submitted by the OPP
A coalition of Local Community Youth Agencies has been formed to establish a multi-agency approach to the recent troubling incidents involving young persons in Brockville and the surrounding community in recent weeks.
The first meeting was held Thursday October 23, at the Front Avenue Resource Centre, in Brockville. Representatives included: The Brockville Police Services, Leeds and Grenville detachments of the Ontario Provincial Police, Upper Canada District School Board, Leeds Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, Lanark Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health, Family and Children’s Services of Lanark Leeds and Grenville, Victim Services of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville General Hospital Mental Health Crisis Team, RNJ Youth Services, Children’s Mental Health of Leeds and Grenville, Leeds and Grenville Interval House, Probation, Leeds and Grenville Paramedic Services and the Bartholomew Street Community Hub.
The newly formed coalition is working together to identify possible causes of the recent upswing of violent incidents involving youth and to develop both short term and long term strategies to change these behaviours. Multi-agencies are working together to develop a common strategy to eliminate these violent occurrences.
Additionally, the group has identified the need to provide services for everyone affected by the incidents including the victims and their families, other students who witnessed the incidents and are now fearful, as well as those youths and their families who have been involved in the occurrences. A multi-disciplinary approach and strategy allows for the each agency to focus their resources on their area of expertise and communicating with community partners to provide the best possible response to the individual needs.
A second meeting has been tentatively scheduled for after the municipal elections with the hope of having community leaders of the new councils present to participate.
