5/15/2020 Positive Youth

Development
Module
YOUTH IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW
PROPOSAL

RENATE L. BRISON
 CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

2. POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE

3. PROPOSAL IMPLEMENTATION

4. POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODULE

5. PROJECTED OUTCOMES

6. RISK MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

7. RISK IMPACT

8. RISK MITIGATION

9. SUSTAINABILITY PLAN

10. CONCLUSION

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 YOUTH IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Returning citizens are released back into society with the odds stacked against
them.  Even with certain opportunities, there are some individuals who are unable
to revamp their lives given the lack of opportunities they encounter.  These barriers
are exacerbated among youth who are in conflict with the law.  We should focus
our attention on a more restorative solution which is the reduction of recidivism
through social skills development and job creation.

The Miss Lallie Youth Care & Rehabilitation Center (MLC) is an institution for
youth and young adults in conflict with the law.  The aim of MLC is to rehabilitate
young offenders by means of  employing varying educational, social, as well as,
pyschological methodologies.  This proposal seeks to focus on the social
development of the MLC residents by establishing a pathway to sound vocational
certification.  Research has shown that youth in conflict with the law tend to have
difficulties in the traditional academic school setting due to their preference for
kinesthetic (i.e. vocational based) learning.  In order to address the aforementioned
phenomena, MLC should seek to enhance the social development of its residents
through the implementation of vocational certification to ensure that the youth in
conflict with the law will gain a skill that will ultimately lead to gainful
employment thus reducing the chances of recidivism.

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POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVE:
Reducing the over-representation and recidivism of youth in conflict with the
law while increasing positive engagement through implementation of a
Positive Youth Development Model.

According to the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, the central philosophy of Positive
Youth Development  (PYD) is that even the most disadvantaged young person can
develop positively when connected to the appropriate fusion of opportunities,
support, positive roles, and relationships. Relationship building is crucial to
engaging youth in positive roles and productive social activities.  Youth
development interventions are unlikely to be effective without a strong focus on
social development.

(Positive Youth Justice: Framing Justice Interventions Using the Concepts of

Positive Youth Development - Coalition for Juvenile Justice 
https://dyrs.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dyrs/publication/attachments/PYJ
%20Final%20-%20Butts.pdf)

PROPOSAL IMPLEMENTATION: 
The National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) offers the intended
vocational certifications needed to ensure that this proposal objective and success
criteria (i.e. social development, vocational certification, etc.) is realized by the
residents of the MLC.  NIPA has a successful track record of ensuring that people,
who have a similar demographic as the MLC residents, are provided with a
pathway to gainful employment.  Their curriculum is tailored to the specific needs
of the labor market of St. Maarten. 

(For more detailed information regarding NIPA’s Vocational Certification, please

visit: https://www.nipa.sx/#!/courses.html)

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POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL:
I)  MLC Resident Data Collation (Intake Analysis)

A collation, assessment, and analysis of quantifiable data will be amassed for each
MLC resident.  The data, or intake analysis, will consist of educational
background, social records (i.e. living conditions, socio-economic status, mental
and physical health, learning disabilities, etc.), and any other pertinent data deemed
necessary by MLC professionals, as well as, external bodies (i.e. Department Of
Education, Social Services, Police, etc.).  Additionally, a Visual, Audio,
Kinesthetic (VAK) Learning Style Test will be administered in order to gauge the
prefered learning intelligences and preferences of each resident. 

II) Individual Education Program

Based on the collated data analysis, an Individual Education Program (IEP) will be
compiled to suit the educational needs, learning preferences, and social wellbeing
of each resident of the MLC.  An IEP will provide a plan to assist the residents of
MLC to meet individualized goals that are presently beyond their current
academic, social, or mental aptitudes. The aforementioned IEP goals can range
from academic, social, behavioral, self-help, or address other educational needs. It
is very important to ascertain what each resident can or cannot do in order for them
to achieve their success criteria. 

III) Curriculum Implementation

After the successful drafting of the IEP’s in consultations with the MLC
professionals, NIPA, and Education Department residents will be streamed into the
follow curriculum pathways: 

PBL/PKL Vocational Stream (MPC Model)   

1. Intended for residents under the age of 17.

2. Residents transfer to NIPA for continuation towards Vocational
Certification.

NIPA Vocational Certification

Proposed Certification include: Automotive, Culinary Arts, Electrical Installation,

Hospitality, ICT, Maritime. (Levels 1 - 3).

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PROJECTED OUTCOMES:
1. Reduction in recidivism
2. Strengthening and empowering youth in conflict with the law
3. Close gaps in services offered to youth returning from detention
4. Increase positive engagement for youth in their communities

RISK MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY:

(**critical risks identified that could threaten the success of this proposal**)

1. NIPA ability to deliver curriculum at MLC

2. Funding for certification, materials, and additional teaching staff
3. Appropriate space(s) at MLC to conduct vocational certification
4. Consistency 

RISK IMPACT:
Since the residents will not be allowed to leave the MLC, devising a viable plan to
deliver the curriculum at MLC is essential.  The plan has to satisfy the logistical
criteria of MLC and NIPA.  (This plan can only be devised once bilateral
negotiations are undertaken between the MLC and NIPA) Conducting vocational
certification will require funding for materials (tools, equipment, protective gear,
etc.) and staff who will be delivering the curriculum.  MLC will also need to have
the necessary space available to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff
is not compromised during curriculum delivery.  Lastly, consistency in quality
curriculum delivery is vital from all stakeholders.  Since relationship building is a
key component of the Positive Youth Development Model (PYDM), having 
committed and engaged staff could make the difference in the MLC residents’
level of engagement and involvement with the vocational certification program. 

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RISK MITIGATION:
The project manager will observe progress and identify any unforeseen
complications with the leadership of MLC and NIPA.  Strengthening and securing
a firm parternship is very critical to ensuring that the objectives of the PYDM are
satisfied and attained.

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN:

Since the PYDM is in its incubation stage, its sustained survival is dependent
on the initial rate of MLC resident success and continued funding.  If the PYDM
is successful and cannot receive continued funding, I am prepared to continue the
program, but at a much lower capacity.  Additionally, if the PYDM can receive
adequate funding to continue the program, the Ministry of Justice could look to
expand this proposal to the Pointe Blanche Prison whereby adults in conflict with
the law can also benefit from vocational certification. 

CONCLUSION:

The Ministry of Justice has an excellent opportunity to maximize the potential of

the MLC due to its small number of youth currently at the facility. The small
number of residents provides a platform to engage in pilot programs such as the
PYDM that could be easily transferred to the Pointe Blanche Prison where
reduction in recidivism is also a key goal.  The PYDM through social
development, youth empowerment, and sound vocational certification offers a
restorative approach that would give the MLC residents the tools needed to
contribute positively to their communities while giving the MLC an opportunity
to engage in valuable data collation while executing restorative rather than
punitive justice.  The PYDM will provide the necessary tools and knowledge so
that youth in conflict with the law can be agents of change.