By Cass Rains, Staff Writer
A program being taught at Enid’s Youth and Family Services is aimed at helping first-time juvenile offenders make better choices and avoid negative behavior.
Mike Danahy, Enid YFS prevention coordinator, said the shelter has offered some form of the program since the early 1990s and now is using a pilot program, It’s My Life.
The Oklahoma Association of Youth Services program is for juveniles, typically ages 13 to 17, who have been charged for the first time with a criminal offense.
“The program is designed to improve choices participants will make, better life choices that lead to more pro-social behavior, healthier family dynamics and an improved sense of self.”
The program teaches juveniles skills to prevent further involvement in the legal system.
“It’s more of an educational approach than therapy,” Danahy said. “The goal is to try to keep these kids from getting into trouble again and to keep them out of the system.”
He said 90 percent or more of participants are referred to the program through Enid’s municipal court. Most participants are referred because of misdemeanor crimes such as shoplifting, curfew violations or truancy. Juveniles with a violent felony offense cannot participate in the program.
The 12-hour program consists of six classes — two classes in 2-hour increments throughout a three-week period.
Classes include an introduction and touch on topics such as emotional regularity, communication, smart choices, substance use and parenting. Each class focuses on its own aspect of the program, with the sixth class for parents only.
“When they’re ordered here, each juvenile must have a parent or guardian who attends the classes with them,” Danahy said. “It gives them a chance to bond and learn something together.”
In the last year, Danahy said, 45 teenagers and 46 parents have participated in the program.
There is no one typical participant in the program.
“We’ve had kids that are wealthy and kids that are poor,” Danahy said. “The demographics go from scope to scope.”
He said the program typically sees between 100 and 120 participants a year.
“I love it,” he said about working with the program. “It’s a really great working with kids and parents. It’s great to see kids and parents working together, and we’re teaching them something.”
Classes are a combination of lecture, Power Point presentations and discussion, but discussion participation is voluntary.
“I don’t make anyone say anything that makes them uncomfortable,” Danahy said. “If they want to share, we let them share.”
He said the major focuses of the program are communication, anger management and peer pressure.
“I think a lot of the time when kids get in trouble it stems from anger,” he said.
He said the program also teaches about alcohol and drug abuse.
“A lot of time the information we give them on substance abuse they don’t know it,” Danahy said. “It’s always great information for them to have.”
He said classes focus on bullying is-sues, as well as coping with peer pressure.
“Kids will do things that they normally wouldn’t do by themselves,” he said. “The bottom line is we’re just trying to get them to make better choices.”
Danahy said although parents are required to participate because of the indiscretions of their children, there is not much resentment on their behalf.
“I haven’t seen much of that,” he said, noting the parents are attentive and often participate.
He said the program is designed to help keep juveniles from making further mistakes.
“These are not bad kids, they’re just people who’ve made bad choices,” he said.
