HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0164.003 2002-2004 MAR-31-2003 04:13P FROM: rn•3265697 P:5~8
Youth. Crime Watch of 1~nierica
Introduction
A. History B. Vision
Youth Cr/me Watch was created in 1979 as 1. E'xponda youth-drivers movement to all
an outgrowth of Citizen's Crime Watch of areas of the nation and internationally.
Miami-Dade County, Florida. Bath programs 2. Invo/ve all facets of the community in support
were a direct result of w outraged of the altruistic motives of its youth.
neighborhood coming together against 3, Znsp;re, through positive peer pressure,
injustice following the rape of a 12 yenr~old prevention education, crime reporting, mentoring
girl on Halloween night. The successful pilot and action initiatives, a'Watch Out, Help Out"
Youth Crlme Wairh progrnm was lornted in commitment, resulting in a dramatic reduction of
North Miami Beach Senior High School, where drugs, weapons, gangs and other forms of crime
it experienced much success. In the first and violence.
year of the program's implementation,
students helped to reduce their school's drug Youth Cr/me Watch of Americo envisions
problem by more than half by pinpointing drug chapters that multiply in their own states ar
pushers. In addition, chain snatchings, a regions, using the principles and materials
prevalent problem at the time, were developed for national use by Youth Crime
I decreased by three quarters. Equally Woteh of America.
important was the change in the students'
attitudes, They were learning they could In 1999, Youth Crime Watch of Americo
make a positive difference, STudents were farmed its first state level charter organization
reporting crime, saw positive results and in Florida, This new charter organization, Youth
enjoyed significantly improved morale and Crime Watch of florfda, Inc. was formed to
school spirit, meet the crime prevention needs of the entire
State of Florida,
Youth Crime Wofch of America, lnc,
(YCWA)was established as a nonprofit The Youth Crime Wafrh program continues to
organization in 1986 to support and continue drastically reduce youth crime, drug abuse,
the success of Youth Grime Watch by helping violence and victimization in hundreds of schools,
to spread it Throughout the state of Florida neighborhoods, parks, community centers and
and across the nation. As a result, the public housing sites rationally and internationally,
program is endorsed by the Office of the As part of its purpose, Youth Grime Watch of
Florida Governor, the Florida State America is dedicated to implementing this
Legislature, the Florida Departments of successful youth-led Youth Cr/me Wofch
Education and Juvenile Justice, and numerous program in every State and in many other
local agencies and corporations. Youth Crime countries, It is helping new charter
Watch of Americo has also been given organizations form around the nation and the
notional recognition by Presidents Clinton, world. An example is Jovene5 Contra O Grime
Bush and Reagan. It was named an Exemplary (youth Against Grime), which was formed in the
Program of Excellence by the US Department State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1 N0. I` ~3
of Education, f~.~° RC{ENEb P51e No.
Yount Cr/ma Wofch Opcranng Handbuuk ~m~..~. BY---°------
March 2000 ~~!_County Councl~u, ~t~ T . ~oo~
Submitted by Councilman Curtis Tyler - Ref. mate
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Youth Crime Watch of America
I
C. Mission teleconferences; an annual National Youth Cmme
Prevention Conference; ond, youth leadership
To create a crime free, drug-free conferences. YCWA also provides personalized
environment through ayouth-led movement. technical assistance, distributes current and
effective crime prevention ond education
GOdiS resources, and provides a network far YCWsltes
to access ond form partnerships with other
organizations with similar goals.
1. To provide crime-free, drug-free school
and community environments for learning and 1. Training
living.
2. To insfi//positive values, foster good y~rh Crlme Wairh of Americo conducts
citizenship and build self-confidence in our national ond local Training that is tailored to the
young people.
3. To enob/e youth to become resources for needs of individual school, community, city,
preventing drug abuse and other crimes in county or state sites. Professional, nationally
their schools and neighborhoods. certified crime prevention practitioners conduct
these trainings, which include:
E. PU.t'poses a. Implementation Training; teaches
how to establish the Youth Crlme Watch
I 1. To establish YCW programs across the program.
United States and other countries. Curriculum components include:
i?. 7o give youth the tools and guidance i• youth Crime Watch Basics
necessary to actively reduce drugs, crime and 2. Local Assessment
violence in their schools and communities. 3. Youth/Adult Partnerships
3. To provide leadership and guidance to
other organizations working with youth to 4. Roles and Responsibilities
achieve the prevention of crime, drugs ond 5. Youth CNme Watch Key Components
(i. Steps, Partners and Resources
violence.
4, 7o demonstrate to young people that
togetherness, affiliation and partnerships are b, Training of Trainers: teaches how to
powerful responses to threats that require train youth and adults to implement Yarih Crime
more than individual action. Woich.
Curriculum components include:
F. Services Provided 7• How to Conduct Training for
Establishment and Maintenance
2. Techniques, Procedures and
Youth Grime Watch of America, Iwc, was challenges for implementing Crime
established for the purpose of assisting Reporting and Youth Patrols
Schools and communities throughout the 3, Trainers' "Tricks of the Trade"
ration to reduce youth crime, drug abuse and
violence. This is accomplished through a c, Youth Leadership Conference
variety of trainings and events, which include:
' weekend leadership retreats; implementation enhances participants' leadership skills to
trainings; training of trainers;
Youth CMmr Wn1cA 0yeratiny I landhaak
March ?UUO C'2
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Youth Crime Watch of America
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organize and lead their YCW Core Group, development of detail¢d profiles of model sites
schools and communities, and manuals on YCW components such as patrols
and mentoring,
Skills developed include:
1, Team Building 3. Newsletter
2. Crime Awareness and Reporting
3. Crisis Response Youth Crime Watch of Americo produces "Crime
4. Conflict/Anger Management Watching News" three to four times a year. Tt is
5. Goal Setting distributed to over 10,000 people and contains
6. Communication, including Public information on new resources, success stories,
Speaking Youth Crime Woteh progress fundraising,
T. Problem Solving upcoming events, training, and much more.
d. Weekend Leadership Retreat: 4. Dissemination of Materials and
motivates students to make their YCW ROSOUrCee
program a success while building
teamwork skills and trust through youth Crime Watch of America produces or
participation in enjoyable interactive supplies materials, such os manuals, monographs,
activities, videos, posters, T-shirts and other educational
Curr(eulum components include: products, to aid youth and adults in their crime
I i. Youth CNme Watch Philosophy, prevention efforts, ranging from starting to
2. Goals and' Techniques maintaining a successful Youth Crime Wmrh
3. Loral Assessment program. (See Chapter X of this Manual far
4, Action Plan Development Materials and Resources)
5. Trusf Building
6. Leadership and Team Building Skills 5. National Youth Crime Prevention
2 Technical Assistance Conference
The National Youth Crime Prevention Conference
Youth Crime Watch of Americo is dedicated is the nation's premier crime prevention event
to providing on-going support and aid to its for youth and adults. Youth Crime Watch of
existing and emerging YCWsites. This Americo and the National Crime Prevention
promotes continual success by providing the Council present it every spring. The conference
sites with the mast updated and current attracts over 1,500 participants from nearly
resources and services. The assistance is every state and several foreign countries who
accomplished through the use of census come to exchange ideas and information about
surveys and o database that contains contact the most effective youth crime prevention
information; demographic profiles; program methods. Tt is a chance for youth to develop the
content and training information. The motivation and leadership skills needed to make o
technical assistance also includes telephone positive difference in their schools and
assistance and site visits, along with the communities. (See Conference Website at
I www nwc org~ou hcon/).
Youth Crime Watch Operating Hmdhnok
March 2000 1~3
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Youth Crime Watch of America
6. Live Teleconference accessed through the Youth dome watch of
Amer/to website at www,ycwa.org. Site
Thousands of youth and adults across the visitors can a-mail Youth Crlme Watch of
country are linked by satellite to discuss Amsricawith questions and concerns. They can
youth issues and the Youth Crims Wofch also register far events and fill out a request for
Program as a solution to reduce Crime, free crime prevention information.
violence and drug abuse in our schools and
communities, Youth can call-in with their 9. Online Club
questions and concerns, hear live testimonials
from a youth panel and audience, and leave The Youth Crime blotch of America Online
with the motivation and desire to take action Club was established in 1998. It is designed to
and become a part of the solution in the fight be a forum in which students and adults around
against crime. the world can discuss youth issues and provide
each other with the latest, most effective crime
7. Awards prevention methods and techniques. Visitors can
post messages to be answered by other visitors.
Youth Crims Watch of America presents These can include upcoming events, pictures,
awards to individuals and organizations for success stories and other items visitors wish to
their extraordinary contributions to youth share, Chat rooms where youth can have live,
crime prevention and youth empowerment, online eornersotions with other youth, adults, and
~ These awards are given annually at the Staff is also available, (See www.dubs.yahoo.com).
National Youth Crime Prevention Conference.
Winners receive a complimentary registration 7.0. Collaborations & Partnerships
to the conference and recognition in the
newsletter. Examples of award categories Youth Cr/me Wairh establishes partnerships
include Student of the Year, Advisor of the with many national non-profit, corporate and
Year, Officer of fhe Year, Schoo/ of the governmental organizations with similar goals.
Year, Community of the Year, and Casey Examples are its partnership with the National
Awards for Law Fnforeemenf, Yo/unteers, and Crime Prevention Council for the National Youth
Alumni (Sae the Youth Crime Watch Crime Prevention Conference, and the use of the
website at www.vewa.org). materials of the Peace Education Foundation
and the National Mentoring Partnership that are
Website included in this Operating Manual. Youth Crime
Wofch of America helps to facilitate these
partnerships among organizations in order to
Current and updated information about the Provide the most effective support and
organization and its happenings along with assistance.
links to many other organizations with the
some youth crime prevention gaols can be
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Yoorh Crime Wotrh Opctating Handbook
MamM 2~wo i-4