2021/2022 ERASE School District Mentorship Grant Program

Brief Description

The 2021/22 ERASE School District (SD) Mentorship Grant program provides funding to support individual and group mentoring initiatives designed to counter gang recruitment and associated gang lifestyle related risks across British Columbia (BC). The grants support SDs to develop and implement local programs and initiatives that meet the interests and needs of youth ages 12-19 (either a new initiative or to enhance work that is already underway in a SD).

Goals

The main goals of the 2021/2022 ERASE School District Mentorship Grant Program are to:

• Counter gang recruitment and lifestyle;
• Reinforce healthy relationships and values; and
• Provide timely and targeted interventions

Clientele

The mentorship programs target youth (12-19 years old) who are at risk of gang recruitment or are gang affiliated. The students are referred by school-based teams. School Districts are responsible for designing and implementing their own mentorship program that is tailored to the needs and unique challenges of students and can range from a culturally focused program to a program with an imbedded mental health and addictions component. Therefore, population served varies from school district to school district and includes students from all backgrounds.

Core Components

The programs are designed and delivered by school districts during school year 2021/22.

Program components differ based on the school district implementing them. School Districts are responsible for designing and implementing their own mentorship program that is tailored to the needs and unique challenges of students that have been identified by a school-based team of student safety and wellness educators.

The grants were provided based on an indexed assessment of needs and unique challenges to develop individual and/or group mentorship programs that counter gang recruitment and lifestyle and reinforce healthy relationships and values. Additionally, there is a compulsory reporting requirement to ensure that the ERASE SD Mentorship Grant program is achieving desired impacts, public safety outcomes, and socio-economic return on investment. 

Implementation Information

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

• Organizational requirements: The program is open to all 60 SDs across BC.
• Partnerships: Partners are determined by each individual SD based on the needs and challenges of their target audience.
• Training and technical assistance: Training/technical assistance needs are determined by each individual SD.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Needs related to materials and resources are determined by each individual SD.

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 program was implemented during the 2021/22 school year in 24 school districts across BC.

The program is administered by the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General’s Policing and Security Branch.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

An evaluation is currently in progress.

Cost Information

The total cost for the 2021/22 ERASE SD Mentorship grant portfolio was $486,232, awarded to 24 school districts.

References

There is no Canadian reference available at this time.

For more information on this program, contact:

Serious & Organized Crime Division

Policing and Security Branch

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General

405-815 Hornby Street

Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 1T9

Telephone: (236) 455-1631

Email: SOC.hub@gov.bc.ca