On this, the international Day of Pink - a day of celebrating diversity and for standing up against bullying, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia in our schools, workplaces and our communities - it's only fitting to have reflection from someone who's been there.

It costs a lot of money to provide treatment in a residential facility for children facing mental health issues. For a typical 6 - 8 month stay, costs can range from $20,000 to $38,400. But Social Work professors at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) found that after spending these resources, it still doesn't seem to provide enough support to help kids transition from the treatment program back to their normal lives.

Crime costs Canadians. It reaches deep into our wallets and our overall quality of life. And who is doing most of this spending? Mainly victims. When we crunch the cost of policing, corrections and courts, we’re looking at $31.4 billion in 2008. For pain and suffering, we’re looking at $68.2 billion.

"A Community Fit for Children Interim Update: Results of the 2010 Early Development Instrument and Kindergarten Parent Survey for Waterloo Region" was shared with members of the Alliance for Children and Youth at its most recent meeting.

What would our communities look like if we consistently prioritized spending on education over spending on prisons? There are lessons to be learned from our neighbours to the south where several US states are looking long and hard at reversing the trend of priosn budgets trumping education.

At a recent presentation to new members of the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council, its Executive Director Christiane Sadeler displayed a slide with the following quote from Eric Young who is considered "a driving force for social innovation".

As someone lucky enough to be a mere observer of the criminal justice system and not a participant, my curiosity was peaked when I heard a young offender (let's call him Henry) speak about his experiences and the wisdom gained as a result.

The Interrupters, has been getting a LOT of press lately. That's not why I'm writing about it here as the 'Smart Link of the Day'. I'm writing about this film because it showcases the absolutely innovative approach of Chicago's Ceasefire program to curb gun related shootings and killings in that city.

A wise friend once told me that when she meets with an inmate, she'll try to picture them as a five year old.

More than any other document, inmates are often keen to share their autobiographies with me. Often, these are painstakingly written as part of a family violence program in a prison.

The mail arrives. Another bulky package. A dozen stamps on the front. It's from someone who goes by a number.

Some time ago two articles from the Globe and Mail collided with such force that it woke me from my early morning stupor. Without the clarity induced by several cups of coffee, I might not have made the connection. The first article by Margaret Wente, " Why Alex can't add (or subtract, multiply or divide)", attracted my attention as a retired teacher. Ms.