YMCA Launching Program To Help Teens At Risk

The White County YMCA is partnering with the county’s juvenile justice system to offer a new program for at-risk teenagers.

Sparta-White County YMCA CEO Kyle Goff said the Youth Community Action Program provides support for 12 to 17-year olds. Goff said the program serves as a big brother mentoring initiative, offering guidance and personal development so young people can reach their potential.

“Trying to give them goals to focus on, academic performance, reducing delinquent behavior, substance abuse prevention, and improvement of overall attitude,” Goff said. “Confidence, self-esteem. Teaching them social skills, how to make eye contact, how to shake hands, how to fill out a job application.”

Goff said the teens are referred to the program by the county juvenile system as well as teachers, guidance counselors, and family members. Goff said every child will be paired with an adult.

“We’ve reached out to several churches here in White County and the feedback we have gotten is just unbelievable,” Goff said. “So we do have paid staff that will be there that are trained. We have therapists that are certified and licensed, counselors that are certified and licensed.”

Goff said the program is offered at the East Sparta Church of God from 3-6pm. The teens will be bussed to the YMCA. Goff said some of the program’s activities include family nights, group gatherings, meals, and alternative hours for summer programs.

“This is going to be one of the most rewarding endeavors I have ever been in,” Goff said. “We did smaller scale programs like this in my time here and we’ve done a lot of informal things like this where some of our staff here get to meet young people through different circumstances and we get to mentor them.”

Goff said some teens will be prohibited from participating, such as those with sexual charges, aggravated charges, or felonies.

Goff said the program will launch next month.

“All we’re trying to do is give them an avenue of self-expression, get partnered with a mentor,” Goff said. “And over time through active listening was hopeful these kids start to open us to us and we can break down these barriers that are so common with these teenagers.”