NCJ Number
152890
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 56 Issue: 7 Dated: (December 1994) Pages: 92,94,107
Date Published
1994
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes four programs in Ohio designed to reduce and prevent violent behavior by at-risk youths.
Abstract
The at-risk youths are those between the ages of 13 and 25 who live in high-crime areas and those who are already incarcerated. One of the most innovative and successful of the programs is the Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) at the Dayton Correctional Institution. The program, which is a 3-day workshop to groups of 18 to 20 inmates, focuses on four key areas: affirmation of oneself and others, communication and listening skills, cooperation and trust building, and conflict resolution. A second program, the Keep Yourself Alive program, is taught to youths in high schools and middle schools, after-school programs, juvenile detention centers, and community-based programs. Classes focus on anger control, peer pressure, forgiveness, self-esteem, spirituality, and youth empowerment. Another State initiative, Dealing With Anger, helps prevent violence among youths in Ohio's Independent Living program, which is part of the foster care system. The fourth program, Reach Back, a statewide program, differs from many similar programs in emphasizing education, career planning, and mentoring in addition to violence prevention. Reach Back also offers a mentoring program to those who come from dysfunctional families.