Summary Of Juvenile Blueprint Program: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program offered in a number of communities nationwide. The program allows an adult volunteer “Big” and a child “Little” to form a bond. When these relationships are developed, they are meant to have a “direct and lasting effect on the lives of the young children that are involved”. The goal of this program is to allow the children that are participating to know that they have the ability to succeed and thrive. The adults in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program provide the children (aged 6-18) with a “strong, enduring, and professionally supported one-to-one relationship. It is important for these children to have

This assignment states that the current juvenile system focuses on rehabilitation rather than punishing the juveniles. With that in mind, the assumption is that all juveniles can be rehabilitated. The question posed to me is my view on why or why not all juveniles can be rehabilitated? The Webster dictionary defines juvenile’s delinquency as, “A violation of the law or some type of antisocial behavior by a child or young person, and rehabilitation is, “To restore someone to good condition or health.

The juvenile breaking the cycle program (JBTC) is a post- arrest effort. This program is

The state agency, the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) administers both directly and indirectly a number of custodial facilities, basically jails for those judged young offenders aged 10 to 21. Those not run directly by TYC are contracted out to firms such as GEO. However based on the Dallas Morning News series of articles both those run directly by the state agency and the contractors are operated very poorly.

The policy is the Pennsylvania State Code, chapter 3490 for protective services. This law applies to all departments or agencies that provide services to children and youth. Employees may include law officials, public/private schooling, and any professional employees that come in contact with children (The PA code, 3490). The code states that when a child is taken into protective custody it is the obligation of the agency to provide visitation between the parent/siblings and child at least twice a month. The rationale behind this code is to protect the relationship between the parent and child in the reunification process.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention) is requesting funds to provide juveniles a second chance through a community supervision reform program. The Department’s goal for requesting these funds is to reduce the number of juveniles currently on probation. As of 2013, there were over 383,600 juveniles on probation. This program would provide grants by implementing community supervision strategies that reduces recidivism, and improves the outcome for juveniles that are currently under community supervision. Funding for this program will increase

In 1904, a New York City Clerk named Ernest Coulter saw fit to form an adult volunteers program, Big Brothers movement to help keep kids out of trouble while demonstrating to be a caring role model into the lives of children through a network of over 400 local agencies. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City was chartered in 1964, started by two big brothers who are still involved in the program today. In 1977, Big Brothers Association and Big Sisters International joined forces and became Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. BBBSKC has been one of the fastest growing BBBS agencies in the countries and was named Agency of the Year in 2010 & 2012 (http://www.bbbskc.org). The impact of the program is about meeting the youths most basic developmental needs. This is done through one-on-one relationship that is built on trust and friendship that could blossom into a future of unlimited potentials in addition, by observing shared everyday activities such as eating out, playing sports or attending sports events, going to movies, sightseeing, or just spending quality time together. This program has an on-going study that indicates very low results when adults actively participates in the lives of the children such as 46% children are less likely to begin using illegal drugs, 27% less likely to begin using alcohol, 52% less likely to skip

“The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches but to reveal to him his own. - Benjamin Disrael This quote is similar to a Chinese Proverb that says “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime”(Chinese Proverb). Both essentially say the same thing, and that is, you can only help someone so much until they need to realize they are capable of doing great things on their own. Higher Risk youth benefit from guidance, but once they have figured everything out they can move on alone. These two quotes apply to mentoring because, mentoring is like showing someone the way to life.

Through social interactions, children begin to develop a sense of pride in their accomplishments and abilities (Cherry 2014).

Luckily, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters is in a great position right now as there are many opportunities that they can undertake. For example, they have a waiting list of over 4,000 children who are wanting to be matched with a Big. If the right mentors can be located throughout the state while continuing to find the resources needed, then the organization has the ability to serve over 10,000 children in Kansas. As over 70 percent of children on the waiting list to receive a Big are male, Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters has the opportunity to target males in the community specifically. Fortunately, many of the counties that are being served in Kansas are in college towns and so many of the students attending college are looking for philanthropic opportunities and will be willing to engage with the organization. There is a huge need for this organization looking ahead.

“Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.” – Rita F. Pierson

Explain the differences in private and publicly funded juvenile institutions. If you had the power to affect the operation of both, which youth would you send to which facilities? Do private facilities have a place in the state-run correctional industry?

Within the Ranch I mentored a pair of siblings, Anthony, 5, and April, 13, surrendered by a neglectful and abusive mother. Furthermore, I would bring them on outings about every other week, whether it be a corn maze, a movie or Thanksgiving dinner, watching their faces light up when I’d walk into their ‘home’ became my favorite part of the day, and I wished more than anything that I provide more for them. However, I found myself teaching them small manners, or helping them with homework or teaching Anthony lessons that a parent would teach such as tying his shoe, and my heart would sink knowing that they lacked a family to care for them in this way all the time. Moreover, I taught April seemingly insignificant tricks about makeup, and taught her the importance of school, much to her dismay. While I may have impacted their lives for the two years I mentored them, before a beautiful family adopted them, they provided more than I will ever be able to convey, a true sense of joy to

Alternative programs for youth were developed for mild and less serious delinquents. Over the years, the program has seen a surge in electronic home monitoring, community intensive supervision programs which service serious offenders in addition to minor cases. At times, group homes may house repeated youth offenders. Regardless of the placement, 24-hour supervision is provided in a unique way.

The positive effects of adult support for children can be witnessed as children gain confidence and show an increased level of self-esteem. These positive effects are reinforced when encouraged and given praise for their achievements from teachers, parents, carers, and other adults.