Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994 TAG: 9404070088
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEVIN DANIELS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The two clubs will open in May and will be operated by Prevention Plus of Blue Ridge Community Services. The $100,000 youth club contract will be funded through a $297,200 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Anita L. Lee, resident development administrator for the authority, said she hopes the clubs will provide an alternative to "detrimental activities."
"Youth clubs have been proven to be very effective deterrents to youth involvement with drugs and early sexual experiences," Lee said, citing the success of a similar program in Charlottesville.
The youth clubs will offer children ages 6 to 18 a diversified program of activities tailored for three age groups. The program includes tutoring, sports, entrepreneurial opportunities and drug prevention activities. The clubs are planned to complement the authority's existing youth services, such as the Buddies program, which pairs children with adult role models.
"This drug prevention strategy recognizes the need for having a place for youth to go year-round for wholesome, supervised activities," Lee said. "Oftentimes they're alone after school or during the day in the summer, without any adults around. It's our hope that the youth clubs will give them somewhere to go."
Tom Woods, the youth club director, said his goal is to have a "good balance of fun and education," combining drug prevention messages with drill squads and jump-roping teams.
The clubs will operate five or six days a week during the summer and will be open after school and on weekends during the school year to provide a safe educational and recreational environment. They will be housed in existing buildings.
Lee said the clubs also will provide a means to identify and involve at-risk children in conjunction with school counselors, parents, housing managers and the community-policing effort unit.
"The COPE team and the housing managers are familiar with most of the youths who might be at risk," Lee said. "These are kids who have a delinquency problem at school, kids with grades that have taken a turn for the worse, kids with behavioral problems like vandalism."
The housing authority's board of commissioners selected Prevention Plus to operate the clubs because of its commitment to involving the whole community in youth drug prevention, Lee said.
Prevention Plus plans to hire and train two adult public housing residents to help coordinate youth club activities. Woods said he will be working with organizations, including the YMCA, the 4-H Club and Planned Parenthood, to prepare activities.
"We plan to have different things to get the community involved," Woods said. "We have an upcoming faith-community workshop where we hope to get the clergy and the laity familiar with the program and what we're trying to do in the neighborhood."
The authority contracts with Prevention Plus of Blue Ridge Community Services for on-site substance abuse prevention and early intervention activities, including "Just Say No" clubs. Prevention Plus also provides support groups, crisis counseling services and educational programs on parenting, AIDS and other topics.
Despite the involvement of Prevention Plus, Woods said there is only enough money to operate the clubs for two years.
"We're going to establish a board of directors so we can keep this program going," he said.
Lee also recognized the funding problem.
"I'd like for every housing community to have youth clubs, but the money just isn't there," Lee said.
by CNB