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very morning when you look in the mirror, please see how blessed your life is and what a gift you
have been given to be a part of helping kids release their fear. As our CEO said at the US Conference of Mayors, all any of us want in life is to matter. We do not believe there is such a thing as a bad kid; we think they just haven't found their gifts...Yet! For many of these kids, what they experience in the Release the Fear programs is the first time in their lives they feel that they matter. There is nothing better than witnessing the transformation that happens in kids who think they're just bad—who think they don't matter. They walk into the workshop on the first day, arms crossed, acting uninterested. By the second day, they start opening up. By the third day, they get a glimpse that they do have something to offer, they do have a gift! For nearly eighteen years, Release the Fear has had the opportunity to interact with over 7,000 troubled youth; these youth now know they have a life purpose. They know their wishes and dreams can come true, and they know they are worth it. Our evidence-based curriculum has helped troubled kids in schools, jails, detention, and treatment centers. Through the creative processes of art, music, and communication, we teach kids cognitive behavioral skills to build self-esteem. They learn tools to help them succeed in school, manage conflict resolution, and to address peer pressure, and bullying. From 2011 to 2013, we were able to increase the number of kids reached by 55.6 percent, and we expanded our preventative programming to the Tempe, Balsz, and Cartwright school districts. We were able to bring on four new highly qualified facilitators to helping us meet the demands of an underserved community, and to expand the reach of our mission. '
We have conclusive tracking of our pre and post quantitative survey, along with qualitative over the last seven years. Statistics from Maricopa County’s Juvenile Probation Department demonstrate that the recidivism of incarcerated youth (which is around 30 percent) is reduced in participants of our Inside Out, Bridging Possibilities workshop, and for those participating in multiple IOBP workshops, the recidivism rate is reduced by nearly half. These findings inspired the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections to conduct a three-year longitudinal study on the effectiveness of the Release the Fear programs, and its effects on recidivism. By spring 2014, the mid-report has shown promising results. In addition the New Mexico State University just released a two-year in-depth study of Release the Fear's Discover U Summer Camp Program, with results showing the positive effects of our programs on Arizona youth and communities Our 2013 Spring celebration brought many cross cultural groups of all ages from Japanese to Hispanics together, creating magic for a “Night of 1000 Cranes”. In 2013, Release the Fear achieved and surpassed many projected goals, yet there is much more work to be done. For each of the youth we are able to provide new tools, new hopes, and the possibility of new dreams, there are ten more that need our assistance. Please help us continue to bridge new-found possibilities for every child in our community. Thank you,
Release the Fear ,Inc. Board Chair