Foundation Provides Alternative Pathways for At-Risk Youth

In the fight against crime and violence among at-risk youth, the MultiCare Youth Foundation (MYF) is making remarkable strides with its evidence-based programmes.

Aligning its initiatives with the Government’s national security and education objectives, the MYF is dedicated to addressing the root causes of youth crime, while providing essential life skills and employment opportunities.

In an interview with JIS News, Executive Director of the MYF, Alicia Glasgow Gentles, emphasises that the Foundation’s programmes are designed in direct alignment with government priorities, ensuring an integrated approach to national crime-reduction strategies.

“In all our partnerships, whether through the EU Bridge Project or other donor-supported initiatives, our primary objective is to support the Government’s policies on crime and violence prevention,” she explains.

Mrs. Glasgow Gentles adds that a key feature of the MYF’s methodology is its public health approach, which ensures that all programmes are evidence-based and focus on reducing risk levels among youth participants.

The Foundation particularly targets high-risk youth, including those in juvenile detention centres, equipping them with cognitive behavioural therapy interventions, life skills training, and alternative pathways to avoid a life of crime.

Beyond intervention, the MYF offers comprehensive wraparound services, including mentorship, vocational training, and work experience.

These initiatives aim to provide unattached youth – those not engaged in education, training, or employment – with sustainable opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Mrs. Glasgow Gentles further explains that “we are committed to delivering programmes to the young people who are not just the primary perpetrators but also the primary victims of crime and violence, because not all our young people would have had skirmishes with the law or been in trouble for acts of crime or violence. So, we are also looking at those who are, based on their environmental and other factors, predisposed to getting into trouble”.

“Everything we do takes on a holistic approach. We provide not just the social programming but the supportive ecosystem to allow young people to make better choices with the opportunities that they have and, of course, develop personal and professional competences that will allow them to be employable and to seek other opportunities for them to create livelihoods. Once the livelihood part is in place, then they’re able to have better family and community life,” she adds.

The EU Bridge Project is a cornerstone initiative that has enabled the MYF to collaborate with key stakeholders, such as the Department of Correctional Services, Crime Stop Jamaica, and the Joan Duncan Foundation.

These partnerships enhance capacity-building efforts for school administrators, community leaders, and youth workers.

Additionally, the Dispute Resolution Foundation plays a vital role in promoting community mediation and embedding conflict resolution skills at the grassroots level.

One innovative collaboration with Crime Stop Jamaica involves training young people in photography and filmmaking.

“The idea is that they will use these creative skills to advocate for change and develop messages that promote positive transformation in their communities,” Mrs. Glasgow Gentles highlights.

The Foundation’s work is also strongly supported by the Ministries of National Security and Education, Skills, Youth & Information, both of which have been instrumental in ensuring that the MYF’s interventions reach the most vulnerable populations.

The Ministry of Education, through its Inter-Ministerial School Support Strategy, guides the selection of schools for participation in MYF’s initiatives, ensuring a data-driven approach to implementation.

“In many cases, we consult with the Ministry before selecting those schools to go into, because they have the situational analysis of what needs to happen in those schools in order to create transformation, so we work on multiple levels with the Government in order to make sure that we are aligned to their priorities,” Mrs. Glasgow Gentles notes.

The Executive Director further acknowledges that community involvement also serves as a cornerstone of the Foundation’s work, with local liaisons playing a critical role in recruitment, case management, and programme delivery.

“Without our community coordinators, we could not achieve the level of impact we have today,” she says, adding that “they play a critical role in ensuring smooth programme execution and encouraging participation among the youth”.

In terms of measuring success and ensuring sustainability, Mrs. Glasgow Gentles shares that effectiveness of MYF’s initiatives is assessed using the Citizen Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) targeting tool, which measures reductions in youth risk levels, changes in attitudes and behaviours, and increased goal aspirations.

To ensure sustainability, the MYF has adopted a model of training trainers from local groups to continue delivering life skills programmes beyond the funding period.

“We train trainers and provide them with the curriculum, enabling them to continue the work even after the project ends,” Mrs. Glasgow Gentles notes.

As the MYF continues its efforts, the Foundation remains steadfast in its mission to equip young people with the tools to make positive life choices.

By fostering personal and professional development, the MYF is not only steering youth away from crime but also contributing to a safer and more prosperous Jamaica.

Through strategic partnerships, innovative programmes, and a holistic approach, the MYF is creating lasting change – one young life at a time.