Kane survey aims to help youths
In order to better serve at-risk youths and those in the juvenile court system - and hopefully help them stay out of trouble - the Kane County Juvenile Justice Council is asking county residents to answer a social service survey to find out which programs are being used and which are not.
"When you offer kids the opportunities to make good decisions, the vast majority of them do make good decisions," Kane County State's Attorney Joe McMahon said.
"We'll use the results of the survey to try to get better outcomes for kids who are in the (juvenile court) system and to try to prevent kids from coming into the system in the first place," added McMahon during his monthly media briefing Tuesday.
A state grant paid for the survey, which takes about 10 to 20 minutes to complete and can be found at jjcouncil.countyofkane. org.
The survey asks respondents if they have used a variety of services, ranging from after-school and tutoring programs to mental health services and public transportation.
Julia Ankenbruck, coordinator of the Juvenile Justice Council, said the survey was first announced at National Night Out events in early August and officials hope to get at least 2,000 responses.
From there, a team at the University of Illinois-Chicago will analyze the data, she said.
Ankenbruck said the council has worked with the county's probation department, schools and homeless shelters to spread word of the survey.
The Fox Valley United Way about 10 years ago conducted a needs assessment survey via telephone, but this is the first for the council.
McMahon said the information will be used and shared with social service agencies and other groups that offer after-school programs for at-risk kids.
"A lot of the kids that come into the juvenile court system come into the court system because of idle time, they're in an isolated situation," McMahon said. "Some structure gives them an opportunity to stay away from poor choices, that impulse decision making that leads to low-level crime."