TABLE 7.

Life Course Health Development Conceptualization of Canada’s Youth Justice Minimum Age Law Related to Harmony

LCHD Child Justice Principle: Balanced Interactions Facilitate Healthy Development of Children, Thereby Decreasing Risk of Justice Involvement
Salient Ideas	Exemplar Quotes
Punitive mindset inhibits healthy development	“If we’re going to change behavior for a child, punitiveness doesn’t work. Punishment doesn’t deter a child from changing, but actually addressing the skills that are missing or providing the necessary support, that’s what changes kids. And kids need to know that they’re cared about, and they belong. If they don’t have that, that punitive piece can also be relationship destroying.” Elementary school principal
Preventative mindset promotes healthy development	“A largely preventative [approach] allows young people the space to actually make decent decisions... It impacts our health systems and education systems and all of these things to work together to allow young people to manage to develop healthily.” Legal youth advocate
Holistic model incorporates multiple interactive frameworks	“[The rehabilitative and restorative model we follow] is based on different theoretical orientations. It’s not just 1. It’s cognitive, behavioral, attachment, social interactional learning, feminist, and a systems approach. And really the nugget of the strategy is teaching kids how their thoughts, feelings, and actions are all interrelated.” Community service provider

“Harmony” is health development that results from the balanced interactions of molecular, physiologic, behavioral, cultural, and evolutionary processes.¹⁸