Integrating the youth mentoring programs of law enforcement and social service agencies: An analysis of the issues and possibilities.

摘要

This project explored the types of juvenile mentoring services currently provided by community policing officers and social service workers in Southern Maine, and how those services can be integrated. This research relied exclusively on focus group data gleaned from participants in both law enforcement and social service organizations. The participants for this project were 12 police officers and 12 social service workers employed at non-profit organizations. Community policing officers and social service workers who were currently engaged in providing mentoring services to juveniles were chosen for the focus groups.; The results indicate that law enforcement and social service participants' programming focused on youth decision making as an important facet of how each defines juvenile mentoring. While the groups are offering different types of activities and programming, they share commonalities in the areas of community connection and community involvement, as well as family issues and parental involvement.; A continuum of integrated services is described for youth who are at differing stages of risk. In measuring effectiveness, the data revealed some important points. Social service organizations, whose funding sources emphasize behavioral outcomes, rely on surveys of specific types of behavior, as well as the number of youth who are served by their programming. In contrast, law enforcement organizations placed greater emphasis on qualitatively measuring the effectiveness of the relationship between the youth and the law enforcement officer.; Data suggests there is no systematic inter-agency organizational mechanism that assures that workers know the range of program resources available for youth.; The findings suggest the following recommendations: (1) Create a standard definition of mentoring, which includes activities that occur along a continuum. (2) Develop standard evaluation methods that measure effectiveness and the level and depth of connection between the providers and the youth. (3) Define and implement a statewide standard funding mechanism that compels collaboration between law enforcement and social service organizations providing mentoring programs to youth.