Fundraising for the In It Together program at the 2023 Archway Charity Golf Tournament. From left to right: Archway Board President Steve Carlton, CEO Rod Santiago, Admin Assistant Sheila Saieh and IIT staff, Wanda Phillips, Manpreet Sarai and Harpreet Singh
Since 2018, when a 5-year federal grant from the Ministry of Public Safety ended, the program has struggled to secure consistent and sustainable funding. Provincial funding allowed the program to stay open from 2019 to 2022 but at a significantly reduced rate. United Way of BC also provided large grants that that helped maintain services, especially between funding cycles.
“It’s been a constant struggle to secure sustainable funding for this vital prevention work,” said Wanda Phillips, an IIT Supervisor. “It’s disappointing, especially considering the high need for crime-diversion programs for youth in Abbotsford.”
In It Together seeks to disrupt the flow of youth into gangs, crime and negative lifestyles through one-to-one interventions and working with their families. IIT uses a youth-centred approach which allows youth to have a voice and create goals for multiple areas of their life.
Archway staff support youth at risk of gang or crime involvement due to family ties, suspected drug use or previous trauma. They also work with youth already criminally involved, on probation, or facing charges.
“Sometimes youth can’t see a positive path forward without some help,” said Phillips.
“It’s been a constant struggle to secure sustainable funding for this vital prevention work.
It’s disappointing, especially considering the high need for crime-diversion programs for youth in Abbotsford.”
Youth are paired with a support worker with a similar background where possible and the South Asian Community Resource Office (SACRO) side of the IIT program focusses on South Asian youth and their families.
“SACRO provides vital support to South Asian youth and their families, particularly in Abbotsford where the risks of recruitment and other negative influences are high,” said Pavan Jawanda, a Social Worker with the Abbotsford Youth Team.
Since the program began in 2013, staff have provided prevention, intervention and re-entry support for more than 1,500 at-risk youth and their family members.
“Organized crime and gangs are ongoing issues that need attention and resources where youth are offered a path away from organized crime,” said Manpreet Sarai, SACRO Supervisor. “Archway wants to keep being part of the solution and we know that our In It Together program has seen consistent results and changed lives.”
A Project Impact evaluation showed that youth participants had an 89% reduction in criminal activity and substantially less substance use. Their progress on job goals was 71% better, which is an important factor in keeping youth from turning to gangs to earn money. Participants also made 86% more progress on school goals.
“Helping students stay in school reduces their risk factors and finishing school is critical for future job opportunities,” said Sarai.
In It Together Supervisor Wanda Phillips and SACRO supervisor Manpreet Sarai
“SACRO provides vital support to South Asian youth and their families, particularly in Abbotsford where the risks of recruitment and other negative influences are high.”
IIT works with youth as young as 11 and up to age 25. Chief Dan George Middle School Counsellor, Jason Hawkins says middle school is a “critical time that we see students start to make positive and negative decisions that can have significant impact on their high school years and beyond.”
“When I worked in the high school system, too often did it feel like an uphill battle to undo some of the harms that were done earlier in development. In middle school, I feel as though we have an opportunity to prevent those harms and support kids in their development in a proactive way. This pivotal time requires a team effort and In It Together has been an integral part of that team.
“I have seen kids that feel utterly disenfranchised from their school community feel seen for the first time. I have seen students form bonds with their In It Together worker that create a sense of fidelity and accountability for their actions that would otherwise not exist for these students. Those bonds are absolutely crucial for kids when their only other option is gang involvement and/or criminal activity.”
Manvir Bains is a Crisis Clinician with the Fraser Health Short Term Assessment Response Treatment (START) Team who refers clients to IIT. She appreciates the community education provided by IIT and has seen first-hand the wraparound support that IIT provides.
“ITT has been able to implement many recreational activities that have allowed youth to create positive connections with the community such as attending sports events and volunteering.”
While the current government funding has ended, Archway staff aren’t ready to abandon the high-risk youth in their program. They’re referring clients to other Archway services where possible and keeping a skeleton crew while they pursue other avenues for government funding. IIT is currently supporting 60 youth, with another 20 on the waitlist. 150 youth received IIT services in the last fiscal year.
“I have seen kids that feel utterly disenfranchised from their school community feel seen for the first time… Those bonds are absolutely crucial for kids when their only other option is gang involvement and/or criminal activity.”
Ben Vegt is a Guardianship Social Worker though the Fraser Valley Aboriginal Children and Family Services Society. He says there are very few outreach workers equipped to deal with high-risk youth in Abbotsford and worries what will happen if the program shuts down.
“We have had a steady to increasing amount of youth engaging with many high-risk factors like substance misuse, criminal behaviors, gang affiliations, and being at risk of exploitation. Here in Abbotsford, IIT fills that crucial gap in our community to have boots on the ground helping these kids who are in danger every day. I know firsthand that there are life-or death consequences when we don’t have people looking out for these particular youth. I am afraid of what could happen without our IIT workers.”
Gurpal Bamara is a clinician with Child and Youth Mental Health, who is also worried about losing the service.
“There are so many layers to why youth get into this lifestyle and IIT helps peel those layers and help families navigate and become self-aware of what they need to do to create change. If IIT was not available, my job as a mental health clinician would be a lot more complex especially when dealing with co-current disorders and family therapy,” said Bamara.
IIT staff encourage those concerned about community safety to contact their elected officials and voice their support for this crucial program for youth.
Donations are also accepted at Archway.ca/IIT-Donate
“We’ve seen the emotional and financial cost of gang conflicts locally and know that prevention is possible, less expensive and better for the entire community,” said Sarai.
“IIT fills that crucial gap in our community to have boots on the ground helping these kids who are in danger every day.”
“There are so many layers to why youth get into this lifestyle and IIT helps peel those layers and help families navigate and become self-aware of what they need to do to create change.
If IIT was not available, my job as a mental health clinician would be a lot more complex especially when dealing with co-current disorders and family therapy.”