NCJ Number
57995
Journal
Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 30 Issue: 2 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 3-9
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A REHABILITATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS DELINQUENT DROPOUTS CAREER COUNSELING, HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE, PLACEMENT, AND FOLLOWUP SERVICES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNLIMITED (YOU) WAS BEGUN IN NOVEMBER 1974 BY A JUVENILE COURT JUDGE IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. THE PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF RAPID STATUS CHANGE, I.E., THE VIEW THAT QUICK IMPROVEMENTS IN A YOUTH'S ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, OR EDUCATIONAL STATUS WILL BRING POSITIVE CHANGES IN SELF-IMAGE, WHICH WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY IMPROVED BEHAVIOR. THE PROGRAM RECEIVES ITS CLIENTS FROM THE JUVENILE COURT AND OTHER AGENCIES. THE YOUTHS ARE GIVEN READING AND INTEREST TESTS AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO ENTER YOU'S HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DEGREE PROGRAM. CLIENTS TAKE PART IN A MONTH-LONG ORIENTATION SESSION, DURING WHICH THEY TAKE PART IN GROUP COUNSELING AND EXPLORE VARIOUS CAREER FIELDS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. CLIENTS THEN WORK WITH THEIR COUNSELORS TO DEVELOP CAREER PLANS, WHICH ARE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH PLACEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT, COLLEGE, TECHNICAL TRAINING, OR MILITARY SERVICE. THE DELIVERY OF DIRECT SERVICES LASTS UNDER 2 MONTHS, WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE CLIENT'S 1-YEAR INVOLVEMENT IN YOU DEVOTED TO SUPPORTIVE AND FOLLOWUP SERVICES. WITH THE COOPERATION OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS, YOU HAS PROVIDED SERVICES TO 765 YOUTHS. PROGRAM OUTCOMES INCLUDE 1,122 PLACEMENTS (160 EDUCATIONAL, 780 EMPLOYMENT, 42 MILITARY, 140 TECHNICAL TRAINING), AN 82-PERCENT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OFFENSES COMMITTED BY PARTICIPANTS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, AND EVIDENCE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN PARTICIPANTS' SELF-CONFIDENCE, SELF-RESPECT, AND ABILITY TO RELATE TO OTHERS. YOU WON THE 1978 NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JUVENILE AND FAMILY COURT JUDGES UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE YOUTH PROJECT AWARD. (LKM)