The L.E.A.F. Initiative is a Commonwell program to support capacity, resiliency and growth in the communities we call home.

Common Ground Youth Group: Empowering Youth to Build Resilience

359 WEST STREET NORTH ORILLIAL3V5E5

Target Completion Date: December 20, 2026

What is this project about?

Common Ground Youth Group is a 7-week educational program designed for female-identifying youth aged 12-18. It focuses on preventing gender-based violence and exploitation through education on Healthy Relationships, Social Media Safety, Consent, Human Trafficking, and Self-Care. The program supports vulnerable youth across Simcoe Muskoka, fostering resiliency, safety, and empowerment.

Recognizing a gap in services for female-identifying youth, the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka launched the Common Ground Youth Group. This program, designed by our clinical counselor with input from young women and our Youth Advisory Committee, addresses the unique needs faced by this population. With six police services and two child protection agencies in the region, we aim to meet the growing demand for services to support young women experiencing gender-based violence and exploitation.

The Common Ground Youth Group program evolved through continuous feedback from participants and community partners, including police services, mental health professionals, and Indigenous advocates. The program is tailored to meet the unique needs of vulnerable youth in Simcoe Muskoka, and we are committed to ensuring its cultural relevance and inclusivity. With 20% of participants identifying as Indigenous, we have incorporated Indigenous knowledge through a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, bridging Western and Indigenous perspectives.

Additionally, we have introduced a Youth Ambassador initiative to give past participants leadership opportunities and ensure their voices shape the future of our prevention education efforts. By supporting this project, you are not only empowering vulnerable youth but also fostering long-term community resilience.

In Simcoe Muskoka, gender-based violence and human trafficking pose significant threats to youth. The average age of recruitment for human trafficking is 12-14 years old.

There is a considerable need for support services, especially as reports of child luring and online exploitation have increased by 815% over the last five years, according to Cybertip.ca. Child Sexual Abuse Material is a serious and growing problem. Perpetrators are increasingly using digital platforms to target and manipulate vulnerable individuals, exploiting the anonymity and vast reach that the internet provides. Project Arachnid, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), has issued over 40 million removal notices to more than 1,500 hosting providers across 100 countries since 2017. Every day, approximately 20,000 new notices are sent out globally. The data and trends we observe through initiatives like Project Arachnid serve as a reminder that this is not a distant problem – it is happening right here in our own community, and it requires our immediate and sustained attention.

Indigenous girls are particularly vulnerable, making up 25% of the victims served by the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka. Our region is increasingly recognized as a key corridor for human trafficking in Ontario due to its proximity to major highways and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The region’s mix of urban and rural areas, combined with seasonal tourism, often conceals these operations.

Common Ground addresses this urgent issue by providing youth with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize and avoid unsafe situations, fostering healthier relationships, and reducing their risk of exploitation. The Common Ground Youth Group provides support to 50 at-risk youth annually.

The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka currently handles over 350 investigations annually and aims to increase support for families by 25% by 2026. With six police services and two child protection agencies operating in the region, there is a high demand for services.

Why is this project important to the community?

In Simcoe Muskoka, gender-based violence and human trafficking pose significant threats to youth. The average age of recruitment for human trafficking is 12-14 years old. There is a considerable need for support services, especially as reports of child luring and online exploitation have increased by 815% over the last five years, according to Cybertip.ca. Child Sexual Abuse Material is a serious and growing problem. Perpetrators are increasingly using digital platforms to target and manipulate vulnerable individuals, exploiting the anonymity and vast reach that the internet provides. Project Arachnid, an initiative of the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P), has issued over 40 million removal notices to more than 1,500 hosting providers across 100 countries since 2017. Every day, approximately 20,000 new notices are sent out globally. The data and trends we observe through initiatives like Project Arachnid serve as a reminder that this is not a distant problem - it is happening right here in our own community, and it requires our immediate and sustained attention. Indigenous girls are particularly vulnerable, making up 25% of the victims served by the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka. Our region is increasingly recognized as a key corridor for human trafficking in Ontario due to its proximity to major highways and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The region’s mix of urban and rural areas, combined with seasonal tourism, often conceals these operations. Common Ground addresses this urgent issue by providing youth with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize and avoid unsafe situations, fostering healthier relationships, and reducing their risk of exploitation. The Common Ground Youth Group provides support to 50 at-risk youth annually. The Child & Youth Advocacy Centre Simcoe Muskoka currently handles over 350 investigations annually and aims to increase support for families by 25% by 2026. With six police services and two child protection agencies operating in the region, there is a high demand for services.