Capital hosts crime conference

The National Crime Prevention Council is seeking to obtain guidance form the community on its new family-based model for crime prevention. An Edmonton workshop conference was hosted on Jan. 21 by the Edmonton Community Foundation at the Westin Hotel.

"We know that crime prevention, to be effective, must be a partnership between parents and educators as well as front-line workers and the police," said foundation executive director Doug MCNally, who is also the co-chair of the prevention and children committee. "Our next step is to put that theory into practice at the community level."

The workshop session had two objectives. All of the groups attending provided implementation advice for a newly published model called Preventing Crime by Investing in Families. This model is aimed at families with children under six years of age. The council also asked groups to provide a reality check on the draft of a second model which concentrates on children from ages six to twelve.

Among the 30 local community organizations represented were the Nechi Centre, Poundmaker Lodge, Bent Arrow, Native Counseling Services and the Yellowhead Tribal Council.

"At the crime prevention council, we are somewhat removed from front-line delivery," said McNally, "so these folks at the front line are very helpful. On the 21st, we had an excellent exchange, and received very positive and supportive feedback from all the groups.

"As far as the under-six model is concerned, it recognizes that a lot of programs already exist," he continued. "The Edmonton workshop identified services available here, and gaps where they exist.

"A typical gap occurs with Head Start programs," McNally said. "In Edmonton, there is space, including Aboriginal Head Start funding, for 412 pre-schoolers. Workshop attendees identified a need for 3,000 spaces. Once these kinds of service gaps are identified, it is much easier to address them.

"With the draft program for the six- to 12-year olds, participants were able to assist us by suggesting additions, things that needed more emphasis and so on," McNally explained. "Now the job becomes revising the model to reflect this input."

The National Crime Prevention Council is holding similar c community workshops in Prince George, B.C., Toronto, Montreal and Halifax.

Preventing Crime by Investing in Families has been published and copies can be obtained through the Edmonton Community Foundation. The second model is being revised and will be published once all the workshop responses have been received. A third component is now being prepared to examine crime prevention in the 12- to 18-year age group.