Impact Bond: YMCA Alternative Suspension Programme
Stage of development: Implementation
Policy sector: Education
Social challenge: School dropout is a national crisis in Canada. School suspensions and other disciplinary measures are early indicators of a student’s potential to disengage from school. YMCA Alternative Suspension is a dropout prevention program designed to counter these risk factors.
Intervention: The Alternative Suspension Social Impact Bond (SIB) is an outcomes-based financing agreement that seeks to reduce school dropouts rates among youths aged 12–17, and act as a deterrence for repeated suspensions. The Programme supports secondary-level students who have been temporarily dismissed from the school setting through a three (3) to five (5) day offsite program. Students receive support with schoolwork, participate in group workshops, and engage in individual counselling, building autonomy and self-esteem throughout.
Primary SDG goal: 4
Secondary SDG goals: 8,10,17
Start of service provision: 2021-09
Total investment commitment currency: CAD
Total investment commitment: 3400000
Total investment commitment (USD): 2560867.66
Maximum potential outcome payment: 4500000 CAD
Maximum potential outcome payment (USD): 3389383.668
Finance notes: This is target investment commitment according to source2.
Target population: The programme welcomes youth between the ages of 10 to 17, who are confronted with significant risk factors in their personal and academic lives. Program participants are referred to the program by pre-identified, participating secondary level schools in each program community.
Targeted number of service users or beneficiaries: 1600
Targeted unit type: Individual
Changes to project due to COVID-19: Pause project