Making A Difference

---

Our programs and services evolve and grow with our changing society.  We are always measuring the effectiveness and outcomes of our services.  Data from 2017 shows:

• Success rates from all of our programs averages around 80-96%.
• The majority of families report that their children are enrolled in school.
• Recidivism rates for youth who have committed offenses is consistently low (around 13%).

In 2017, one thousand calls were placed to our Crisis Contact hotline.  A summary of calls indicate: 

• Callers reported a total of 6729 problems.
• 1299 callers sought mental health info.
• 544 callers reported lonliness.
• 330 callers were in suicidal crisis
• 3949 referrals were made to callers.

Whether youth arrive at our shelter (Alternative House) with DCS, Law-enforcement, or via a Safe Place, they find a temporary but safe shelter:

• 90% of youth brought in by law-enforcement (Safely Home) have runaway from home.
• 130 youth arrived via Safe Place or Safely Home.
• Youth who are wards of the court spent 4,613 days safely in our shelter in 2017.

Outreach is important.  People get critical information about us in-person and online.  Even if it is not for them, people refer us to their friends, neighbors, and loved-ones, often:

• 14,384 youth were part of presentations at schools and other events in 2017.
• 18 schools invited us to talk to their students and distribute information about getting help during a crisis.
• 11,028 adults were part of presentations at churches, health fairs, and a variety of community events.
• 2,500 law enforcement officers received calendars with our contact information to bring in a youth.
• Nearly 20,000 information brochures were distributed!
• Thousands of website hits mean people are regularly searching online for help.
• Over 1,000 people are connected with us on Facebook & Twitter.

When young people are referred to Teen Court, they are given second-chances and a unique opportunity to redeem themselves.  People love Teen Court in 2017 more than ever; here's why:

• 229 youth participated in Teen Court instead of juvenile court.
• The top 3 reasons for referrals to Teen Court are: 1. Truancy, Disorderly Conduct, and 3. Battery.
• Other offenses include:
  • Underage drinking
  • Vandalism
  • Bullying (including online)
  • Theft/Conversion
  • Possession of drugs
  • Criminal mischief
• 1,755 service hours were performed by youth respondents.
• Attorneys, Interns and Volunteers dedicated 587 hours to the success of Teen Court.

A teenage girl found herself at the center of a dilemma.  Should she be honest with her parents about getting suspended from school for a day, or should she just make up a story to explain why she didn't go to school.  At age 12, it's easy to imagine how worried she felt, but her decision led to situation that could have turned deadly.  she told her parents that she was kidnapped and escaped from the person's car when he stopped for gas.  The police and her father began to "search for the kidnapper," but detectives also began to notice that she may be dishonest.  She admitted to lying. She was referred to Teen Court where a youth juror asked her, "What if your Dad were to have hurt or killed someone that he thought was the kidnapper?"  She was deeply sorry.  She received a sentence that included: counseling, essay, apologies to her parents and police, jury duty and community service.  Her Father told us that Teen Court spared the family an even tougher experience at juvenile court and gave his daughter a chance to feel like "her life is not over."