Local police are partnering with a non-profit group to help struggling youth in our community.
Grenville County OPP has partnered with RNJ Youth Services, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse, and other developmental problems, for its “Intersections” program. The program is meant to help at-risk children pre-emptively reduce their involvement with police.
The program involves partners referring young people to the program. Members of RNJ Youth Services make contact with the child and their family, and based on the meeting, make recommendations for the child to work with other organizations like Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health.
According to a 2017 presentation by RNJ Youth Services, 90 per cent of children that go through the Intersections program follow up with the recommendations given to them in their meeting, and 78 per cent have no contact with police within 3 months of being referred to the program.
Other partners for the program include the Upper Canada District School Board, the Catholic School Board of Eastern Ontario, and the Lanark County OPP detachment. Visit the RNJ Youth Services website for more information.
