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Results for refugee youth

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Author: Sersli, Stephanie

Title: Gang Prevention for New Immigrant and Refugee Youth in B.C.: Community Consultation Paper

Summary: This paper explores why and how immigrant and refugee youth between the ages of 13-23 years old and in Canada less than 5 years may or may not become involved with youth gangs. Community stakeholders involved with the provincial youth gang prevention strategy identified a knowledge gap regarding newcomer youths’ participation in gang activities and their unique risk factors and pathways to involvement. The purpose of this research was threefold: 1) to identify why and how newcomer immigrant and refugee youth become involved in gangs in BC (i.e., specific risk factors and pathways to gang involvement in BC); 2) to review the individual, family, school and community strengths and assets that support newcomer youth to resist gang involvement and build resiliency, and; 3) to identify BC-based effective, culturally responsive strategies to prevent or intervene in newcomer youth gang involvement and support their positive development. Drawing both from contemporary Canadian studies, and consultations with newcomer immigrant and refugee youth and youth workers in Metro Vancouver, this paper outlines the challenges newcomer youth face in their settlement process and advocates for early sustained support to assist youth and their families to adjust to life in Canada. Youth who become marginalized or isolated are at enhanced risk of forming negative peer associations and becoming involved in risky behaviour; youth at the beginning of their settlement trajectory are least likely to become gang-involved, but this risk increases with number of years in Canada. The paper also identifies newcomer youths’ strengths and assets, and discusses BC-based culturally responsive approaches that endeavor to enhance strengths while decreasing risk, thus laying essential building blocks for gang prevention. These approaches include: early ongoing support for youth and families; helping families support youth; individualizing approaches; building relationships, reducing isolation and normalizing life experience; building individual and social competencies; empowering and building a positive identity; incorporating anti-oppression elements in programming, and; recognizing the unique challenges and strengths of newcomer youth. The paper concludes with proposed further research directions.

Details: Ottawa: National Crime Prevention Centre, Public Safety Canada, 2010. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-immigrant-refugee.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/crimeprevention/publications/docs/gang-prevention-immigrant-refugee.pdf

Shelf Number: 126001

Keywords:
Gang Prevention
Gangs (Canada)
Immigrant Youth
Refugee Youth
Youth Gangs