Ministry to Open YICs to Assist At-Risk Youth
By: , May 7, 2015The Key Point:
The Facts
- Youth Information Centres (YICs) will be established in Hanover and Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
- The Ministry aims to place greater emphasis on engaging at-risk youth, which include unattached and out-of-school youth with maladaptive behaviours, and delinquent youth registered within the school system.
The Full Story
The Ministry of Youth and Culture is working to improve the services offered to youth, to increase their engagement in society.
Through the establishment of two Youth Information Centres (YICs) in Hanover and Spanish Town, St. Catherine, the Ministry aims to place greater emphasis on engaging at-risk youth, which include unattached and out-of-school youth with maladaptive behaviours, and delinquent youth registered within the school system.
This was explained by Minister of Youth and Culture, Hon. Lisa Hanna, during her contribution to the 2015/16 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 6.
The Minister informed the House that the centres, which are slated to be opened in June this year, will be part of a reintegration programme. This programme will be implemented within the YICs, using a multi-sectoral approach to address the issues being faced by this particular target group.
“The programme will seek to accomplish the following objectives: reduction in crime among unattached youth; reduction in delinquent behaviours in secondary school; and increased self-acceptance, self-efficacy and worth among young people,” Miss Hanna said.