The JEHT Report and Helpful, Hopeful Weblinks

The State of Arkansas' Division of Youth Services is in the midst of a huge shift in the way they do business.

DYS Director Ron Angel is intent on the Division helping local communities try and deal with their children closer to their own homes in order to help keep families together. The goal is to provide services in several regions across the state. When children are held in facilities so far from their homes, many times families are unable to make routine visits to the child, which is critical to their recovery. DYS is moving to fix that.

A push to help communities with prevention and intervention services as well as creating a better residential environment for those who must be kept in a confined setting is underway.

Some time back, the JEHT Foundation entered a relationship with the State of Arkansas. After months of study, they released the Juvenile Justice Reform in Arkansas report written by Pat Arthur and Tim Roche. Its tenets have been embraced by Mr. Angel and Department of Human Services leaders and the paradigm shift has begun.

We all know the importance of P.I.T. (Prevention-Intervention-Treatment) in addition to strong firm and fair law enforcement in effectively dealing with juvenile issues in any community.

There are many intervention and prevention programs around the country that are doing great things. Seek out some of those in your community and offer your support and assistance.

Here are a few links you may be interested in:

Download the Current Trends and Realities of Gangs Report Written in 2006 here.

Visit the Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice here.

Let Our Violence End is a local Arkansas prevention program and more.

ROCAN is a prevention program run by former gang leader Leifel Jackson.

STEP Ministries is an amazing faith based mentoring program in No. Little Rock, Ar.

New Futures for Youth has been around since 1988.

Youth Bridge is located in the Northwest part of Arkansas.

If you desire more information please feel free to email me or leave a comment on this post.

Here are some interesting news stories for you to check out today:

Police say charter school may bring gangs.

Parents told lack of love strengthens gangs.

And, from South Africa: Cops Vs. Gangs, Who's Winning?