Program for Positive Youth Development Announced

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C.- A community-based crime prevention pilot program focusing on supporting positive youth development through inclusive and caring communities is being implemented in Prince George.  The City of Prince George will receive approximately $90,000 annually during the life of the pilot program, for up to three years, from the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

The Communities That Care (CTC) program is a research-based and outcome-focused approach that encourages a community to work together to promote positive development of children/youth and prevent adolescent problem behaviour. CTC targets predictors of problem behaviour and proactively implements long-term plans to address the predictors and behaviour.  CTC is customized to address the unique challenges, needs and resources of each community. 

"The City of Prince George is delighted to be working in partnership with the Province to implement the Communities That Care pilot program," says Prince George Mayor Dan Rogers.  "The City recognizes the importance of integrated community planning and supports a "crime prevention through social development" approach.  Communities That Care, with its focus on protecting at-risk children and youth, will be an important component of an overall public safety strategy."

The program will be managed by the City of Prince George through a Key Leader's Board made up of senior people from business, health and government and a Community Board consisting of front line service provider representatives. This project will merge with the development of the City's Social Development Strategy - specifically for the development of a public safety strategy which has four components including the prevention of crime.

The Prince George program is the fourth of six pilot programs to be announced. Williams Lake and Anahim Lake also recently announced a similar Communities That Care initiative.

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