Community ReportLehigh County

Juvenile Justice System

Make Good Choices Spring 2008

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 1

Youth Crime and Violence Task Force

The Lehigh County Youth Crime andViolence Task Force originated in the mid-90’s in response to concern regardingdelinquent activity among youth. TheTask Force is represented by a widevariety of youth-serving agencies, lawenforcement, Juvenile Probation, theDistrict Attorney’s Office, the PublicDefender’s Office, the Allentown SchoolDistrict, the Office of Children and Youth,Human Services, the Department ofCorrections, and others concerned withthe well-being of youth in Lehigh County.

The Task Force meets monthly to discussactivities, trends, and collaborative effortsamong its members and the community as a whole. Some of its activities includethe development of a serious habitual-offender program, addressing informationsharing through confidentiality legislation,and most recently, serving as theprevention committee for the UnitedStates Attorney’s Office Route 222 Anti-gang Initiative.

The Task Force allows all entities toexpress their concerns and ideas,collaborate with projects, and be achampion for the betterment of ourcommunities through a reduction inyouth crime and violence. The initiativespresented in this newsletter show theeffectiveness of community collaborationand partnerships in combating crime andthe gang element.

If you have any questions or comments,please contact Paul Werrell, ChiefJuvenile Probation Officer, at 610-782-3143. �

Weed and SeedToo many families withpre-adolescent and adolescent childrenhave poor familymanagement practicesand are, therefore,

vulnerable for “pushing” their children towardstreet gangs. This risk factor is backed byresearch and frequently cited by a number ofprevention researchers (Loeber & Stouthamer-Loeber, 1986; Fraser, Hawkins, and Howard,1986; McMahon, 1987) who strongly supportfamily-focused prevention interventions as themost effective intervention strategy fordelinquency.

In Allentown, approximately 250 gangmembers have made their presence felt with an increase in gang tag graffiti.According to an officer of the AllentownPolice Department, 100 or so of the gangmembers reside within the Weed and Seedtarget area. The target area is 12% of the Cityof Allentown population yet contains 40% ofthe gang members.

Strengthening Families: 10-14 is an evidence-based prevention education program thattargets numerous aspects of youth, parent, andfamily behavior. Within the Weed and Seedtarget area, SFP is seen as a logical strategy indeterring youth from being attracted to gangs,drugs, and other deviant youth behavior.

SFP: 10-14 is a seven week, once per week,2.5 hour program for parents/guardians andtheir children. The first thirty minutes isdinner with families sitting together toencourage family cohesion. The first hourprovides instruction to adults and youth inseparate rooms. The last hour brings allfamilies together for a family session. At that time participants practice what theylearned during their hour of instruction and discussion.

The first seven week session ended Tuesday,March 4, 2008. The Project Coordinatorconsiders the sessions a success as evidencedby the attendance of parents who have ahistory of poor attendance for other familyrelated activities, e.g. school conferences.

Weed and Seed and Penn State CooperativeExtension are grateful for the support providedby the 222 Anti-gang Initiative, which madeimplementation of this program possible. �

Written by Phyllis Alexander,Coordinator, Weed and Seed

100 S. 7th Street610-437-7679

Allentown, PA 18102Photos above and below depict children participating in program activities.

Route 222 Anti-gang Initiative Report

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 2

All StarsThe model program, All Stars,establishes sixth-, seventh-, andeighth-grade students with personalcommitment to avoid riskybehaviors and promote positiveparental attentiveness. Overall focusis on creating positive relationshipsbetween the youth and theirfamilies, community, and schools.

Scoutreach and Gang Prevention

The Scoutreachprogram of the MinsiTrail’s Council providesan opportunity for over1,400 youth in the

Valley’s cities. Once a week, boys attend aScouting meeting run by a teacher, collegestudent, or volunteer. The meeting is held atthe school after school hours. This is a chancefor boys who, in the past, may not have hadthe chance to experience Scouting based oneconomic or social barriers. This program isprovided totally free of charge to youth wholive below the poverty line.

By partnering with the cities’ school districts,the program provides an after-school outletfor boys to develop leadership skills andpreparedness to become responsible membersof their community, all in a fun and nurturingenvironment. For further information aboutthe program, please contact Jimmy Torres,Director of Scoutreach, 610-465-8562. �

Written by Matthew Klutzaritz

Camp CompassYouth participation in the outdoors is on adecline, but youth crime and violence isnot. The door is “shut” to youth whoseparents do not traditionally participate inoutdoor activities. The sport and heritageof fishing is something that is passed downfrom generation to generation, parent tochild. Unfortunately, if the parent does notfish, the children most likely, will noteither. Camp Compass Academy introducesinner-city youth to the outdoors andfishing. It is an innovative way to get kidsback into the sport of fishing and to keepthem off the streets. With funding, CampCompass Academy was able to increaseeducational time, fishing instruction, andactual fishing experiences provided toyouth. Our program increased interest inboth fishing and boating by introducingnovice individuals to the sport of fishing. Italso educated the participating students inways to pursue this hobby on their ownand taught them the importance ofcontinuing fishing and boating. CampCompass Academy strives to create andinstill the outdoor sports tradition in eachof its students through education, practiceand a long time frame.

Camp Compass Academy is a non-profitprogram developed for urban,disadvantaged youth. The volunteermentors are making a difference in theinner city by providing hunting, fishing,archery, tutoring, social guidance, andother outdoor youth activities. Thechildren involved are helped with lifethrough a structured program fosteringself-esteem, providing role models, andinfluencing positive choices. �

Written by John F. Annoni, CEO, Camp Compass Academy

1221 Sumner Ave. RearAllentown, PA 18104

610-778-0576

The goal(s) of All Stars are to:• Build idealism and a belief in the future• Establish personal commitments to avoid

risky behavior• Promote bonding between the school,

students, and the community.• Promote positive parental awareness• Strengthen students’ dispositions to

avoid drug use, fighting, and prematuresexual activity

There are three main reasons for ourorganization to become actively involvedin promoting and presenting this program:

1) It fits perfectly into the mission of the Centerfor Humanistic Change to engage members ofthe community in opportunities to prepare forlife’s challenges through delivery of life skillseducation and programs that encourage healthydecision-making, positive choices, and peaceful living.

2) The project targets youth who live in anenvironment which gives them the leastopportunity for success and the greatestopportunity for endangering themselves andothers, and the greatest likelihood of loss of life at an early age.

3) It offers a perfect opportunity to collaboratewith community partners. �

Valerie McKaey, Center for Humanistic Change

484-821-0375Youth participating in life skills education program.

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 3

From the Editor...

The community partnerships funded through the Route 222anti-gang initiative are helping at-risk youths discover thatchange is possible. Our kids are becoming involved in pro-socialactivities that assist them in developing their skills and talents,as well as improving their academic performance and outlooktoward life. The funding for these initiatives will soon end, andefforts are underway to find additional funding to support andcontinue these programs.

Community Involvement is Welcome!If you or your organization can assist in providing

funding or resources, or if you can to volunteer yourtime as a mentor or a tutor for our youth, please contactAndrew J. DeAngelo, Community Justice Planner, LehighCounty Office of Court Administration, 484-226-4609.Through community support and involvement our kidscan become productive and law-abiding citizens; tax

payers, not tax takers.

Passport to ManhoodThe Boys & Girls Club ofAllentown offers a programcalled Passport to Manhood,which is a program resourcefor promoting positive valuesand responsible behavior inboys aged 11-14. It represents

a targeted effort to engage young males in interactive discussionsand activities that reinforce positive behavior. Theimplementation of this program at the Boys & Girls Club ofAllentown is another important step in our ongoing efforts tohelp our children realize their full potential as productive,responsible, and caring citizens.

Specifically, during the implementation of our sessions at the Teen Center, we cover areas such as Values in Decision Making(learning about the notion of values and how they can be appliedto personal decision-making), developing a Code of Ethics to useas a guide through transitions, Personal Wellness plans throughthe principles of nutrition and fitness, examining the myths andfacts about substance abuse and developing a stance against it,learning what authority is and developing a positive relationshipwith people of authority in order to receive desirable outcomes inthe future. We have just started to discuss girls and ourrelationships with them, including cultural stereotypes aboutfemales and how to relate to girls with respect and equality.

For more information about this program, please call BrandonStahl at 610-432-9323 at the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown. �

Written by Brandon Stahl,Target Outreach Coordinator

Boys & Girls Club of Allentown720 N. 6th St.

Allentown, PA 18102610-432-9323 ext.40

bgcastahl@aol.com

The U-Turn Project, A Route 222 Corridor InitiativeProject U Turn is designed to uncoverthe root causes of youth gangs throughvideo interviews and create a actionplan. The project will also continue tobuild solid relationships of trust throughyouth nights, and will provide a seriesof seminars which will educate on the issues, risk factors, and methods toconnect youths with a constellation ofresources in their community. �

Written by Pastor Jim Rivera,City Limits Assembly of God Church

610-776-8656.

Effective Collaboration

Change Is Possible

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 4

Mosser Village Aims to Help High-Risk StudentsAs a collaborative effort of The AllentownSchool District, Lehigh County JuvenileProbation, Lehigh County Children andYouth, and Mosser Village Family Center,an anti-gang initiative program, was startedin October 2007. The program is focusedon the issue of truancy, since that is a major risk factor and early indicator ofvulnerability to entrance into a gang.

The program targets students and familiesof students who have been identified ashaving truancy problems or are at-risk forchronic truancy. The program is currentlyavailable to three schools in the AllentownSchool District: Mosser Elementary,Sheridan Elementary and Harrison-MortonMiddle School. Students are referred to theprogram by Guidance Counselors andSchool Administrators. The cooperation ofadministration and classroom teachers isimperative to the success of the program.Teachers of the identified students areasked to complete a simple checklist formwhich tracks the progress of these students. The checklist is turned in weekly to thetruancy coordinator as an evaluation tool.

Following the school referral, the family iscontacted and a visit is made to the hometo discuss participation in this voluntaryprogram, information release forms aresigned, and the families are officiallyenrolled in the program. During the homevisit, pertinent information is gatheredconcerning the reasons for absences andtardiness, and every attempt is made toresolve the issues. Sometimes it is as easy asproviding alarm clocks. Lack of appropriateclothing may be an issue, and we can offerassistance through our clothing bank ordonor referrals. Some severe issues may sooverwhelm the family that schoolattendance is just not their top priority orconcern. In these cases, we attempt to assistthe family in any way we can by arrangingfor assistance through our community center

or through other social agencies and helpingto connect them to the appropriateresources. Families are encouraged to takeadvantage of Mosser Village programs, such as the food bank, clothing bank, after-school programs, summer camp, social events, and various classes.

Following the initial home visit, thestudents have weekly one-on-one visits intheir school with the truancy coordinator.The students earn points toward an awardgoal by attending school every day and on time, completing all homework andclassroom assignments, and exhibitingappropriate behavior. Students are alsoencouraged to participate in after-schoolprograms offered by Mosser Village in their schools. The weekly school visitserves as a means of encouragement,support, reinforcement, assistance, and the building of necessary skills to affectpositive changes.

In addition to the student one-on-one visits, communication with the families,both in-home and phone correspondence,is maintained to form relationships andprovide ongoing support. Families are madeaware of and encouraged to participate invarious programs and classes offered byMosser Village and by other social andnon-profit organizations. Families arereferred to appropriate agencies to dealwith specific needs and issues. A uniqueconnection of student, parent, teacher,counselor, administrators, and community is formed as a “wrap-around” supportsystem to help the student, as well as thefamily, to deal with issues that may affectschool attendance. �

Written by Patti Iannelli,Truancy Coordinator, Mosser Village Family Center

610-820-9927

Missionof the

Juvenile Justice System“Juvenile Justice:

Community Protection,Victim Restoration,Youth Redemption.”

Community Protection refers to theright of all Pennsylvania citizens tobe and feel safe from crime.

Victim Restoration emphasizes that,in Pennsylvania, a juvenile whocommits a crime harms the victimof the crime and the community,and thereby incurs an obligation torepair that harm to the greatestextent possible.

Youth Redemption embodies thebelief that juvenile offenders inPennsylvania have strengths, arecapable of change, can earnredemption, and can becomeresponsible and productive membersof their community.

Furthermore, all of the servicesdesigned and implemented toachieve this mission and allhearings and decisions under theJuvenile Act — indeed all aspects ofthe juvenile justice system — mustbe provided in a fair and unbiasedmanner. The United States andPennsylvania Constitutionsguarantee rights and privileges toall citizens, regardless of race, color,creed, gender, national origin, orhandicap.

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE EDUCATION: Keeping Youth on Track

Summary

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 5

SummaryAdventure Challenge Education(ACE) is a three-month gangprevention program for youth ages 15-17, consisting of twocomponents: a 5-weektherapeutically-based adventureprogram taking place at CampFowler in Orefield PA (Phase I), and a 16-week follow-up programfocused on maintaining thepersonal and interpersonalskills developed in the firstcomponent, preparing youthfor employment and sustaining

school attendance (Phases II through IV). Phase I willuse wilderness experiences, a certified ropes course andgroup activities to promote self-efficacy through taskaccomplishment facilitated by natural consequences.Youth will build self-reliance, develop an internal focusof control, and increase their ability to cooperate withothers. Phases II through IV will be a follow-up programthat will include group and individual instruction to helpthe youth develop the skills to be successful in theworkforce and to find and keep a job. Participants willalso return once a month for a one-day “booster session”at Camp Fowler during Phases II, III and IV.

The follow-up component of ACE is developed aroundthe need for the targeted youth to find gainfulemployment, earn a living, and become responsiblemembers of the community. In “Youth Gang Programsand Strategies,” a review of gang program evaluationspublished by the Office of Juvenile Justice andDelinquency Prevention, job training and workopportunities appear consistently among the components of successful prevention programs.

All ACE activities are based on a Positive YouthDevelopment model, which is an asset-based culturalapproach that involves providing support, guidance, and opportunities for youth to develop skill sets andattitudes related to self reliance, success, and achievementof their full potential. Youth at risk for gang involvementare often operating with a history of poor parenting,limited success, and low expectations The Positive Youth Development framework focuses on exposure to,development of, and practice of healthy choices andopportunities. The model often includes “re-parenting”youth in order to instill developmental assets andempower youth to approach their futures withconfidence. Through Valley Youth House’s Positive Youth Development model, youth develop a stableidentity, understand the need for safe and structuredsurroundings, develop a feeling of connection to others, learn skills to facilitate healthy development, and develop self-esteem through successful completion of new challenges.

GoalsGoalsThe over-arching goal for ACE participants is the development ofpersonal assets (or strengths) leading to resilience in the face ofadversity. Specifically, youth involved with ACE will:

• Improve Social and Interpersonal Skills

• Improve Self-esteem / Self-worth / Personal Responsibility

• Increase Reflectivity Rather than Impulsive Behavior and Thinking

• Develop an Internal Focus of Control

• Develop Flexible Coping Strategies

• Improve Problem Solving

• Successfully Complete Positive Risk-taking Activities

• Develop Sense of Belonging and Commitment

• Experience Positive Recognition

Outcome and EvaluationOutcomes and EvaluationParticipants will exhibit decreased behavior dysfunctionand social problems at the conclusion of Phase I asmeasured by the Youth Outcome Questionnaire (Y-OQ), a brief 64-item parent report measure oftreatment progress for children and adolescents (ages 4-17) receiving mental health intervention.It will be administered pre-, mid- and post-program as well as six months after program completion.

Other outcomes will include increased attendance atwork and at school for the six-month period followingprogram completion (as reported by employer andschool administration), and participants will not become involved in criminal activity during the sixmonths following program completion (as reported by the referral source and/or family). �

Written By Elizabeth Allen,Program Director, Valley Youth House

610-954-9561

Lehigh County Juvenile Justice System Community Report 6

Make Good Choices

Lehigh County Juvenile Probation Department455 W. Hamilton StreetAllentown, PA 18101

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDALLENTOWN PAPERMIT NO. 56

Community Report

Summary of Additional RT. 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Prevention Initiative Programs◆ Caring Place Family Health Program

An adolescent leadership development program that encourages teens to define what they think a healthy community for youth looks like, involving 15 youth with a minimum of 60% from Weed and Seed target area and 40% identified as at-risk from Juvenile Probation. The program involves three youth peer leaders and three college students.

◆ Coalition for Appropriate TransportationCAT has expand its programs that build safer, cleaner cities and offer positive alternatives to teens in Allentown. The project has three components: Adopt a Bus Stop/Blockwatch, Adopt a Walkway (trail maintenance), & Bicycle Education Classes.

◆ Community Bike WorksEarn-A-Bike develops and uses peer role models, adult mentors, and bicycles to draw boys and girls ages 9-17 into the program and away from drugs and the streets.

◆ Hispanic American League of ArtistsYouth video project involving 8-12 youth in two 12-week sessions to produce and edit documentaries regarding gang activity.

◆ Rev. Dr. Josue Cancel Inglesia Cristiana Bethesda, Inc.“Allentown Youth – Surviving the Streets”: youth produce videos, design urban-style shirts, receive information from former gang members and participate in community affairs.

◆ LC Conference of ChurchesTwenty-five sessions for at-risk youth and their families are conducted after school that focus on conflict resolution and strengthening families.

◆ LV Hospital, Dr. Sarah Stevens, Adolescent MedicineGang Awareness & Education in a Medical Setting – providing gang awareness training for medical professionals (emergency department, trauma), providing gang education materials to youth and families seeking medical care, implement a screening tool in the emergency department.

◆ Life Church and Life AcademyYouth for Life “Anti-Gang” Interactive Movie-making Initiative – fourteen Allentown youth are selected to participate in a 10-week after school movie-making boot camp and will produce two anti-gang theme DVDs – professional quality, will work with aprofessional actor to perform two events in two Allentown schools, followed by in-class discussion, role-play, and staff development sessions.

◆ The Program for Women and FamiliesCurriculum development around the issue of gang involvement in two of their programs: Parenting Instruction for Women Offenders, and Behavioral Instruction for Adolescents on Probation enrolled in Alternative Learning Program-Helping Adolescence (ALP-HA). �

US Attorney’s Office Route 222 Anti-gang Initiativeworking to change the future.