between TRiP and the evaluator highlighted the priorities for the evaluation. These included measurements of program activities, outputs, and outcomes; as well as benefits of this process to clients, human service providers, and their agencies.

Between October 1, 2015 and May 30, 2017, qualitative and quantitative data were gathered by TRiP staff using the program’s reporting process. Additional data were collected by the evaluator through interviews, surveys, and observation administered by the evaluator.

Results from this evaluation showed the following:

       

• Of approximately 217 clients,^Footnote2 58.6% were engaged in services; 76.7% overcame service barriers; 48.8% engaged in pro-social community activities; 54.1% reduced parenting concerns; and 62.6% showed an improvement in behaviour.
• Among 53 clients with school attendance problems (and available data), 64.2% achieved either “improved” or “good” attendance. In contrast, only 5.7% clients had “poor” or “sporadic” attendance following TRiP support.
• Among the 148 clients with available data, 82% showed a “moderate” to “strong” reduction in aggregate vulnerability.
• Caregiver feedback indicated an increase in child/youth confidence and self-control, as well as a reduction in aggression, violence, and anti-social behaviour.

For more information, refer to the Nilson (2017) publication.

Cost Information

No information available.

References

Nilson, C. (2017). Multi-Sectoral Coordinated Support : An in-depth Analysis of The Regina intersectoral Partnership’s Integrated Approach to Reducing Vulnerability Among Children and Youth. Living Sky Centre for Social Inquiry. Available at: http://tripregina.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FINAL-TRiP-Evaluation-Report-October-2017.pdf

TRiP – The Regina Intersectoral Partnership – Brochure. Available from: http://tripregina.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/TRiP-Brochure-March-2016.pdf

For more information on this program, contact:

Regina Intersectoral Partnership (TRiP)
1600 4th avenue
Regina, Saskatchewan, S4R 8C8
Telephone: (306) 523 3024
E-mail: tripstaff1@gmail.com
Website: http://tripregina.ca/