You may have seen my previous post asking for mentors for juvenile offenders. We are now happy to make a follow-up report.
Teens come to us to serve court-ordered community service commonly known as Restorative Justice. Juvenile offenders mix with other youth and adult volunteers who are here doing whatever tasks are at hand for the day. The kids have distributed Angel Food, Christmas toys and food boxes, helping set up the thrift shop, making jewelry or handbags and sorting clothing, recyclables and taking out the trash. They've also helped in other ways and have learned new skills.
While they are here we try to make a connection with each child. Our goal is to support them as best we can. This means if they come to us with a tangible need we'll try to meet. Also, we talk with the kids about whatever is on their mind, goal setting and encourage them in considering college or tech school just as we do with all of our teen volunteers.
Even by our standards the results have been astounding.
This past year we have worked with several offenders from Knox County. So far, not a single teen has re-entered the Restorative Justice program after coming to Hope for Healing.Org!
Of the kids from Jefferson County we know of only one who has re-entered the system in the past year!
And in even better news, one of the teens we worked with liked us so much that now his brother and even his dad helps here. To me, that's a sure sign we're on the right track! Plus, many of the teens who originally came to serve hours wind up becoming volunteers.
Hope for Healing.Org is also a certifiying site for the US Presidential Service Awards.
If you're reading this as an adult mentor or one of our teen volunteers pat yourself on the back. You're doing a great job!
If you're reading this as a teen who came to us to put in community service pat yourself on the back. We're proud of you. You've done a great job!
Thanks for all of the wonderful things you do to make hope happen for others.
Until next time,
Gayle
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