NEW ORLEANS
Program effective at reforming youth is on the budget chopping block
It wasn't too long ago when 15-year-old Tenisha James was out of control. She was stealing, lying, fighting and getting expelled from school and getting worse, to the point her mother knew she had to reach out to save her daughter. "If there wasn't help, I believe she would be six feet under or in somebody's jail," said her mother, JoAnne Alexander.
Four months later, Tenisha's life has drastically changed, for the better. Her grades have improved, and so has her behavior. Mother and daughter agree the lines of communication have opened up, and Alexander said she can finally trust her daughter. They credit the Youth Advocates Program. "You talk, you go places, they help you through the tough times and they reach out and really care," Tenisha James said.
But that program is slated to lose its funding through the state's Office of Juvenile Justice, effective the end of this month, as it has become another victim to state budget cuts. "My main concern is we're going to lose our children again. The advocate has been helping them control themselves and if they take it away what are the kids going to do," said Alexander.
William Walker is the director for Youth Advocate Programs. He said the average teen who gets help has either already served time behind bars, or is on probation. The assigned advocate sees that teenager and family every single day, for hours at a time. "Not only are we aware of the kids' whereabouts, but we are aware of the families' needs. We are going to come in and wrap around this family and say what are you struggling with," he said.
Walker said eight out of 10 teens who are in their program don't re-offend, and nine out of 10 successfully complete their probationary period. "It's mindboggling. I don't know if maybe someone isn't looking at the statistics, but we are very effective," he said.
And he argues the program actually saves the state money in the long-run. "We did our research, it averages state over $330 or more a day to keep a kid incarcerated. This program costs Louisiana less than $59 a day," said Walker.
Tenisha James believes if the program loses its funding, the real victims will be the troubled teens and their families who are left without the intensive care the program offers. "Some of us will probably end up in places we don't want to see ourselves and where our parents don't want to see us," she said.
A spokesperson with the Office of Juvenile Justice told Eyewitness News Monday night that their decision to cut the program's budget was a tough one, but in doing so, they considered the needs of the youth in Orleans and Jefferson Parish, and will assist the Youth Advocate Program to help them secure another funding base.
Susan Edwards
22 June 2009
http://www.wwltv.com/topstories/stories/wwl062209cbyouthadvocacy.183732b8.html
