The center's routine is structured around educational and recreational programs. The residents are responsible for their chores, laundry, and personal hygiene. On weekends, school is replaced by a variety of programs with an emphasis upon special events involving outside community groups.

Programs and services: The educational curriculum at the center includes academic courses, life-skills training, and education taught by seven full-time teachers. Woodwork and metalwork are taught as part of that component. Evening programs include visits, education, arts and crafts, hobbies, athletics, life-skills, substance abuse, and other programs.

Chaplaincy

Pastor Bill is the Chaplain at PGYCC. In the near future, Pastor Bill will add to this section.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Intervention and Prevention

Facilitated by: Center Staff

Alcohol and Drug awareness, a locally developed program, and Youth Substance Abuse Management (YSAM), a provincial core program, focus on issues related to substance use and the potential impact on health, decision making, relationships and success in life. Both programs utilise lecture, written exercises and group discussion and challenge youth to choose healthy alternatives to alcohol and drug use. YSAM is a treatment readiness program and graduates who demonstrate interest and motivation can be referred to community based treatment programs upon release.

Health Services

Facilitated by: Contractor

Nurses, onsite 14 hours daily, provides health care and education to residents. Additional services include a visiting medical doctor once per week and dental services as required. Health education topics include sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, birth control, nutrition, hygiene, violence, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, mental health, anger management and child care skills. Nursing staff, as well as community guest presenters, provide information using videos, handouts, small group and individual presentations. This resource also provides identification of community supports and resources.

Psychological Consultation and Clinical Services

Facilitated by: Youth Forensic Services

Part Time Psychologist

Upon admission all youth are assessed for risk of suicide, violence and mental health issues. Crisis counselling is provided to address issues of mental disorders, bereavement, stress reaction or significant daily living issues. The psychologist investigates behavior and psychological problems identified by staff and recommends intervention strategies for implementation.

Youth Forensic Psychiatric Services

The Prince George Youth Court Clinic staff prepares assessments and provides both individual and group sessions designed to educate, treat, and support residents to change their established negative and criminogenic approach to dealing with personal and interpersonal issues.

This community-based service provides four treatment programs for residents of PGYCC:

Educational Group- Selected residents are referred to an introductory therapy/educational group for the purpose of assessing their performance in group, providing training in basic group therapy concepts, and determining whether they are appropriate for community based programs upon release. Anger management training provides information on anger physiology, relaxation techniques, assertiveness, moral reasoning, and communication skills. If deemed appropriate, the youth will be assigned to one of the following treatment option.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Counselling- Residents are supported in dealing with distressing and traumatic events such as physical/sexual abuse that significantly disrupt healthy personal development.

Violent Offender Treatment- Group sessions occur over a six month period and sentences of nine to twelve months in length are preferred to complete treatment in custody. Relapse prevention therapy covers issues of victim empathy, crime cycles, anger management, violence prevention and self-awareness.

Sex Offender Treatment- This psycho-educational approach focuses on the nature and factors of the youth's sexual offending. Since group sessions generally last six months, sentences of nine to twelve months are needed to complete treatment in custody.

Aboriginal Programs

Facilitated by: Contractor

PGYCC's aboriginal programming is offered to the youth in custody for both aboriginal and non-aboriginal descent, who would like to learn about aboriginal culture and history.

This program focuses on the healing aspect of the Native culture through:

• Sweatlodge ceremonies
• Story telling
• Smudging
• Medicine wheel
• Healing circle
• Arts

The youth also have access to Elders from the Prince George and outlying communities. These Elders work one on one with the residents and offer counselling to them.

The educational component centres on teaching the history of their culture and the origins of their traditions.

The goal of this program is to instil a sense of pride in our youth about who they are and to assist them in reintegration to their communities.

Arts & Hobbies

Facilitated by: Contractor

A contractor and PGYCC staff facilitate a range of creative activities including painting, ceramics, models, beadwork, dreamcatchers, mask making, and others. Residents attend sessions based on their unit schedule, usually 1-2 hours per day. As well as teaching various methods of creativity, the classes instil a sense of accomplishment and pride in oneself as well as group interaction through evaluation of other's work and appraisal of one's own. The emphasis is not on the end result of the project involved in creating and the benefits thereof. Many residents make gifts for their loved ones for Birthdays and Christmas presents.

Young Women's Program

A contractor and staff meet with female residents in group or one-on-one sessions to discuss relevant topics such as hygiene, sexuality, birth control, parenting, prostitution, sexual abuse, drug abuse, AIDS/STD's, violence against women, inappropriate jokes or putdowns, values, respect for oneself and others. Participants are encouraged to deal with issues by confronting situations appropriately, effective communication, identifying feelings, conflict resolution, peer counselling, and awareness of feelings in relationships.

Recreation

Facilitated by: Contractor

This program enables residents to participate in and plan recreational and physical fitness activities throughout the Center and to demonstrate and instruct a wide variety of activities to residents in custody. It teaches the importance of physical fitness in leading a healthy lifestyle and in reaching a high self-esteem. It encourages maximum participation and sportsmanship. Staff's emphasis is on guiding residents toward new and constructive ways in which to have fun.

A gymnasium and a secure field are utilised on-site and selected lower risk open custody residents are able to access community facilities under direct Staff supervision. Bowron residents also build and maintain an ice rink during the winter months.

Cooking

Opportunities are provided for residents to learn budgeting, meal planning, preparation, kitchen safety and nutrition. Wholesome meals are the main focus. Occasionally cultural/ethnic meals are prepared as part of a study of the culture of origin.

Music

The Chaplain, Center staff and volunteers instruct residents in guitar and keyboard as a source of personal enjoyment and self-esteem enhancement.

On Solid Ground

Custody staff facilitates this life skills program enabling youth to assess their current situation and behavior, set goals and develop strategies for accomplishing those goals.

Peace Talks

This staff led program discourages violence by teaching participants how to avoid dangerous situations, handle their emotions, and use conflict resolution skills to defuse potentially violent confrontations.

Adventure Based Learning

A contractor and several staff have been trained in this approach to personal growth and team building whereby residents experience situations linked metaphorically to their living, learning and working environment. During this 4-6 week ABL program participants engage in problem solving, risk experiences, task/project management, co-operative learning exercises, trust activities, goal setting, and many outdoor adventure experiences. Debriefing techniques are used to apply lessons of the activity to the resident's personal situations. ABL has been a very successful program, which is growing, and being utilised throughout the entire Center. Most hiking trips are based on the ABL philosophy from 1-day outings up to 7-day wilderness adventures.

Outdoor Programs

Staff lead selected open custody residents on outdoor excursions ranging from a day on local trails to 7 days in more remote wilderness areas. The objective is to promote growth through learning new skills, fostering team building, overcoming obstacles and gaining an appreciation for the wilderness environment.