Youth Becoming Leaders Inc

Programs: Track AD: This is a newer Track that YBL has built in response to becoming an Alternative to Detention site. On March 19, 2007, Youth Becoming Leaders became an alternative to detention site for Stephenson County Probation and the Stephenson County Court. Youth who are currently being detained in a juvenile detention facility now can be sentenced to YBL's Track AD (Alternative to Detention) in lieu of further detention or juvenile prison, if probation makes the recommendation and the juvenile court judge, who makes the final determination, deems appropriate. This Track is lettered rather than numbered because it will fall outside of the normal sequence of tracks; however, the goal is, as youth successfully complete this "AD" track, they can move into Tracks #1, #2, or #3.No one is born with an understanding of what society expects of us. This know-how, what we call "life management skills," must be taught, understood and embraced. At-risk youth must consciously be provided with the skills necessary to become productive members of our society. These pro-social skills cannot be learned on the street, bought at the local convenience store or checked out of a library -- they must be observed and taught. - Susan & Edmund F. Benson, ARISE FoundersThis Track primarily focuses on intervention, and works with youth who are court-ordered into this program as a condition of probation, parole, or other, as an alternative to detention. These youth exhibit one or more of the following High Risk Factors: Lack of Commitment to School; Favorable Attitudes toward Negative Behavior; Favorable Attitudes toward Negative Peers; and, Poor Family Management. At this time, this is a male-only track (African American males make up over 73% percent of juveniles on probation- source: Stephenson County Probation).Track AD is based on the combined philosophy of YBL, Texas Juvenile Court Judge Peggy Walker, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), which is:Youth are often unnecessarily or inappropriately detained at great expense, with long-lasting negative consequences for both public safety and youth development. JDAI promotes changes to policies, practices, and programs to reduce reliance on secure confinement, improve public safety, save taxpayers dollars, and to stimulate overall juvenile justice reforms (JDAI). To this end, as stated by Judge Walker, "Problem-solving courts work. They can do what families can"t. Especially when you can supervise people for one year, two years...It can have an impact." Implementing sound programs and practices built on these philosophies will ensure that a youth will achieve the vision that YBL holds for our youth, which is YBL's philosophy is based on being the change that we wish to see in the world to make the world a better place through identifying, nurturing, and maturing an individual's calling and passion. YBL strongly believes, follows and affirms Robert Greenleaf?s Servant-Leadership philosophy. "The best test, and difficult to administer is: Do those served grow as persons; do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants" And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or, at least, will they not be further deprived.