A provincial grant is helping a Chatham-Kent program’s mission to help youth facing challenges in their lives.
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Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent has received $239,300 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to operate its Positive Strides program, which helps young people with their emotional well-being and social interactions.
Positive Strides is an early intervention and educational model that involves engaging activities, as well as one-to-one, individualized sessions.
The free service is available to any child or youth ages seven to 17 in their community, with program staff traveling across Chatham-Kent.
During its recent annual general meeting, the organization touched on the program, as well as the grant making it possible.
Positive Strides consists of eight modules dealing with the real-life issues that children and youth struggle with.
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Andrea Robertson, executive director, said the investment has impacted the lives of 438 children and youth in the community since 2020.
“(It’s) been able to expand and enhance our intervention and education programming,” she said. “We were able to grow to recruit and retain dedicated, passionate staff in the program.”
Robertson added this helps youth make “better choices in their school, social and home” environments.
“This creates a safer, more effective place to live, learn and grow for everyone,” she said.
Tricia Khan, a member of the grant review team, said the aim is to help “build healthier and vibrant” communities across Ontario.
The Trillium foundation, an agency of the provincial government, invested more than $110 million last year into 1,022 community projects and partnerships.
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“The immense value of this grant lies not only in its financial contribution but in the broader endorsement it signifies, validating the critical importance of restorative justice initiatives in empowering vulnerable individuals and fostering inclusive communities,” Trevor Jones, MPP for Chatham-Kent-Leamington , said in a release.
“Through this grant and the Positive Strides program, we are able to provide these young individuals with the tools and resources they need to heal, grow and thrive.”
For more information on Restorative Justice Chatham-Kent and its programs, visit https://rjck.org/
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