|
 The
Safety Net Work “Choices Program” is not a new program. But it
does have a new home and partner in Patriots’ Gateway Community
Centers’ newest extension “The Comprehensive Learning Academy,”
located at 212 7th
Street. The new extension center is dedicated to at risk youth
ages 11 to 24 years and services are free of charge.
The
services and more are in great demand with juvenile delinquency,
and violence on the rise. The youth whom attend are considered
to be at risk by a Winnebago County Probation Officer, teachers,
parents and guardians. The program provides a variety of
classes’ multi-curriculum and sports. By that I mean, we offer
alternative programming that kids, parent, teachers and
probation officers have come to rely one.
The Choices Program has a unique format of instruction. The
instruction includes curriculum on gang intervention and
prevention based on the Ohio Gang Intervention and Prevention
Program. We also offer Industrial Arts such as wood working and
sports such as basketball. Once the youth are assessed their
programming starts immediately. The youth and parents make a
commitment to the program for at least eight weeks. That
commitment is considered the youths’ first goal in making a
commitment to themselves in changing their habits, and life
style. Making the effort to attend a full eight weeks is a huge
step.
The youth
learn to understand the importance of goals, and why we have
them. They learn about good and bad goals. They learn that there
are consequences for those actions it could be both good and
bad. We read real life stories of youth their age and talk about
the consequences of those actions. They talk about poverty,
options and gangs. After class the youth are offered a chance to
participate in either boxing or basketball, both positive sports
for any young person.
Upon
completion on the eight week commitment to the program the youth
participate in a graduation ceremony where they receive a
certificate of completion. |
