Letter Archive:
M/D/Y Topic of Focus

The Cost of a Child Lost

Recently the Province ran a week long series of articles on street gangs; their impact and damage to our communities.  Many of the stories were about children in environments that led them into a life of crime. 

Communities are becoming increasingly distressed by this growing menace. 

What can we do?  Governments at all levels are overwhelmed and incapable of solving the problem on their own.  Unless communities are willing to address the gang issue, the problem will continue to spiral out of control.

According to Dr. Mark Totten, director of the youth services bureau in Ottawa, it costs $150,000 a year to incarcerate a child.  The provinces and Ottawa need to spend more money on programs that target children under the age of six to discourage them from joining gangs and engaging in criminal activity in the first place.  Strategies that work in other parts of the world are ignored here. Canada has been in denial for twenty years.

There are organizations that are working hard to address the gang issue.  Last year Covenant House Vancouver gave a helping hand to four hundred children.  Sadly they’ve had to turn away another four hundred children due to lack of funding.  They need to raise 4.5 million dollars to add fifty-eight more beds.  An inexpensive investment when you consider the cost of incarcerating four hundred people at $60 million. 

Mentorship, according to Michael C. Chettleburgh author and street gang expert, can save the life of a child.  At Kids Start they have more than 180 boys waiting for mentors.  All it takes is 3 hours a week and a boy’s life can be changed forever.  Changes that will get him through school, keep him at home, or in care, so he doesn’t end up on the street.

These are but two examples of many organizations that are trying to save lives of children at risk.  And as you will see in the Children @ Risk organizations page, others are working to make positive changes in our communities. They need your help and support.