A Jurisdictional Scan of the Programs and Services Available to Support the Community Reintegration of IRCS Youth in Northern Saskatchewan

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The Intensive Rehabilitative Custody and Supervision (IRCS) program is a federal program funded by Justice Canada that allows for the provision of specialized rehabilitative and reintegration services to violent young offenders who have mental disorders or serious cognitive delays (Department of Justice Canada, 2010). The current study consisted of a jurisdictional scan of the mental health, education, and employment programs and services available to IRCS youth in northern Saskatchewan to facilitate their re-entry into the community. A literature review, interviews with corrections and mental health professionals, and an environmental scan were conducted to determine: 1) the types of mental health, education, and employment programs available to IRCS youth who are reintegrating into communities in northern Saskatchewan; 2) the strengths and challenges associated with the delivery of these programs to IRCS youth in northern Saskatchewan; and 3) how technology may be used to increase the youth’s access to the programming they require in these communities.

Rural and remote communities face a multitude of barriers that can impede both delivery and access to programs and services (Hall & Olfert, 2015). From the service provider perspective, barriers to program delivery in rural and remote communities included: heavy workloads; chronic understaffing; working in isolation; and a lack of staff training opportunities (Allison & Kyle, 2005; MacLeod, et al., n.d.; Oosterveer & Young, 2015). All of these factors place strain on service providers, often resulting in burnout and compromising program delivery (Nuffield, 2003).

Interviews were conducted with six corrections and three mental health professionals who work directly with IRCS youth in Saskatchewan. In addition, three interviews were conducted with IRCS Coordinators from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba. The purpose of the interviews was to understand the strengths and challenges of delivering mental health, education, and employment programs to IRCS youth in rural and remote northern communities.

Interviewees from Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba indicated that they rarely have IRCS youth who return to rural and remote areas within their provinces. Saskatchewan was unique in that some IRCS youth do return to northern communities; however, even in Saskatchewan, many youth choose to return to more urban centres where they have access to the resources and services they require. Within Saskatchewan, all participants noted that the availability of mental health services in rural and remote communities was problematic. In particular, access to psychologists, especially treatment for violent and sexual offending, was identified as the most pressing concern for IRCS youth returning to northern Saskatchewan. Currently, youth over the age of 18 are only able to access treatment in North Battleford, Saskatoon, or Regina, and the youth must attend their psychologist appointments in person. Access to psychiatric services is also an obstacle; the ease at which IRCS youth can access psychiatric services is dependent upon the protocols established in the particular region where they are accessing services.

In sum, any innovations using technology that are introduced to increase the access that IRCS youth living in northern Saskatchewan have to mental health, education, and employment programs must be considered on a community-by-community basis. Further, the particular characteristics, risks, and needs of each IRCS youth should inform how technology is used to address his/her needs. The following recommendations reflect actions that can be taken to enhance the access that IRCS youth have to mental health, education, and employment
programming.

1. Use videoconferencing or remote presence technology to supplement in-person treatment with psychologists and psychiatrists.
2. Provide training to mental health and corrections professionals to increase their familiarity and comfort with videoconferencing and other forms of technology that may be used with IRCS youth.
3. Develop an online resource centre that contains an inventory of programs available in northern Saskatchewan and a list of web-based programs and mobile apps that may be used with IRCS youth.
4. Engage in consultation with health regions to increase psychologists’ flexibility to provide services outside their respective health region.
5. Establish a team of mental health professionals who periodically travel to rural and remote communities in Saskatchewan where IRCS youth are based.
6. Increase the use of contracted service providers for transportation and mentorship.
7. Consider a full process evaluation of the IRCS program.

In conclusion, there are a variety of ways in which mental health, education, and employment programming for IRCS youth can be enhanced through technology, as well as through other means. Given the variation in the availability of technology that exists in northern Saskatchewan, any innovations that are introduced to increase the access that youth have to these programs must be considered on a community-by-community basis. Further, the particular characteristics of each IRCS youth should inform how technology is used to best address his/her needs.