Approx. $2.5M over 5 yrs. from from the Youth Justice Fund Support to Ryerson University for its “National Indigenous Courtworkers: Indigenous Youth-Centered Justice Project (IYJP)“. The goal of this project is to improve outcomes for Indigenous youth who are involved in both the child welfare and youth criminal justice system. In partnership with Indigenous Courtworkers in various parts of the country the IYJP will pilot innovative community-based projects over five years, in multiple jurisdictions. The IYJP will conduct individual casework with Indigenous youth with both youth criminal justice and child welfare involvement.

With the goal of reducing recidivism and the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in the youth and mainstream criminal justice systems, this work will promote healing, reparation and reintegration of Indigenous youth offenders. Funding for this project will help reduce or eliminate custody for Indigenous youth, reduce time spent in the youth criminal justice system, and prevent youth from moving to the adult system.