Crime Prevention Investment Plan

CPIP funding strategy

The City of Calgary has launched a CPIP funding strategy to inform investments from 2019 to 2022. This strategy is designed to ensure  CPIP funds are invested in evidence-based projects supporting crime prevention through social development. Priority will be given to projects  focusing on individuals and families utilizing an early identification, or prevention of reoffending approach to crime prevention:

CPIP funding will support time-bound projects for four (4) years. Eligible projects must align with one of following three areas:

• Early identification - Projects targeted towards people most at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity.  These  projects seek to mitigate risk factors and increase protective factors to interrupt pathways to crime.
• Prevention of reoffending - Projects  targeted towards individuals who have already committed a crime, seeking to decrease the likelihood of escalation or re-occurrence. This level of crime prevention can also include diversion projects that redirect persons in conflict with the law to more appropriate community-based services.
• Indigenous projects - Projects that align with one of the other focus areas and incorporate the concepts of Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin. Siim ohsksin: Wahkotiwin is based on Indigenous cultural approaches to discipline, responsibility, respect, accountability and uses a strong oral process.
  

A CPIP Research Brief and Guiding Document has been developed to guide CPIP investments. Organizations should use this document to determine if their projects align with CPIP funding priorities. This document provides information on definitions of crime prevention, direction on using evidence-based approaches to crime prevention and current statistics on crime in Calgary.

Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin

While current crime prevention activities for Indigenous people focus primarily on the prevention of “criminal” activities, the rates of involvement with the justice system continue to increase. With the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada, a blanket-approach would be ineffective. Considering the differences in culture and language, the common goal then becomes to establish or re-establish a relationship and connection to other people, community, traditional practices and values.

Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin is the closest approximations for the Western idea of “crime prevention,” and underscores a complex ideology with multiple meanings:

• To be responsible for yourself;
• The wise ones warning us;
• Watch your actions; and
• Telling us not to do it.

This approach is positioned on the cultural principles of discipline, responsibility, respect, accountability and is made actionable by a strong oral process.

Who can apply for funding?

CPIP funding is open to not-for-profit voluntary organizations registered under the Companies Act, RSA 2000, cC-21, the Societies Act, RSA 2000, cS-14 or the Business Corporations Act, RSA 2000, cB-9.

To be considered eligible for funding, the applicant must:

• Have a solid track record for effective service delivery;
• Have strong operational capacity, including sound governance, a stable financial outlook and the use of evidence-based practices; and
• Have a strategic or business plan related to the proposed project

What are the reporting requirements?

Below is information about the new evaluation and wisdom seeking framework. Contact your program’s Partnership Specialist for more information about the reporting requirements or the timelines.

CPIP evaluation and wisdom seeking

All programs that receive CPIP funding must follow the guidelines for evaluation/wisdom seeking:

• 2020 Theories of Change and Outcome Indicators – can be used for reference.
• Framework for Wisdom Seeking and Evaluation – describes CPIP’s overall approach to evaluation/wisdom seeking
• Evaluation Toolkit for Social Development Programs – provides step-by-step guidelines to evaluation for programs using a social development approach
• Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin Wisdom Seeking Toolkit – provides step-by-step guidelines to wisdom seeking for Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin programs

All progams require a one-page Theory of Change:

• CPIP Theory of Change template – has the required formatting and information on what should be included in each section
• CPIP Footnote Style Guide – provides examples of how to cite references in the Theory of Change

Additional evaluation resources for programs using a social development approach:

• CPIP Risk and Protective Factors – see toolkit (above) for more information
• Year End Report form (Social Development) – completed in FIMS, see Evaluation Toolkit (above) for more information
• Resources for learning about evaluation – also included in toolkit (above)
• Tools to measure crime prevention project outcomes – also included in toolkit (above)

Additional wisdom seeking resources for Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin programs:

• Ceremony Documentation form - completed by City/CPIP staff
• Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin Indicator Surveys – see wisdom seeking toolkit (above) for more information
• Year End Report form (Siim ohksin: Wahkotiwin) - completed in FIMS, see wisdom seeking toolkit (above) for more information

All programs must also submit financial statements annually in FIMS. Contact Partnership Specialist for deadlines.