Intersections Program
Intersections is an evidence–informed early intervention program for children and youth who are at-risk of becoming justice-involved and it provides supports to their families as needed. These young individuals and/or their families often come into contact with police because of situations related to mental health issues or illnesses, childhood and youth developmental issues and/or substance use issues. In order to reduce and prevent further interaction with police services and the justice system, this program helps young individuals and/or their families to access available support services within the community.
Thanks to a 3 year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we have upscaled Intersections to include Family and Children's Services as a referral source and hired a social worker to provide interim counselling for clients and families.
Full Program Details
Intersections Program Information
What is the Intersections program?
The Intersections program assists the young individual and/or their families to go through three steps:
STEP 1
Police/Family and Children’s Services Contact
The police will recognize the young individual who is at-risk of becoming involved in the justice system. The police take the first-step in making the initial referral to the Intersections program with the consent of the young individual and/or their parents/caregiver(s).
Children and youth referred to Family and Children’s Services who don’t meet the threshold of a child in need of protection and who don’t have an open file with FCS can also access Intersections. The Family and Children’s Services Referral Coordinator will make the referral on behalf of the young individual and/or their parents/caregiver(s) if it meets eligibility.
STEP 2
Engagement & Screening
The Intersections Coordinator and host agency receive referrals made by the police/FCS and will directly contact the young individual and/or their families. Together, the Intersections Coordinator and the young individual and/or their families will determine which services are most appropriate and a referral to services are made.
STEP 3
Interventions & Pathways
The Intersections Coordinator completes the referral(s) as per the referral pathways with each service agency based on the needs and strengths identified with the young individuals and/or their families. The Intersections Coordinator will support and follow-up during and after the referral is made, until the young individual is actively engaged in three consecutive appointments with the new service agency. At this time the Intersections Coordinator will inform the young individual and/or their families about the closure of their file. On occasion, the Intersections file may be reopened if needs change or are unmet.
Children and Youth may also benefit from the support of our Clincial Intersctions staff who will provide interim counseling support in the event of long wait lists for services.
Who qualifies for the Intersections program in KFL&A
- A child/youth who is 8-17 years of age:
- Under 12 for behaviours police deem as criminal
- Over 12 for behaviours police deem as troubling that are not criminal
- Children and youth who don’t meet the threshold of a child in need of protection and who do not have an open file with Family and Children’s Services
- A child/youth who is suspected of having mental health issues or illnesses, substance use issues and/or childhood and youth developmental issues; and
- A child/youth who has had police or FCS contact
Intersections is not intended to support crisis situations.
- Child/youth qualifies for diversion
- Child/youth on probation
- Child/youth is in crisis (imminent risk of harm to self or others)
- Child/youth and parents/caregiver(s) are not willing to participate
- Child/youth with with an open file with FCS
NEW: How to access Intersections if you are living in Kingston
Kingston Police have added a reporting tool for Intersections to their website to allow for non-emergency reporting of problem behaviours. The link for their reporting tool will bring you to a report which can be submitted for review by Kingston Police to determine suitability as a referral to our Intersections program. Check out the reporting tool by clicking here, choose the file a non-emergency report.
Once the reporting tool opens – Click on the “Intersections Early Intervention Program” report to submit for consideration to the Intersections program, Upon review by Kingston Police for suitability, the file is then submitted to our program staff who will follow-up to offer services.
Who is funding the program?
The Intersections program is being hosted by Youth Diversion, which is a charitable organization. The United Way of KFLA is the program’s primary funder.