Overview of this reintegration resource

We developed this resource to provide an overview of the reintegration process in youth justice services. The resource encourages people who plan and deliver reintegration services to continue to engage in conversations with one another to strengthen key aspects of the reintegration process such as coordination, collaboration, communication and information sharing.

The contents of this resource take into account the opinions and wisdom of youth, reintegration stakeholders and research on reintegration best practices to improve outcomes for children and youth at risk in Ontario.

Our vision

The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) envisions an Ontario where all children and youth have the best opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

Mission

We will make a difference for children and youth at risk in Ontario by improving outcomes by supporting a continuum of evidence-based programming and building strong partnerships with youth, families, communities and governments.

What reintegration is

We have built a service continuum of youth justice programs and services that reduce reoffending, contribute to community safety and prevent youth crime through rehabilitative programming, holding youth accountable and creating opportunities for youth at risk.

Reintegration planning and services are intended to address the social, behavioural and environmental needs of youth in conflict with the law. Reintegration planning is a key component of case management planning that helps provide support to youth as they move through, and out of, the justice system. Reintegration services aim to reduce the risk of reoffending, as well as to support successful integration into school, work, home and the community.

To maximize rehabilitation and reintegration opportunities, support begins as soon as youth enter the youth justice system and evolves with the changing needs of youth as they move through the range of services. Collaboration and communication across the continuum are essential components of successful reintegration. Probation officers, facility staff and service providers collaborate as a case management team with youth, family, and other important people chosen by the youth, to identify, prioritize and address reintegration goals.

Reintegration pathways

Reintegration planning is not a one point in time event, but a continuous process that differs, depending on each youth’s circumstances. Reintegration may involve a number of pathways and transition points into, through and eventually, out of the youth justice system.

Reintegration services aim to support successful integration into school, work, home, and the community, as well as reduce the risk of reoffending.

Here is an outline of the different reintegration pathways through the youth justice system.

Community sentence (probation)

Approximately 91% of youth involved in the youth justice system in 2020-2021 were serving a community sentence. Probation officers have responsibility for all aspects of case management for the youth justice mandate. They conduct a risk need assessment to identify strengths and criminogenic needs that are used to establish case management goals. Probation officers work collaboratively with government funded organizations to share information and provide leadership for collaboration to meet the reintegration goals identified in the case management plan.

Detention

Youth remanded into detention are awaiting court proceedings. The Detention Initiative offers youth to be assigned a probation officer as a support person for up to 30 days after release. Youth involvement with the probation officer is voluntary.

The Detention Initiative was implemented in the fall of 2012, as part of Ontario’s Youth Action Plan.

Detention to community sentence (probation)

A youth may receive a community sentence after a period in detention

Detention to custodial sentence to community supervision (probation)

Approximately 9% of youth in the youth justice system in 2020-2021were serving a custodial sentence. The probation officer provides leadership to the case management team involving facility staff. Transition planning to the community builds on the goals identified in the facility case management reintegration plan.

Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, all youth that receive a custodial sentence must serve a portion of their sentence in the community. After a youth is released from custody, the probation officer continues to provide leadership to the case management team members.

Research about working together

During the development of this reintegration resource, it was important to align current reintegration practices with the best practices outlined in the research, as well as the feedback we gathered from youth and community partners across the province.

Current expectations

Probation officers place youth, family, and other important people identified by youth, at the centre of case management planning and service provision. Probation officers along with the youth create case management plans to respond to the individual risks, needs and strengths of youth. Probation officers connect and engage with youth to build positive, trusting relationships, and help youth to problem solve.

What the research tells us

Case management plans should be holistic, structured, individualized and focused on a youth’s strengths. Case management plans that respond to a youth’s individual responsivity factors, such as culture, diversity, gender, and/or mental health, are most effective.

Feedback from youth

I need to have a voice and play a primary role in case management and reintegration planning. I want the supportive people in my life, like my family, to be involved.

Feedback from our partners

Reintegration planning should be conducted using a relationship and strengths-based approach. Case management plans should respond to individual needs and circumstances.

Timing

Continuity of care begins with the detention initiative that offers the voluntary support of a probation officer to all youth placed in detention. Having one probation officer responsible throughout each youth’s involvement with youth justice services increases the youth’s awareness of, and access to reintegration supports and services

What the research tells us

Transition planning should begin at the first point of contact with the justice system. Reintegration supports and services should continue as the youth moves through, and out of, the justice system.

Feedback from youth

Work with me from the beginning to the end. Follow through with what you say you’re going to do to help me.

Feedback from our partners

Reintegration planning should be a continuous process that begins at first contact and supports youth across, and out of the system.

Collaboration

The probation officer provides continuity of care within the youth justice mandate. When service providers are involved, the probation officer works with them to develop a team approach to service delivery by aligning and coordinating services.

What the research tells us

Effective transition planning and service provision recognizes the importance of service coordination and the roles that communication and collaboration play in the transfer of information between youth centres and community service providers, as well as among community partners.

Feedback from youth

I need people on my case management team to communicate so that I am not repeating my story over and over. Case management team members need to share the plan so I don’t get mixed.

Feedback from our partners

Reintegration planning should be coordinated across ministries and community partners. Successful reintegration requires an efficient, streamlined approach to case management.

Assessment

Case management planning emphasizes the importance of an assessment-based approach to identify criminogenic risks and needs. Case management plans are created that are current and tailored to each youth. Case management goals and interventions build on a young person’s strengths.

What the research tells us

Reintegration planning and services should focus on criminogenic service targets that are identified and prioritized through an assessment process, and detailed in the case management reintegration plan or case management plan.

Feedback from youth

It helps me to have someone to talk to who really listens. Get to know who I am, be real with me and show an interest, ask me about my culture, attempt to speak my language.

Feedback from our partners

Assessment information needs to reflect a youth’s current situation. Reintegration plans should align with assessment information.

Your role in reintegration

Case management planning for successful reintegration can include representation from a range of partners who work collaboratively to meet the individual needs of youth.

Youth

Have input and are active participants in reintegration planning.

Probation officers

Provide leadership for information sharing and collaboration with youth, families, community service providers and municipalities to meet reintegration goals and needs.

Family and caregivers

Have an important role in supporting a youth’s reintegration process.

Youth centre staff

Serve as important members of the case management team and help develop and work toward reintegration goals.

Coordinating services

Municipalities

Play an important role in supporting youths’ reintegration such as housing, recreation and leisure.

Education partners

Are engaged to help facilitate smooth transitions within a facility, into a community school or alternative education program.

Community service providers

Work in collaboration with the probation officer and municipalities to align and coordinate the agency specific plan with the overall case management plan for each youth.

Reintegration best practices

Information collected from the engagement sessions with youth and regional reintegration stakeholders has been brought together with reintegration best practice research to form the following reintegration best practices. You can use these guidelines to enhance the work already being done with youth.

Increase engagement and participation in decision-making

  • Ensure youth and families are participants in making decisions about how services are designed and delivered.
  • Continuously create opportunities to involve youth and families in program design, implementation, delivery and assessment.
  • Establish safe forums and activities for youth and families so their requests and concerns with services are heard.

Place youth and families at the heart of service provision

  • Personalize services to tailor them to the needs, the potential, and the evolving lives of youth and their families.
  • Wrap services around youth and families, rather than have youth and families wrap their lives around programs.
  • Provide opportunities to help youth develop resilience by enhancing protective factors and helping to mitigate risk factors.

Foster youth leadership

  • Support young people involved in services to develop and exemplify leadership, both in the context of the services they receive, and as active members of their communities.
  • Promote opportunities for youth involved in services to participate in community activities.
  • Establish opportunities within services for young people to build leadership skills.

Strengthen service interconnectivity

  • Build towards a single, multidisciplinary plan of care for each youth.
  • Provide young people and their families with the information, tools and supports they need to improve their experience in shaping, accessing and receiving services.
  • Treat youth and families with respect and dignity.

Strengthen communities

  • Encourage and enable communities to play a leading role in supporting the success of youth.
  • Provide opportunities for communities and community leaders, including youth and families, to shape and develop local solutions for improving outcomes.

We hope you use this information to inspire continuing dialogue among all of the key reintegration role players who work together for the successful reintegration of youth as they move through, and out of, Ontario’s youth justice system.

Helpful resources

Stepping up

Read our guide for decision-making, program planning and partnerships so that everyone involved in supporting youth between 12 and 25, can work together through a common, shared approach.

Stepping stones

Learn about strategic framework to guide the delivery of high quality supports and services for youth aged 12 to 25 across Ontario.

Blueprint for fundamental change to Ontario’s child welfare system: final report of the Youth Leaving Care Working Group

Read the Report, which was written by young people with lived experience on behalf of children and youth across Ontario.

Glossary of terms

Reintegration services

The assessed social, behavioural and/or educational needs of youth in conflict with the law who are receiving community supervision or transitioning to the community from custody/detention. Reintegration services are intended to reduce the risk of reoffending and support the youth’s successful integration into school and/or work, home and the community.

Criminogenic factors

Attributes and circumstances of individuals that are directly linked to criminal behaviour. Criminogenic needs are considered dynamic factors, suggesting that these factors are amenable to change and, if changed, can reduce recidivism.

Best practice

Programs, services or direct practice delivery that utilizes techniques or methodologies that, through experience and research, have proven to reliably lead to a desired result.

Responsivity factors

General responsivity is the use of cognitive social learning methods to influence a youth’s behaviour.

Specific responsivity is the use of cognitive behavioural interventions, taking into account a youth’s strengths, learning style, personality, motivation and bio-social characteristics, such as gender and race. Responsivity factors include protective factors or strengths, such as a youth’s creativity, athleticism or a strong social support network.

How we developed this resource

The Ontario Youth Action Plan was released in 2012 to foster safer communities and give young people the support and opportunities they need to succeed. One of the plan initiatives was a commitment to review and strengthen reintegration supports so that youth in conflict with the law can transition smoothly through, and out of, Ontario’s youth justice system. This commitment included the creation of reintegration planning resources.

The development of this reintegration resource began in May 2013 with the engagement of stakeholders in Central Region. Following recommendations made in consultation with advisory groups, the engagement process expanded to include other areas of the province.

Over the following year, we heard from youth, their families, youth justice service providers and other stakeholders across the province to learn about the good practices already in place that help to support youth throughout their reintegration process. We combined reintegration research with advice from all stakeholder groups to develop this resource.