Youth at risk fail at school, have mental health issues and get in trouble with the law. Would they be better served if all three systems – education, mental health and justice – worked together?

That question animated discussion at a recent forum organized by the 91ŃÇÉ« Centre for Education and Community (YCEC). Sponsored by 91ŃÇɫ’s Faculty of Education and the Department of Justice, the March 18 forum, called "Youth, Mental Health, and the Justice System: An Educational Concern", brought together academics and practitioners from universities, community-based organizations, school boards, the health sector, the justice system and government agencies.

Participants talked about the challenges of helping wayward youth and recommended ways to integrate systems. The recommendations will be featured in a report to be shared with the Department of Justice and are expected to form the basis of future changes.

, director of the Community Health Systems Resource Group, , acted as forum facilitator. In his opening remarks, he said young people can experience one or all of three factors – school failure, poor mental health and trouble with the law. “We know that certain groups are more likely to be in conflict with the law, and that there are risk factors,” he said, and encouraged participants to “dig into your experiences today and help us to understand how we can address issues of equity, so that we have not only equal access but also equal outcomes for all our youth.”

The forum began with a panel featuring , lawyer and education professor at 91ŃÇÉ«; , director of the Centre for Children Committing Offences & Program Development, Child Development Institute; , Distinguished Research Fellow in 91ŃÇɫ’s Faculty of Education; and Llewellyn Joseph, medical director of the Regional Outpatient Disruptive Behaviors Program at , and YCEC Advisory Council member.

Shanahan opened by exploring the question: “Can we keep disruptive youth in the education system?” She offered a legal perspective on the discipline of wayward youth in schools, acknowledging the limitations of the law and education legislation that emphasizes safety in schools. She called for alternative approaches to dealing with wayward behavior in youth.

Augimeri described her work with “the forgotten kids” (aged six to 12 years) and “overshadowed girls” within this demographic, using the model, an internationally acclaimed, evidence-based program that identifies and works with children under 12 at risk of becoming involved (or already involved) with the law. She said “there is hope” because early intervention strategies tend to have the biggest impact on the younger age group.

Britzman discussed the fragile interaction of youth, law, desire and mental health. She offered philosophical and psychoanalytical views of adolescence and education, drawing from the work of Helene Deutsch, François Roustang, Anna Freud and Julia Kristeva.

Joseph, an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist, provided an historical overview of the Canadian policy landscape vis-à-vis mental health, education and the law. Through case study examples, he explained the challenges of intervening with youth in conflict with the law. “One of the dilemmas is trying to determine whether that acting out behaviour presented in adolescence, or even early adolescence, is early bipolar disorder and should be labeled as mental health, or should be considered criminal behaviour.”

During ensuing round-table discussions, participants suggested improvements to all three systems – education, mental health and justice – and agreed that the greatest need for change exists where these systems intersect. They stressed repeatedly that the needs of youth can be met only if the three systems work together.  When that happens, said one participant, “we can create an environment where youth feel that people care about them.”

Participants deplored the punitive approach and incarceration for young people favoured by the government and in social discourse. Those working in medical and justice systems noted the increase in mentally ill individuals in prisons and detention facilities, and the limited capacity of the youth criminal justice system to meet the needs of youth, particularly those facing mental health challenges.

Lack of trust between youth and police is a significant factor in setting youth on life trajectories that involve repeated conflict with the law, said participants. “Youth from certain communities are being over-policed,” said one participant. Those communities tend to be where there are large concentrations of people of colour or Aboriginal populations. Participants stressed the need for all three systems to identify and address systemic racism as it affects young people.

To be successful, programs need to be multidimensional, target kids in elementary school, be consistent and sustainable, and engage community, youth and families, said participants. Programs need to foster strong, trusting relationships between youth and adults, and offer a variety of supports, including academic, health, social, recreational and cultural, they said.

Legislation must not punish but help and support young people who get in trouble, insisted participants. Youth must be encouraged to stay in school to improve their chances of success and avoid conflict with the law. Teachers must be trained and schools given resources to address mental health issues of children and youth at risk, they concluded.

The forum was organized by Carl James, YCEC director, and , dean of 91ŃÇɫ’s Faculty of Education.

Facilitating discussions were 91ŃÇÉ« education Professors Susan Dion, Nombuso Dlamini, John Ippolito, James and Shanahan; and geography Professor Ranu Basu.

Round-table discussions featured members of the YCEC advisory council: Mary Anne Chambers, Cheryl Jackson, Llewellyn Joseph, Amos Key Jr., Cheryl Prescod and Chandra Turner.

Taking notes were graduate students Melanie Bourke, Selom Chapman-Nyaho, Rebeca Gutierrez Estrada, Danielle Kwan-Lafond, Krysta Pandolfi and Samuel Tecle.

With files from Louise Gormley, research assistant, 91ŃÇÉ« Centre for Education & Community

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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When Dr. Rai Reece pays a visit to a young female prisoner, she often sees someone who shouldn't be there.

Not because their crime is excusable, but because somewhere along the way, the system or their community has failed them.

"I started working with at-risk youth at age 18, working with only young women and now adult women, as well," said Reece, a professor of women's studies at 91ŃÇÉ«. "What I've learned about these young women is there are always core issues or factors that impact their lives and drive them to this lifestyle. Those factors can be abuse, racism, sexism or even peer pressure."

Reece spoke Tuesday morning during Day 2 of the Mobilize Barrie conference at the Dorian Parker Centre in Sunnidale Park.

The conference is aimed at creating a safer community, while helping at-risk youth get the services and opportunities they need to stay away from drugs, gangs and a life of crime.

Reece's talk focused on young women in the prison system. She discussed how community organizations and legal authorities need to dig deeper to find the root of what makes these girls and women resort to crime and violence.

She said incarceration isn't always the answer, and without help overcoming their issues, these girls and women can slip through the cracks.

"There's a lot of talk of an influx of girls becoming more violent and joining gangs, but that's just public fear and perception," Reece said. "Statistics show there's actually a decreasing number. But, we are seeing a large trend of young girls engaging in sexual activity very early and they are seen as bad girls for what's being called deviant behaviour."

Being viewed this way is one trigger for young girls to lash out or invert and start making bad choices.

"Other reasons are physical, emotional or cultural violence that these young women are afraid to report," Reece said. "When girls are alienated, they retreat and stop talking about their problems. But the problems continue to affect their lives and behaviours."

Reece said if authorities and counsellors would only start asking more in-depth questions of these girls before they are charged and incarcerated, they might find underlying issues that these girls need help with to stop their outlandish behaviour.

"Once you empower young women, they will open up and feel free to talk about issues that lead them to this point," Reece said. "Young girls are highly more vulnerable on the streets than young men, and are subjected to sexual assaults and sex-work for money. These can have damaging effects on them.

"I've created girl-only focus groups so girls can open up about their experiences among their own gender," she added. "Service providers aimed at young women need to go to the sources, ask women what they want and need for assistance. Then, do an assessment to see how you can give them what they need."

Reece said police officers, counsellors and even parents need to consider mental health issues or crimes of poverty as reasons young girls commit crimes. Actions could be taken out of desperation.

"If we don't address systemic issues or crimes of poverty, these young people will quickly move from the youth justice system into the federal system," Reece said. "It doesn't excuse their crimes or violence, but some of these young offenders never really had a chance at a good life."

. . .

Reece also spoke on the dysfunction of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).

"Penalizing youth for non-violent crimes and putting them in jail won't make them better people," she said. "The YCJA is not working. It's not keeping youth out of the federal system.

"If you are charged and are 17 years old plus a day, you are considered an adult and transferred into the federal justice system," she added. "As well, young people are not aware of their rights under the YCJA and aren't being made aware of the important information."

// The complete article is available on the .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Wiliams with files courtesy of YFile – 91ŃÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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