On September 20, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs announced more than $3.5 million in federal funding to reduce incidents of bullying, violence and victimization among Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ youth in Kent County, New Brunswick.
The Solidarity and Friendly Engagement (SAFE) program will deliver direct interventions through school-based presentations and workshops, peer support groups, individual and family counselling, and referrals to partnering agencies. The interventions will promote the use of community-based protection measures to address risk factors associated with bullying, victimization and self-harm.
The SAFE program will be delivered by the Kent Violence Prevention Centre, an agency which coordinates all victim services in the Kent County region, serving youth ages 12-17 and their parents. In addition, two youth-led advisory committees focused on Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ youth will provide guidance and feedback to ensure that interventions are responsive to the needs of participating youth.
Funding for the SAFE program comes from Public Safety Canada's Crime Prevention Action Fund, which provides funding to support evidence-based crime prevention initiatives that address factors associated with crime among vulnerable groups.
Quotes
"With this investment in the SAFE program, we're supporting the excellent work being done by the Kent Violence Prevention Centre to reduce the incidents of bullying and violence among Indigenous and 2SLGBTQI+ youth. I want to thank everyone involved for their critical work in keeping vulnerable communities safe."
- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
"The SAFE program, funded under the Crime Prevention Action Fund, will allow the Kent Violence Prevention Centre to help two minority communities that struggle daily for equity, respect, and non-violence. This project is a great fit with our vision of a society in which no form of violence is tolerated, and our mission to ensure that all residents of southeastern New Brunswick can live in safety and free from violence. This innovative project will bring us one step closer to equality and protecting the rights of 2SLGBTQI+ and Indigenous youth in our regions."
- Lise Savoie, President of the Board of Directors, Kent Violence Prevention Centre
Quick facts
- The Kent Violence Prevention Centre has a strong partnership with the Université de Moncton, which will work with the Kent Violence Prevention Centre to conduct research into the violence prevention activities of the project. Knowledge acquired will be shared with youth, youth-serving professionals, educators, parents and the general public.
- The Crime Prevention Action Fund has an annual funding allocation of $35 million per year.
- The Crime Prevention Action Fund operates as part of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which supports the implementation and evaluation of local, targeted crime prevention initiatives with the objective of developing and sharing knowledge of what works to prevent and reduce crime among at-risk populations and vulnerable communities.
