Rogers County Volunteers For Youth

Programs: Our federally funded drug free communities (dfc) support project and our stop act grant allow us to work to reduce substance abuse among our youth, with a particular emphasis on underage drinking and prescription drug misuse. The projects employ strategies to eliminate factors in the community that increase risk and promote the elements that minimize substance abuse. All of the programs at volunteers for youth offer an ideal setting for putting these protective factors in place and the goals of these two projects are interwoven throughout.

the pal and e-pal programs at volunteers for youth offer one-to-one adult to student mentoring in the public schools of rogers county. During the 2012-2013 school year, 287 students were matched with a mentor. 50 of those matches were traditional pal program matches which remain an important component of our mentoring program and match length ranges from brand new matches to 11-year relationships. Surveys were distributed at the end of the school year to mentors, students, parents, teachers and counselors. Once again, the results indicated overwhelming support for the pal program. Evaluation highlights: 73% of mentored students feel they now have an adult they can talk to and 76% reported higher expectations of themselves. Counselors reported a decline in suspensions and discipline issues in their students who had mentors. They also reported improved self-esteem, relationships with peers and overall attitudes. One of the teachers reported, "my student seemed happier and more motivated about school because of the pal program. " one mentee stated, "my mentor is a great guy. He has helped me through a lot. Let's just say he is like the dad i never had".

blast is volunteers for youth's after school program offered each regular school day for students in grades 6-8. In cooperation with the city of claremore, blast meets at the claremore community center where students participate in enrichment activities, physical fitness, and homework assistance until 6 p. M. The program targets students who would otherwise have no safe alternative after school. 75% of blast participant parents report their child is doing better in school since attending. A total of 270 young people were served through blast, its related summer camps, and through quarterly youth nights throughout the year.

we also serve at risk youth through our stepup andu-turn programs. Stepup offers juvenile first offenders the chance to avoid the over-crowded juvenile court system. Our new u-turn academy provides an academic classroom setting for students ages 11 to 18 who are on long-term suspensions from school.