Ethnocultural Initiatives: Presentations

Building Inclusive Institutions for Public Safety

Ontario Region
Ethno-cultural Report to NEAC, 2009

Christine Mangan
Senior Project Manager
Reintegration and Correctional Programs RHQ(O)
(613) 536-4283
ManganCJ@csc-scc.gc.ca

Ontario Region’s Offender Profile

Total number of offenders 6,360 (as at 18 March 09)

• Incarcerated 3,910
• Supervised in the community 2,450

35% of the incarcerated population and 39% of those supervised in the community belong to ethnic minority groups

Ontario Region’s Offender Profile Leading Minority Groups

Black

• 15% of incarcerated population (601)
• 15% of supervised population (358)

First Nations

• 11% of incarcerated population (418)
• 6% of supervised population (153)

South East Asian

• 1% of incarcerated population (53)
• 3% of supervised population (70)

Asian

• 1% of incarcerated population (33
• 3% of supervised population (74)

Links to Ethno cultural Objectives

1. Validating Correctional Program performance measures for Ethno-cultural applicability.
2. Evaluating program content (program and staff training manual) according to the multicultural applicability criteria (content, semantic, assessment measures).
   • Designed and analysed survey of Program Officers and Education staff.
3. Developing cultural competence training for CSC staff.
   • Ontario BIFA organization developed and piloted a training course for staff
4. Developing cross-cultural awareness and race-relations training sessions for offenders
5. Identifying, recruiting, and training Ethno-cultural tutors (role models) to provide tutoring services in different languages to compliment CSC program delivery strategy and adapt learning styles to Ethno-cultural diversity.
   • Identified clusters of Ethnic groups in our institutions
   • This information has been utilized to determine how best to connect specific ethnic community resources and services
   • Some Correctional Program Officers are utilizing offenders to assist in adapting learning styles and role plays for Ethno cultural offenders

Accomplishments to Date

Regional Ethno-cultural Advisory Committee Accomplishments

• Ontario REAC established in April 2005
• The committee is comprised of individuals from diverse ethno-cultural populations and a balance of community volunteers, CSC staff and a representative from the National Parole Board
• To date REAC has held sites visits at numerous institutional and District offices and shared their observations and recommendations requiring follow up
• A Strategic Planning meeting was held with the full REAC and the Deputy Commissioner Ontario to determine focus and priorities
• Extensive progress to date in establishing a formal linkage between the Citizen Engagement, Reintegration and Correctional Programs and the Chaplaincy division
• There are currently 17 ongoing agencies involved in outreach services to ethno cultural offenders or their families
• We have recruited significant numbers of visible minority volunteers for the Toronto Area Parole offices and local Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) Toronto and we continue to seek volunteers in the Kingston corridor

Citizen Engagement

• Monitor contracts of agencies providing ethno cultural services and ensure open dialogue
• Results are that offenders are being better prepared for reintegration to the community
• Overall more services are provided to the offenders

Black History Month

• The entire region engaged in Black History Month celebrations for both staff and offenders
• Numerous motivational speakers attended 9 institutions and one District Office --- speakers varied from the President of the Ontario Black History Society to one of the Argos first Black Quarterbacks
• Most institutions held “Cultural Meal Nights”, serving various ethnic dishes throughout the month of February

Information Gathering and Assessment

• Continue to liaise with staff regarding deficiencies in CSC ethno-cultural data collection
• Monitor new emerging 2006 census data relative to ethnicity and language

Goals for fiscal year 2009-10

• A full time Regional Ethno cultural Coordinator
• Explore issues raised by deportable offenders to ensure they have reasonable access to Correctional Programs
• Organize a regional meeting of Site Ethno cultural Coordinators from both the institutions and community to ensure they have both the knowledge base and access to resources to facilitate their role
• To draft the Scope of Work and award a new multi-year contract for the provision of Ethno cultural Services to offenders (incarcerated and on release) to facilitate their reintegration to their community
• Implement recommendations stemming from the Canadian Ethno cultural Council review of Ontario correctional facilities
• Raise the profile of REAC members within the region and market them to Senior Managers as the valuable resource that they are