YOUTH PROGRAMS

The number of youth involved in the criminal justice system today is unprecedented. Each year, an estimated 100,000 youth are released from secure and residential facilities and are in the process transitioning back to communities, schools, and families.

Youth face all the barriers confronting adults leaving prison: stigma, lack of employment and housing, health problems, addiction, difficultly accessing services, and temptation from former neighborhood influences. In addition, youth must often enroll in school or a training program and face an even greater need than adults for supportive families. Unfortunately, research has shown that a lack of adequate transitional services / supports results in high recidivism rates. Up to two-thirds of youth will be rearrested and up to one-third will be reincarcerated within a few years after release. Research has also demonstrated that the failure to break the cycle of recidivism in youth results in many transitioning to become adult offenders.

As a solution, Alvis House has more than a decade of experience improving lives and developing opportunities for teenagers and young adults who have become involved in the criminal justice system. Alvis House programs pull together proven strategies, evidence-based models and innovative techniques that promote personal responsibility and public safety. All agency programs offer family support and reunification programs in order to strengthen relationships and increase the positive social network for each youth.