Parents know their children best.  Illegal behavior by youth is not always just about committing a crime.  Sometimes there are other issues involved.  Sometimes crimes have to do with frustration, or anger management issues, or mental health problems.  Sometimes crimes are a new behaviour, and sometimes repeated. 
Parents are often the key to sharing information with the group that may be helpful in deciding upon tasks for the youth to complete that would help him or her to stay out of future illegal behavior.

In most cases, the answer is “yes”.  Victims of youth crime are encouraged to attend the meeting when they feel comfortable doing so, to share how the crime affected them, and have input into how the youth is dealt with.   We encourage victims to bring a support person with them, a family member or friend, or we can arrange for someone to be their support at the meeting. 

When a victim of a crime feels that such a meeting would be too uncomfortable, they are offered other participation options, which may include writing a letter to the youth to be read at the meeting, or sharing their feelings with the Coordinator who can share them at the meeting.

 

Absolutely.  All Committee members sign an Oath of Confidentiality and will not share youth information.
The YJC Coordinator will explain to the youth in his or her first meeting about who will and will not have access to his or her information. 
R.E.A.C.H. is a large organization with many programs in Norfolk County.  This is helpful because YJC’s can make referrals to other programs run by R.E.A.C.H., but this will only happen with the youth’s permission.  YJC’s are part of our Youth Services Division and information will not be shared with anyone outside of that division of R.E.A.C.H. without the youth’s permission.

 YJC’s are comprised of a wide range of community members.  These volunteers can be students, professionals or stay-at-homes.  They can have experience with youth, or experience with business, or no experience at all. They can come from anywhere in Norfolk County.

Committee meetings will be held across the county, and volunteers will be selected to attend the meetings based on their geographic community, as well as other factors.  Not all committee members will attend all meetings.

A time commitment is required of one or two evenings a month, plus training, which will be provided at the beginning and then ongoing.

Volunteers must undergo a screening procedure that includes a police check, a CAS records check and Sexual Offender records check.

Anyone interested in becoming a committee volunteer can call Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H. at one of the numbers below and ask to speak to our Volunteer Coordinator.