Highland Shores Children’s Aid (HSCA) and Community Organized Support and Prevention (C.O.S.P.) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a one-year agreement for the use of office space within the Society’s Picton location for administrative and client meeting purposes.
C.O.S.P. is a non-profit community agency which offers community-based justice related programs for adults and young persons. It grew out of the visionary pursuits of a local judge, who in 1974 began using community-based sentencing as a meaningful alternative to fines which were an in-effective deterrent to shoplifting. What has evolved from his concepts and the endeavors of many volunteers, are more than 100 community-based programs across Ontario which now offer Community Service Order (C.S.O.) services.
Today C.O.S.P. has expanded beyond its original Community Service Order Program and also administers the Extrajudicial Sanctions Program, Belleville and District Youth Justice Committee (court diversion programs), Anger Management, Quintac Attendance Centre (alternative to custody), Positive Alternative School Suspension Program (PASS), Youthreach, Self Esteem Enhancement Development (SEED) and Prime Worker Program. All, except the C.S.O., are youth justice-based.
"This collaboration with C.O.S.P. supports our philosophy of working with various community partners, where and how we can, to ensure that these important services continue to be available to the members of all of the communities we serve. We are pleased to be able to assist this worthwhile program", said Mark Kartusch, Executive Director of Highland Shores Children’s Aid.
C.O.S.P. Executive Director, Linda Seeley, said "With the closure of Prince Edward Corrections Advisory Board, we were cognizant of the need for services within the county. C.O.S.P. is delighted with the warm reception received from Highland Shores Children’s Aid, who has provided us with an inviting site to facilitate programs for our clients, eliminating the need to travel to Belleville. We look forward to building a positive relationship with HSCA along with other local community services that support youth and families".