XcL is a program designed to offer opportunities, experiences and skills that promote and develop healthy, self-sufficient young people. While holding juvenile offenders accountable, early intervention is to help ‘at risk’ youth make a real change in their lives and help increase public safety and reduce juvenile recidivism by providing opportunities for success in the long-term.

The program’s aim is to develop partnerships with schools, police, justice and other agencies and stakeholders for referrals to the program. Referrals may also be accepted from parents, carers and self referral.

Definitions

AT RISK YOUTH

Youth who are exposed to factors that may increase their tendency to engage in problem or delinquent behaviors and disengage from education and other alternative programs for marginalized youth.

PREVENTION / INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Is designed to change a youth's negative thoughts, feelings and behaviors with the overall objective of confronting the self-destructive behavior and providing alternatives and solutions to address the issues and make a positive change in the way they think and feel about themselves.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

Is to work individually and collectively with young people to identify and address mental, educational, health, environment, and family issues through:

• Individualised Case Management Services and one-on-one counselling
• Clinical Assessments with Treatment Planning 
• Intake Assessment with an Individualised Service Plan
• Development of a relapse cognitive-behaviour strategy 
• Assistance with accommodation, Centrelink and other support services
• Individual Skill-building and/or Group Skill-building which include Life Skills Training and Life Enrichment opportunities for youth and their families
• Choice of a range of accredited training and educational packages including education and vocation alternatives and long-distance supported learning
• Queensland Certificate of Education recognition for completion of accredited outcomes when applicable
• Transportation Services for youth participating in the program
• Referrals and advocacy services to other community resources 
• Employment and Housing Assistance

We are currently seeking funding for this program. There is a strong need for this sort of intervention program in Logan.

Relevant news articles

Queensland Police Service flew Inspector Hewitt of the New Zealand Police to Brisbane to speak to the State's Youth Violence Taskforce, which met for the first time in nine months amid concerns of worsening youth violence in southeast Queensland. In a wake-up call to Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, Inspector Hewitt said violence exploded in South Auckland in 2005 because police there weren't taking gangs seriously.  To ignore the potential of increased gang violence in South East Queensland is at our own peril, he said. (Courier Mail Page 7, August 29, 2008)

‘Jump in Queensland car thefts coincides with economic crisis’. More than 2450 cars were stolen between October and December last year, just as the global economic crisis started to hit home. Ray Carroll, executive director of the National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council - the national body for vehicle theft reforms - said there was concern economic uncertainty could reverse reductions in property crime. (Queensland Newspapers. 18/02/2009)

A battle is brewing to contain a 26 percent spike in students being suspended from Queensland schools over the past three years.  Brisbane and Sunshine Coast schools issued 31 percent more suspensions and 11 percent more expulsions in 2007-08 than in 2005-06. During the same period, suspensions rose 25 percent at Gold Coast and Ipswich region schools, and 22 percent in and around Townsville. (Courier Mail, October 26, 2008)