NATIONAL IRCA™ TRAINING PROJECT

The National IRCA™ Training Project (NITP), was a three-year initiative directed and led by Natalie Hodgson. The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic (PCC) received funding from the Government of Canada to implement IRCAs nationally.

 

This was achieved through the development of the NITP to create a training manual, develop a training course and accompanying materials, and deliver the training in both English and French for new IRCA™ Assessors (also referred to as “forensic cultural clinicians”).

 

Prior to the development of this manual, the NITP began training assessors in jurisdictions with current IRCA™ requests through an intensive mentorship program.

 

This project is sponsored by a grant from the Federal Department of Justice

​

WHAT IS AN IRCA™?

 

Impact of Race and Culture Assessments™ (IRCAs™) are comprehensive pre-sentencing reports prepared for judges, to aid in sentencing decisions for Black people involved in the criminal justice system. An IRCA™ examines the impact that systemic anti-Black racism has on an individual's life.

 

In 2021, the Government of Canada supported the implementation of IRCA™ infrastructure in each province and territory through funding agreements. For more details, visit: https://lnkd.in/gZQiMRMJ

 

Prospective assessors will be trained in IRCA™ writing through a free microcredential course, delivered in partnership with Dalhousie University School of Social Work. The course includes two full days of in-person training, a follow-up online session, and the completion of a mock IRCA™ to fulfill the microcredential requirements.

 

For more information visit ansji.ca or e-mail: natalie.hodgson@ansji.ca