The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) received a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) toward the cost of the Citizens’ Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) to be implemented by the Ministry of National Security (MNS).

The programme seeks to reduce and prevent the incidence of crime and violence, improve delivery of judicial services and strengthen crime management capabilities. In order to achieve these objectives the programme will consist of the following components:

• Development of a national strategy for combating crime
• Institutional strengthening of the Ministries of National Security and Justice; Strengthening of the criminal justice system
• Community action component, in which various violence reduction/prevention services will be delivered to selected communities vi NGOs

The programme is funded by the Government and the Inter-American Development Bank at a cost of US$20 million, with the implementing agency being the Ministry of Security.

The community action component involves six non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in 15 inner-city communities to provide a range of services, with the hope that these services will deter young persons at risk from becoming involved in criminal activities.

The communities are Rockfort, Mountain View , Allman Town , Parade Gardens , Fletchers Land , Kencot, Denham Town , Hannah Town, Trench Town , Drewsland, Waterhouse, Towerhill, Cassia Park , August Town and Grants Pen in the Corporate Area.

Among the NGOs operating in the areas are:

• Youth Opportunities Unlimited.
• RISE Life Management Services
• Peace and Love in Society (PALS)
• Sistren Theatre Collective
• Dispute Resolution Foundation, Kingston Restoration Company (KRC)

While the educational initiatives are targeted at adolescents, there is also a parenting component to the programme, because it has been recognized that it is not only important to provide opportunities for the young people but for their parents as well.

Some of the Challenges to date have been;

• Some communities are unable to complete simple forms independently, unable to give their home address or parents name.
• Literacy levels are devastatingly low
• Violence causing the postponement of programmes
• Community segmentation decreases the prospects of adolescents accessing workshop locations
• Adolescents’ daily impoverished financial situations make it difficult for them to access opportunities the workshops offer.
• Stronger mode of mobilization is needed.
• Stipends for transportation are necessary
• The personal challenges of individuals continue to require the need for social workers and persistent counselling, sharing and interaction with community members.
• Parents involvement still needs improvement.
• Parents were the most difficult group of persons to organize for the mentor matching sessions
• Communities with no official CAC prove to be more challenging to member participation

Mitigating Measures

• Increased incorporation of the CAC members into the plan of action for communities.
• A comprehensive remedial strategy is integrated into workshops.
• Where necessary children will be bussed to workshops.
• Increased responsible action of marketing programmes within communities to be carried out by CAC members.
• Increased home visits by social workers

Components

Mentoring

• Currently 180 pairs with 60 pending
• 81.6% fully operative
• 85% in cluster/networking groups for support
• Ongoing scheduled monthly monitoring and reinforcement
• (85%) 204 of 240 standing relational goals achieved.
•  (80%) 192 of relationships stable and functioning
• Training continues with designated  peer mentors and for those emerging

Group Mentoring & Remedial Training

• Currently 372 students in behavioral and remedial training in a school setting
• To date all students reading levels have been assessed
• Better structured life skills programme to their needs

• Reading levels are to be raised incrementally or by 1 level
• (85%) 316 students better able to assimilate topics and demonstrate behavioural improvement

Parenting

• 227 parents trained over past 2 years in correct skills of parenting
• Parent groups network with each other and build support
• Social workers deployed to make home visits in support of parents to help them reinforce children’s learning to have adolescents more consistently out to programmes

Leadership Training

• 35 students trained and functioning as peer leaders / peer mentors
• leaders functioning in communities and workshops

Breakfast Programme

• Product of the Fletchers land Parent Support group – now feeds twice the anticipated numbers of students

Summer Programme

A culmination of all five communities performing in one major production at the Ward Theatre based on the year’s work in the performing arts and depicting the uniting of communities and correct values emphasized

Summer Sport Programme

• Golf
• Tennis 
• Swimming
• 155 students attended the 2 week program
• Each week a group of app. 75 persons was 3 groups and rotated for each sport
• During the period Oct 05 to June 06 students were trained as Marshalls and carried out duties at the monthly and International race meets of the Jamaica Karting Ass. at the Palisadoes Air Strip.

Shadow Week ‘Job Placement’

• Is conducted every August – not an official programme of CSJP however it  Incorporates students of minimum 15 yrs old for work place experiences
• Placed at the H R Dept of HiLo in August and was asked to return in Sept – continues to work part time as he maintains school at Christian Restoration TT to acquire entrance to HEART

Teacher Capacity Training

• 250 teachers trained to enhance lesson plans skills, curriculum maps and classroom behaviour management techniques
• teachers functioning in the new measures learned and improving children’s learning ability
  
  

Remedial Reading Programme

• For the continued development of the adolescents and as a process of sustainability that one(1) community member from the fifteen communities be trained in a ‘Reading Certificate Course’ at MICO Teachers College .
• The course speaks to address strategies for remedial assistance and is one day per week for three months.  These persons trained will assist their community schools and students in improving literacy performance.
• 80 adolescents  form Mountain View and Kencot in 4 week programme with reading levels improved by  0.1 to 2.5 levels

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monthly staff reports
• Weekly staff meetings
• Ad hoc individual meetings as necessary
• Stakeholder meetings
• Weekly contact with CAC member
• Weekly monitoring of teachers – contact with Heads of Depts.
• Quarterly focus group meetings with adolescents
• Mentor relationships and goals are assessed  every 2 months
• Workshop assessment tools – prior checklist – assessment report during workshops – evaluations of presenters and workshops by students at end
• Continuous behavior assessment – Qualitative measures
• Quarterly assessment of students re content
• Needs assessment done for each parenting program
• Homework evaluation for parents – affective reflections