Rotary gives media gift for troubled youth
Without further explanation, it sounds like the new media center at the Robert Depke Juvenile Justice center near Vernon Hills would be a source of entertainment for the teenage offenders housed there.
True, there is a large flat-screen plasma television with surround sound; a digital video camera; several DVD players; projectors and other equipment.
But this is not meant for fun for those involved with the Family and Community Engaged in Treatment (Face-It) program.
"It's been a wonderful addition to what we've been able to do," said Jack Cantor, a teacher in the program. "It is school, it is therapy and it is residential."
This improvement in facilities was made possible by a $15,000 to $20,000 donation by the Mundelein-Vernon Hills Rotary Club as its 2007 local project.
"The kids aren't in there playing video games," said Peter Barbacovi, past president of the group. "For these kids, it sounds like it's entertainment but it's never at all entertainment."
The Rotary's involvement started smaller. Two years ago, one Rotarian, who is a librarian, became aware that the selection of educational materials was slim and outdated.
"They don't get any school materials supplied to them. We originally gave them $2,000 to $3,000 worth of reading material and books. That's how we got hooked up," Barbacovi said.
The desire to have a community impact in a less traditional area led the club to ask Face-It officials what would be needed. From there, the single room where lessons are taught was furnished with new seating, shelving and the equipment to make it a more useful center of learning. A dedication was planned for Thursday.
Face-It is a six-month residential treatment program offered, in some cases, as an alternative to jail. If participants successfully complete the program, they will have no juvenile record on file. The program is offered to about a dozen boys ages 12 to about 17.
The idea is to balance desires to protect the community and make offenders accountable for their actions while helping the youth become responsible and productive.
Each resident attends a full school day, five days a week.
"We use a lot of media when we're working with the boys," Cantor said.
Families are included in the "management plan" for each individual. Minors placed in the program generally are involved with multiple issues, including chronic delinquency, serious property crimes, fire-setting, sex offending, weapons-related offenses or other violent crimes.
Components of the program include behavior modification; education; physical fitness; Scouting; family, individual and group therapy; religion; medical service; community service; and after care.