Wednesday, July 12, 2006

Club gets DWI funds for programs

Boys & Girls Club will restart Teen Court and keep Javelin going

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, aduncan@dchieftain.com

The Boys & Girls Club of Socorro has received funding from the Socorro County DWI Programs for two programs designed to encourage youth to quit or never start abusing substances and getting into legal trouble.

The club is preparing to restart a local Teen Court with $3,000 in funding and provide a second year of its Javelin program with $9,921, which will report to DWI Programs.

Club leaders plan to offer Javelin, an intervention program for middle school students, to about 50 youth in Socorro and Magdalena in the coming school year, said Director of Special Programs Chandell Murphy. It reaches out to youth abusing substances, in the justice system or at high risk for those situations.

The Boys & Girls Club will host one Javelin group, but she's unsure if Sarracino Middle School students will participate again. The AIM High teacher, whose eighth-graders received the program last year, has indicated continued interest, said Murphy, who worked as a Sarracino counselor last year. Javelin instructors don't force students to participate.

"But usually it's fun enough that they're excited," Murphy said.

Youth must meet certain criteria to take part in the program.

The 12-session curriculum involves games and hands-on activities. It covers subjects such as substance abuse and exploration of who students are and how they reached their current situation.

"But actually the most powerful thing we do is the ropes course, because it gives them an opportunity to succeed," Murphy said.

The activity also helps build problem-solving skills. Murphy said Javelin comes from the minds of several workers at the club.

DWI Programs coordinator Denise Sawyer is pleased with the first year's results. She said Javelin covers many aspects to give teenagers what they need to contribute to society.

"They can be gainfully active and employed in the community instead of being a statistic," Sawyer said.

As for Teen Court, the Boys & Girls Club is bringing it back to the county with a small amount of funding after year's lapse.

The juvenile probation office refers young offenders to the program. The offenders go before a court of their peers, explain their actions and meet victims of their crimes, if any were involved.

The teenage jury typically sentences offenders to community service. Murphy hopes to add Javelin attendance as another option.

The club is preparing and training. Staff members are looking for a program facility, and judges and attorneys to mentor youth who will form the court.

She said the club usually tries to keep youth from getting into trouble, but staff members have seen good work with those who already have problems.

"And so Teen Court has a very good track record in many communities," she said. The program did well in Socorro in the past, she continued.

With Teen Court, Murphy said, juvenile offenders get less punitive consequences and a chance to change and see another perspective. She said the other youth could serve as bailiffs, attorneys and so on, which could "open up the world" for them.

Chief Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer Esther Baca said she supports the program and hopes it succeeds.

"I believe that it works," she said.

Sawyer said the club operating the program takes the responsibility off schoolteachers.

She said Teen Court lets youth learn about courts and laws, and allows students considering careers in criminal justice or law to try the field. Also, juvenile offenders might listen to their peers more than to adults, she said.

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