COLUMNS
Youth Connections | Erin Smith
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he youth of our community represent the potential of our future. Often through no fault of their own, many experience tough economic, social and environmental challenges in our community. Youth Connections’ mission is to prevent juvenile delinquency by serving our youth through crisis intervention, community education and mentoring to foster positive relationships and selfworth. There are six primary programs that help accomplish these goals:
3. Jump Start Mentoring Program: This 32-week program meets during the school year and summer months, teaching youth about goal-setting and positive communication skills. 4. Custody Evaluations: These courtmandated assessments determine the needs of a child and evaluate each parent’s ability to adequately provide for those needs. 5. Divorce Education: ‘Families in Transition’ is a safe place for children and adults to begin the healing process associated with divorce and learn communication skills for coping with new relationship dynamics.
1. Safe Place Program: There are 111 designated sites in Johnson and Morgan counties where youth can go in a crisis 6. Children’s Visitation Center: A safe situation. Outreach to youth about this and neutral location for supervised program occurs through presentations visits between children and parents. at local schools, educating them about TRUE STORY the dangers of running away, drugs, Divorce often causes tremendous alcohol and bullying. 2. Host Homes: Pre-screened families offer temporary crisis placement for our youth ages 7-17.
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pain and confusion for families. Tom Bingham, Executive Director for Youth Connections, shared how blessings can be found in the process of coping
with change and healing. He recalled involvement with a family where the 5-year-old had never really known his dad but was now being required to participate in court-ordered supervised visits with him. Bingham remembers, “As you can imagine, the first meeting was tense and awkward. We were so thankful for the new Children’s Visitation Center (CVC) that created an environment that felt more like home with books, a comfy couch, a cool fish tank and fun games.” He went on to explain that the child warmed up to his dad over several visits and looked forward to coming back to the CVC to spend time with him. The dad also learned effective communication and parenting skills while interacting with the staff during his time with Youth Connections. Eventually the visitations progressed to unsupervised, and what once seemed to be a strained relationship between father and child developed into a healthy bonding – nothing short of a miracle. Youth Connections’ involvement was a true blessing in the lives of that family and many more as they continue to serve the families in crisis of our community.
NEWSLETTER | DECEMBER 2013
11/25/2013 7:01:13 PM