Youth Intervention in the News!

Early intervention youth services have been featured several times this week in the Star Tribune! At YIPA, we are delighted to see that the amazing work of members is getting recognized. We are also excited to see new ideas and connections for youth intervention at the state and the national level.

Photograph from Star Tribune Article "Many Healthy Returns"

On Tuesday, June 8^th the Star Tribune highlighted Bolder Options (a YIPA member since 1999). Bolder Options is a cutting edge hybrid of early intervention, mentoring and healthy lifestyle training. Their innovative techniques for helping young people stay on track, live healthy lives, and connect with caring adults helps make Minnesota a leader in early intervention.

In the article, business columnist Neal St. Anthony cites the Social Return on Investment study that YIPA commissioned in 2007. St. Anthony writes, “Twin Cities economist Paul Anton and Judy Temple of the University of Minnesota reported to the Minnesota Legislature that taxpayers can expect future savings of $2.75 to $5 for every dollar invested in effective mentoring and youth-intervention programs such as those offered by Bolder Options, PPL and Kinship chapters around Minnesota.” These numbers are based on YIPA programs! For the full study.

Bolder Options isn’t the only one showing that early intervention is one of the best investments that Minnesota can make. A national group of law enforcement leaders called Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is saying the same thing. A June 9^th article in the Star Tribune shows how Minnesotan law enforcement is getting on board.

In Minnesota, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom is a leader in the movement to make early intervention a key component of both crime prevention and education. CA Backstrom sat on YIPA’s board for a number of years and remains a YIPA member! We are so grateful to have such a strong voice for early intervention youth services here in Minnesota.

YIPA wholeheartedly supports efforts to incorporate early intervention and prevention into the greater national debate about education reform. Giving young people access to the caring adults, resources and safe spaces that they need will save Minnesota and this country millions of dollars and the immeasurable cost that comes with violent crime, theft and large populations of young adults without high school diplomas.

The article focuses on keeping kids in school, something that many YIPA member organizations do very well. In the article Backstrom states, “If we really want to reduce crime in our society, one of the single best investments we can make is on early prevention programs with at-risk kids." The article uses the word “prevention” to describe the types of programs this group supports, but what they are truly describing is in many cases early intervention. Early intervention helps young people who are straying toward a dangerous path that includes criminal behavior, substance abuse, and dropping out of school.

While this group highlights the need for in-school and afterschool intervention programs, we want to remind our readers that early intervention comes in many shapes and forms. YIPA members include mentoring programs like Bolder Options, School Resource Officer programs like those in Moorhead, MN, diversion programs, family and individual counseling, substance abuse education, and much, much more. Some programs are located in schools, while others are at YMCAs, community centers, probation offices, and public spaces across Minnesota.

If you are interested in learning more about legislation that supports youth intervention or to get more information on the Social Return on Investment study email jsbeaty@comcast.net.