April 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 44

FUTURE LEADERS

Programming for At-Risk Youth
Making a difference to at-risk youth requires a balance of patience and support
By Laura L. Porter

P

rogramming can be difficult, even in the most ideal situations. When
programming for at-risk youth, the difficulty multiplies exponentially.
Trust is a difficult obstacle to surmount with these young men and women, and it is vital for success. Many adults in their lives are not positive influences, so we have to work harder to ensure as professionals we create a safe, trusting environment, conducive to growth and development. For trust to develop,
they need constant support and a kept promise that you will be there for them.
The North Carolina Department of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (NCDJJDP) defines an at-risk
youth as " a juvenile who has not been
adjudicated (found guilty or not guilty
of a crime), delinquent or undisciplined; or has demonstrated significant
inappropriate or anti-social behavior
that would suggest a high probability
of court involvement; and/or has one
or more identified risk factors for delinquency " (www.ncdjjdp.org). Though
two programs I have directed, I have

42

Parks & Recreation

learned firsthand the importance that
dedicated time plays in the success of
at-risk youth programs.
In 2011, a local mentoring program cooperated with local master
gardeners and the parks and recreation department to integrate a
special section into the community
garden for at-risk youth. The project
took place throughout the summer,
aiming to teach the youths involved
about the skills and processes involved in gardening and give them

| A P R I L 2 0 1 3 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

something to be proud of through
their hard work. When the season
drew to a close, several participants
entered the county fair, and one even
won first prize for a flower arrangement made from plants he grew. The
next stage of this project was to teach
them how to cook with their produce.
Over the four-month program, the
young men involved, most of whom
had been court appointed to attend,
found they were good at something
and were recognized for that ability
with monetary rewards and ribbons
from entries into the county fair. To
them, this was a great success, and
they often spoke of the community
garden and how they wanted to do it
again.
The second program was a weeklong art camp, and only young men



April 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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