Connections is a community-based, court ordered monitoring program for both males and females aged 12 to 18, which provides an effective alternative to the incarceration of youth. Youth must be willing to follow a court order, attend school or a day program, and be deemed minimal risk to the community. The program offers, as appropriate to the individual youth’s situation:

• Short Term Residential Care – 24-hour supervision in a Residential Care Home.
• Intense Home Supervision – 24-hour supervision in the youth’s own home.
• Curfew Monitoring – monitoring court ordered curfews, both pre and post dispositions.

Connections staff accept referrals, gather relevant information for individual cases and assist the youth and their family through the court process. Staff are also available to assist with court procedures if youth are arrested on the weekend. Connections staff liase with community professionals such as Youth Justice Workers, Social Services, Teachers, the Police and Lawyers with the common purpose of monitoring and supporting the youth to adhere to the conditions of the youth’s court order. Staff also liase with the family of Connections youth.

Family support and involvement is a valuable and necessary component of the Connections Program.

Connections operates with a fundamental belief in the positive intent of young people and their ability to grow towards a healthy lifestyle.

.Referrals to the Connections Program can be made by self-referral, family or parent/caregiver, or any professional such as a Youth Worker, Crown, Defence Lawyer, Judge, etc. However all intakes eventually have to be court ordered once Connections makes the decision to accept a youth.

Ellie James, Manager of Youth Care Home Programs
Pager: (250) 480-3050 ask for Turnabout
Email: ejames@bgcvic.org