DIVERSIONfirst

DIVERSIONfirst is a partnered program with BGC Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area, YMCA of Northern Alberta and the Edmonton Police Services (EPS).

There are two streams to this program, the first being Diversion and the second being Support. With Diversion, EPS officers refer youth who have been caught committing a small offence, these youth are then referred to DIVERSIONfirst.

In the DIVERSIONfirst program, the partnered agencies work together with the young person to identify the offence and divert them from re-offending.

Diversion involves an apology from the young person and community service. Support involves connecting the young person to resources and all-around support services that will help them step out of crisis and lower the risk of offending.

DIVERSIONfirst works with youth ages 10 through 17-years old in the Edmonton, Alberta region.

BGC_Diversion-First

Referral Process

BGCBigs receives its referrals primarily via DIVERSIONfirst. BGCBigs seeks to be part of the intervention at the onset to begin building a meaningful relationship with both the youth as well as their family and personal network.

To learn more, please contact Jenna Brewer at 780.822.2510 or jenna.brewer@bgcbigs.ca.

Program Partners