RNJ Youth Services

What RNJ Youth Services does

RNJ Youth Services is a community-based non-profit organization that delivers youth and family services across the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville region of Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1986 and incorporated in July 1987, the organization is staffed by 13 paid employees and governed by a 12-member volunteer board. It serves at-risk youth primarily through free programs spanning prevention, intervention, mental health support, and youth justice diversion.

The organization operates approximately eleven named program lines, including the After School Program, C.A.R.E., Connections, Direct Accountability, Extrajudicial Measures/Sanctions (EJM/EJS), Gananoque Youth Drop-In, Intersections, Rebound Choices, YITW, YJC, and YMHCW. Service delivery is co-located with or referred through a network of partners that includes Brockville and Gananoque Police Services, YMCA Eastern Ontario, the Town of Gananoque, Gananoque Public Library, Family and Children Services, the Champlain Youth Justice Service Collaborative, The Pier Church, and Bethel Christian Reformed Church. Its EJM/EJS and Direct Accountability work is delivered under the authority of the provincial youth justice diversion framework, which positions RNJ as an authorized community agency for extrajudicial sanctions.

The business model is grant-funded and donation-supported rather than revenue-generating: the organization does not sell services to end users (all programs are free to youth and families) and is funded through a combination of provincial and federal government grants, foundation contributions, individual donations, and community fundraising events such as the annual Curling Bonspiel. Leadership adopted a 2025-2028 Strategic Plan in early 2025 and expanded physical service coverage into Gananoque with a new youth drop-in program in April 2025. There is no disclosed technology platform, no commercial product, and no equity financing in the organizational structure.

Name

RNJ Youth Services

Legal name

RNJ Youth Services Inc.

Website

https://rnjyouth.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RNJ Youth Services is a Canadian non-profit, founded in 1986, that delivers free prevention, intervention, mental health, and youth justice diversion programs to at-risk youth in Ontario's Lanark, Leeds and Grenville region through eleven program lines and a multi-agency referral network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Youth Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Court/Community School Programs (Diversion, Probation-Linked, Community Day Schools) (EDAJAEAI), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Juvenile Justice Education Programs (Detention & Correctional Education) (EDAJAEAB), Dropout Prevention, Re-Engagement & Truancy Intervention Programs (EDAJAEAD)

Keywords

• Youth services
• Youth justice diversion
• Mental health support
• Community nonprofit programs
• After school drop-in

Headquarters

HQ city

Brockville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Recurring/annual program funding from Ontario provincial ministries, including the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and the Ministry of the Attorney General, supporting core youth services, youth justice programs, and the Youth Mental Health Court Worker program.
2. United Way Funding: Annual grant funding from United Way Leeds & Grenville, supporting the Connections Program and other community-based initiatives.
3. Foundation Grants: Restricted and unrestricted grants from private and community foundations, including the Carolyn Sifton Foundation, Law Foundation of Ontario, Lanark Leeds and Grenville Addictions and Mental Health, Brockville and Area Community Foundation, and Perth and District Community Foundation.
4. Individual Charitable Donations: Tax-receipted donations from individuals collected through the Canada Helps online donation page and via direct contact (Rachel at 613-342-4238). Donations are directed to prevention and early intervention programs; administrative costs are NOT funded through donation revenues per stated donation policy.
5. Community Fundraising Events: Annual fundraising events (e.g., 1st Annual Curling Bonspiel on January 19, 2024; 2nd Annual Curling Bonspiel on January 17, 2025) supported by local business sponsors/donors, generating program support funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Core offering

RNJ Youth Services delivers a free, community-based portfolio of youth and family programs spanning prevention drop-in services (After School Program at The Pier; Gananoque Youth Drop-In), evidence-based skills curricula (C.A.R.E. for consent/relationships; Rebound Choices for drugs and alcohol), and youth justice and mental-health programs (Connections, Direct Accountability, Extrajudicial Measures & Sanctions, Youth Justice Committee, Intersections, Youth-in-Transition Worker, Youth Mental Health Court Worker). Programs are offered at no cost to youth and families in the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville region of Ontario and are funded through government grants, foundation grants, United Way, individual donations, and community fundraising events.

Product overview

RNJ Youth Services is a community-based non-profit organization (not a unified software product), delivering its offering as a portfolio of distinct youth-serving programs rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its portfolio spans three program families that work together as a wraparound support system: (1) prevention and after-school drop-in programs including the After School Program at The Pier and the Gananoque Youth Drop-In; (2) educational and skills-based group programs including C.A.R.E. (consent and relationships) and Rebound Choices (drugs and alcohol); and (3) justice-system and mental-health programs including the Connections Program, Direct Accountability Program, Extrajudicial Measures & Extrajudicial Sanctions, the Youth Justice Committee, Intersections, the Youth-in-Transition Worker (YITW) Program, and the Youth Mental Health Court Worker (YMHCW) Program. Together these programs address prevention, early intervention, mental health, substance use, education engagement, and diversion from the justice system for children, youth, and adults across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• After School Program at The Pier Free, drop-in program for youth in grades 7-12 launched in 2017, held Tuesday afternoons during the school year at The Pier Church in Brockville, ON. Provides fitness, recreation, creative activities, healthy snacks, and a meal in a safe, adult-supported environment.
• C.A.R.E. Program Skill development training program for youth ages 12-17 in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, emphasizing informed decision-making about consent and relationships. Uses documented information, video clips, open discussions, and practical exercises to enable youth to develop safety skills in both real-world and online contexts.
• Connections Program Evidence-based services for grades 6-12 youth in Lanark, Leeds and Grenville who show disengagement from school or contact with the criminal justice system, offered in partnership with Brockville Police Service, Gananoque Police Service, and RNJ Youth Services. Provides individualized achievement plans, life skills, arts, recreation, and educational support from 8:30am-2:00pm weekdays at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Brockville.
• Direct Accountability Program Accountability-based program for youth in conflict with the law; details available via the program brochure PDF.
• Extrajudicial Measures (EJM) & Extrajudicial Sanctions (EJS) EJM handles youth aged 12-17 referred by police pre-charge, focusing on needs assessment and individualized plans to prevent future offending. EJS handles youth post-charge referred by the Crown, negotiating sanctions (apology, community service, restitution, counselling) so youth can avoid a criminal record upon successful completion.
• Gananoque Youth Drop-In Free drop-in program launched April 2025 for grades 7-12 youth, held Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2:30-5pm at the Gananoque Public Library. Provided in partnership with YMCA of Eastern Ontario, Town of Gananoque, and the library, offering snacks, indoor/outdoor activities, crafts, computer access, and homework help.
• Intersections Champlain Youth Justice Service Collaborative (CYJSC) early-intervention program for children and youth aged 8-17 with suspected mental health, developmental disabilities, and/or substance use issues who are at risk of becoming justice involved. Coordinates navigation of services to improve well-being and reduce police involvement.
• Rebound Choices Skill-development training program for Lanark, Leeds and Grenville youth that emphasizes informed decision-making about drugs and alcohol. Uses guest speakers, video documentaries, open discussions, and practical exercises to build positive coping strategies in a non-judgmental environment.
• Youth-in-Transition Worker (YITW) Program Supports youth ages 16-24 with Family and Children Services involvement (Crown Ward status) in transitioning out of the child welfare system into adulthood. Helps youth develop goals, navigate adult services (housing, education, employment, life skills, health, mental health, legal), and connect with community supports.
• Youth Justice Committee Leeds and Grenville alternative to formal court proceedings for youth aged 12-17. Brings youth, parents/guardians, community volunteers, and the victim together to negotiate meaningful sanctions (apology, community service, restitution, counselling) so charges can be withdrawn upon successful completion.
• Youth Mental Health Court Worker (YMHCW) Program Voluntary program for youth aged 12-18 with suspected or known mental health needs involved in the Youth Justice System, serving Brockville, Kemptville, and Perth courts in the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville catchment. Provides consultation, court support, and Mental Health Diversion to redirect youth away from the Criminal Justice system and connect them with appropriate services.

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville: Local children's aid society that co-delivers RNJ's Youth-in-Transition Worker (YITW) program. Directly comparable in case management for at-risk youth, Crown Ward transition support, and operating model within the same geography.
• John Howard Society of Ontario: Ontario-wide justice-focused non-profit delivering youth diversion, restorative justice, and reintegration programs. Directly comparable in the youth justice and diversion portion of RNJ's portfolio (YJC, EJM/EJS, Direct Accountability).
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada: National youth mentoring and development non-profit serving at-risk youth through community-based programs. Directly comparable mission, volunteer-driven delivery model, and reliance on donations and foundation grants.
• Boys & Girls Club of Kingston & Area: Regional youth drop-in, recreation, and skills-building non-profit in adjacent Eastern Ontario. Closely comparable program mix (after-school drop-in, life skills) and similar reliance on municipal partnerships, United Way, and donations.

Regional players

• Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth: Lanark-focused non-profit serving children and youth facing homelessness and unsafe housing. Highly comparable by catchment (Lanark) and target population (vulnerable youth), and a likely referral partner or competitor for transitional and casework services.
• Children's Mental Health of Leeds & Grenville: Regional children's mental health agency operating in the same Leeds & Grenville catchment. Directly comparable on the mental health and casework dimensions of RNJ's program mix, including YMHCW-style court support functions.
• Addictions and Mental Health Services – Lanark, Leeds and Grenville: Designated addictions and mental health service provider for the same LLG catchment and a documented RNJ funder. Comparable in mental health and substance use programming, especially to the Rebound Choices and Intersections programs.

Broad incumbents

• Kids Help Phone: Canada's national youth mental health support non-profit referenced directly on RNJ's homepage. Highly comparable mission around youth mental health, though operating nationally via phone/text rather than in-person casework.
• YMCA of Eastern Ontario: Established multi-service non-profit operating in the same Eastern Ontario region, including a co-delivery partnership with RNJ on the Gananoque Drop-In. Comparable youth and family programming, larger scale, and overlapping funder relationships.
• Youth Justice Ontario: Provincial youth justice services network encompassing Youth Justice Committees, EJM/EJS, and YMHCW-style programs across Ontario. Provides the broader institutional framework within which RNJ's justice diversion programs operate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RNJYouth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rnj-youth-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RNJ Youth Services