The TEN (Teaching, Enhancing, Nurturing) Program

The TEN delinquency prevention program was developed to identify and provide early intervention services for elementary-school children at risk of academic failure and delinquency.

The programs run after school during the school year and during the day over summer vacation. It emphasizes socialization, reading, tutoring, instruction in organization and study skills, parent training groups, home visitation, and multi system case management. This program is presently in five schools.

There are slots for approximately 200 children in the TEN Program now. Our plan is to expand the program into all city elementary schools as one means of delinquency prevention.

PAThS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies)

PAThS is one of ten "Blueprint for Delinquency Prevention" models and is a universal prevention strategy that focuses on improving students' emotional literacy and competency development. This project is part of a district-wide strategy to enhance teacher and school resources among elementary students so that classroom misconduct decreases and academic performance increases resulting in fewer students at middle and high school engaging in delinquent or violent school behavior. Funded by DPW, Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth is partnering with the Harrisburg School District to nearly double implementation of the PAThS curriculum from 3 elementary schools to 6 elementary schools. Over 1600 children participated in this program in FY 2001/2002.

PAThS is taught by classroom teachers, who after a 2-3 day pre-service training, present developmentally appropriate lessons to pupils 2-3 times a week as part of regular lesson planning.

Healthy Families Dauphin County

The Agency received a grant from PCCD (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency) to fund a replica of a Healthy Families America Program - called Healthy Families Dauphin County. This grant focuses on first time high risk pregnancies. Our program includes collaboration with Pinnacle Health and the Visiting Nurse Association of Harrisburg. A nurse meets with first time mothers before or at birth to talk with them about family needs and community services.

Participation in this program is expected to: reduce infant mortality; increase birth weight; improve immunization and preventive health care; and increase development in cognitive, social, and physical development. We are serving 60 high risk women per year in the program. This is a four (4) year grant.

The Healthy Families American program has been shown to be effective when it has been provided including 50% fewer verified reports of child maltreatment, 40% fewer subsequent pregnancies, and 84% higher workforce participation. In addition, women in the program received prenatal health care during their pregnancy, experienced strengthened emotional relationships with their children and averaged over two years between the birth and that of a subsequent child.

Dauphin County Nurse Family Partnership

This is a four (4) year grant from PCCD to fund a prenatal nurse home visiting program provided through the baby's second birthday. Goals include helping first time mothers to deliver a healthy baby, and learning to bond and nurture the child through age two (2).

Boys and Girls Club of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. Targeted Outreach Program

This after school program provides positive social, educational and recreational activities. A summer program is also offered.

Several new programs began this year. Collaboration with friends of Jazz provides instruments to members, teaches them to play, and gives them the instrument to keep at the end of the period. The hiring of a retired construction worker to head the woodshop has brought expertise and excitement to this activity center. A newly renovated computer room has children lining up at the door for their opportunity. This center is reaching state of the art, as all the computers are networked and accessible to the Internet.

The Program for Female Offenders, Inc. K.I.D.S. Are The Key

The K.I.D.S. Are The Key summer and after school programs focus on building self-esteem, homework during the school year, group discussions, and developing positive social skills and interaction with peers and adults.

Active Parenting

The Community Action Commission, through it's contract with Dauphin County, offers a seven- week parenting program for parents of children ages 5 to 18. Though priority for these classes is given to the Children and Youth and Juvenile Probation Offices, District Justices, Police Departments, and other social service agencies may also make referrals.

Halifax Teen Center

Dauphin County funds a part-time coordinator position and some miscellaneous supply expenses for this after school program operated by the Halifax United Methodist Church. Participants come to the program by self-referral and can attend as many days per week as they wish. The program is supervised by volunteer adult mentors, who provide structure, support, tutoring, and organized activities for the youth. The program is also open during the day in the summer months.

Family Support of Central PA

Dauphin County funds a portion of this parent support group aimed at child abuse prevention. The free groups are led by professionally trained facilitators and offer free childcare during meetings. In recent years, the program has added a bullying prevention component, which spreads the message through school puppet shows. Their newly added component is Grandparents Raising Minor Children.

Teen Court

A dispositional tool aimed at diverting a first time summary offender from formal juvenile court action. The program uses volunteer high school students to form a jury to decide appropriate consequences for youth that break the law. Once a disposition option is imposed by the jury, the Teen Court coordinator follows the youth for 60 days to assure that all conditions are met. If the youth fails to follow through with the plan set forth, the case will be referred back to the referring District Justice for further intervention.

North Dauphin YMCA

Mentoring Program: A program matching at-risk students in Northern Dauphin County with a mentor who meets with them 1 1/2 hours per week at the YMCA. During this time spent together, they engage in recreational/physical activity, tutoring, and counseling. Children in grades 2 through 12 are referred by local school districts, district justices, and counseling agencies.

Youth and Teen Program

The Dauphin County Youth and Teen Coordinator arranges and supervises 2 to 3 youth and teen nights per month. These events are open to all children of the community as an alternative to "hanging out". Additionally, the youth and teen coordinator organizes the youth soccer and basketball leagues and does presentations on D&A and tobacco use prevention.

Multi Systemic Therapy (MST)

An intensive in-home counseling program designed to work with youth 10 to 17 who are adjudicated delinquent or who are exhibiting pre-delinquent behaviors such as verbal/physical aggression, drug and/or alcohol use, and truancy or who have committed a summary offense. The primary goals of MST are to reduce youth criminal activity, reduce drug and alcohol abuse and other types of anti social behavior, and achieve outcomes at a cost savings, while decreasing rates of out-of-home placements. Dauphin County currently funds the portion of MST that serves Northern Dauphin County, Steelton, and Harrisburg. The program has the capacity to serve 30 families per year.

New Possibilities

An after school program targeting siblings of delinquents and truants in the 6th and 7th grades who reside in the uptown area of Harrisburg City. Participants attend the program 5 days per week from 3 until 5:45 during the school year and day long programming during the summer months. The program is career focused; however, in addition to teaching youth about career choices and job preparation skills, offers tutoring, life skills lessons and activities which enhance social/emotional growth. The program can serve up to 20 youth per year.

Across Ages

An Inter-Generational Mentoring Program matching youth between the ages of 10 and 14, who are at high risk for becoming delinquent or dependent on drugs or alcohol, with trained volunteer mentors age 55 and over. Participants are referred to the program by schools and Harrisburg City District Justices because they have displayed problem behaviors such as verbal or physical aggression, have a history of truancy, or have committed a Summary Offense. Enrolled Youth participate in weekly social competence group lessons, a weekly community service project, and a minimum of 2 hours one-on-one time with their mentor. The program can serve up to 30 participants per year.

Students Helping Our Communities (SHOC)

The SHOC program, funded by Dauphin County Children and Youth and the Executive Commission on Drugs and Alcohol, is a delinquency prevention program targeting youth between the ages of 8 and 17. Our partner in this project is the Community Action Commission who provides the direct service delivery.

The goal of this project is to promote a sense of community pride, independence and positive self-esteem, support school success and reduce the possibility of juvenile delinquency. The SHOC project incorporates three types of activities: Life skills, tutoring/mentoring, and community service. Most community service activities focuses on cleaning up their neighborhoods, parks, and playgrounds.