It was started with the purpose of helping people returning to society from prisons, rehabilitation centers, halfway houses, and other institutions. It also gave them information to people and connections in the community that they could utilize; information to people and connections in the community that they could utilize; information for clothing, food, shelter, career training, job information
, housing, and religious institutions. In doing this, we found that it had a tremendous impact on the success of their future. We found that people with ties within the community had a far less chance of returning to these facilities. These same people that we helped wanted to do something to give back to society and their communities. That is how and when Operation H. E. A. R. T. was started. This program’s focus is to assist in the reduction of drug use and the incarceration rate of teenagers by educating our youth about the consequences of their choices and actions. The comprehensive program covers a wide spectrum of issues, such as enlightening the youth on a variety of real world scenarios that await them in their adulthood. Project Stop-N-Saves’ Operation H. will involve participation of community leaders, business professionals, law enforcement, probation and correctional officers, and other upstanding people in the community. Statistical facts:
In 1984, Japan’s incarcerated population was 40, 0000 compared with the United States at 580,000. Since then, Japan has not quite doubled to 71,000, while ours has quadrupled to 2.3 million. The United States has by far the world’s highest incarceration rate. With 5% of the world’s population, our country now houses nearly 25% of the worlds reported prisoners. In addition, 5 million people who recently left jail remain under correctional supervision; which includes parole, probation, and other community services. All told, 1 out of 31 adults in the United States are in prison, jail, or on supervised release. This all comes at a very hard price to taxpayers. Local, State, and Federal spending on corrections adds up to about $68 BILLION a year!!! With our state ranking near the bottom of the national school level, we have to wonder if our youth are learning the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics needed to equip each of them with adequate decision making tools. As concerned citizens, we are responsible that each child understands the significance of comprehensive reading, learning, and obeying the law. That means that he or she will be held accountable for their actions. Right now there are more than 2,000,000 Americans in adult correctional facilities, and these numbers are climbing every year. Stop-N-Saves’ Operation H.E.A.R.T. is designed to reduce these numbers by allowing youth to interact with community leaders, as well as inmates, to give them a different perspective of the decision making process. The only way to stop a w**d from growing is to stop it at the root. It’s the same approach we take at helping to educate these adolescents while they are young, and before it’s too late for us and them. GOALS:
-Prevention of teen pregnancy
-Prevention of teen incarceration
- Promotion of public awareness of controlling ones emotions
-Understanding life decisions and consequences
-Understanding the realities of prison confinement
-Prevention of teenage drug abuse
-Creating goals and following through
-Importance of political participation
-Importance of good association and character
-Promoting entrepreneurship
PROGRAM DESIGN AND PLANNING:
The program will be presented in an open forum style setting. Over the duration of time we would like to expand the program to a workshop style format setting. We will target teenagers ranging in ages of thirteen (13) to eighteen (18). This program is appropriate for students who have never been into trouble with the criminal justice system, and at risk teens who are on the brink of dropping out of high school, experimenting with drugs, or affiliating with gangs. Schools in areas which numbers reflect a higher potential for the above will receive priority. Operation H. will involve sessions that will last from forty-five (45) minutes to ninety (90) minutes, and could be a requirement for students to participate in before graduation. Volunteers will travel with member coordinators from Operation H.E. T., to the public schools and other juvenile facilities and or institutions. Our teens can come to local prisons to have interaction with inmates. Volunteer inmates will represent various backgrounds such as business professionals, drug dealers, and white collar criminals; each with their own story to ensure students can relate to someone. Selective sessions will involve discussions with community leaders about their prospective fields; such as religious volunteers, and business professionals. To provide a sort of road map for our youth to follow in pursuing their individual dreams. This will also allow them to see the importance of education, and that obstacles are a part of obtaining ones goals. They could meet with police officers and get their take on drugs and other offences. Correctional officers could offer their perspectives on pre and post conviction life of what one could be taken through; and that restrictions still exist even after ones time has been served. Social workers could discuss disease and the pitfalls of early teenage pregnancy. Each individual speaker will have a format and a question and answer session. We will normally have three (3) speakers speak for twenty (20) minutes apiece, and take half an hour for questions that the teens might have. The inmates who participate in the program will be screened, including personal interview, criminal background check with the correctional facility, medical history, and child abuse background checks. will also have different events departments. These departments consist of drama, music, poetry, and general help to assist in support of the overall program. Community participants will be screens by their organization, or individually by the local authorities. Once these measures are completed, the program coordinators will meet with these people individually. TRAINING:
-Listening techniques for all volunteers
-Encourage positive thinking methods
- Reinforce self worth attitudes
-Focus on answering questions with integrity
EVALUATION:
-Consistent and regular communication with volunteers and school facilities and or institutions
-Tracking systems for ongoing assessment
-Written records
-Input from stakeholders; such as all participants
PARTNER ORGANIZATION
Based on a joint mentoring initiative, Operation H. will openly discuss the mission and policies to ensure a proper match in serving our communities. Possible partnering organizations includes, but not limited to:
-Community centers
-Department of social services or welfare agencies
-Drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers
-Employment and training agencies
-Human service organizations
-Juvenile detention centers
-Public and private schools
Church facilities
As stated previously, this program is not to be confused with the Scared Straight or Boot Camp Confrontational methods. Instead, Operation H. is focused on realistic and constructive dialogue, designed to positively motivate adolescents.
