Another Chance for Education (ACE)
The
ACE program was established in August 2002 by the East Palo Alto Police
Department as a juvenile diversion program. The program was designed to
specifically target youths who are involved in the juvenile justice system
or are at a high risk of getting involved. The program addresses truancy,
youth violence, gang membership and drug and alcohol awareness through
the coordinated efforts of youth-serving agencies and resources in the
City of East Palo Alto. ACE is a voluntary program and entrance into the
ACE program is through referral only. The Police Department and local
schools make most of the referrals, but family members, friends and other
youth-serving agencies can also make them.
Although
police departments are required to have youth diversion programs, the
ACE program is unique in that it features home visits and coordination
with the school district. ACE program maintains a close working relationship
with other youth-serving agencies in East Palo Alto as well. Key partners
with ACE include the Ravenswood City School District, the Sequoia Union
High School District, the Boys & Girls Club of the Peninsula, Leadership
Training Academy, New Perspectives, Young Latino Leaders, Youth & Family
Enrichment Services and the San Mateo County Probation Department.
| Address: | 2415 University Avenue East Palo Alto, CA 94303 • Phone: (650) 853-3177 • Fax: (650) 853-3103 • Email: Jeffrey M. Carroll, Program Coordinator |
| Services
& Programs: |
Another
Chance for Education (ACE) While ACE can provide referrals for girls to other agencies, actual case management is only for boys. The reasons for an all-male youth program are that around 80% of juvenile crime in East Palo Alto is committed by boys and that having a single gender program changes the group dynamics in a favorable way, factoring out distractions that would occur in a mixed gender environment. ACE enrolls 30 boys at a time. In some cases boys who contact ACE are referred to another agency because they require either a lesser or a greater degree of intervention than the program can provide (such as treatment for drug addiction, which might require a residential setting). So far, ACE has made 477 referrals to other youth-serving agencies. • The Mentoring Component: provides each youth with a role model to help in decision-making processes, especially regarding gang issues, nonviolent conflict resolution and reproductive health issues. The coordinator organizes, matches and tracks mentor/student interaction and coordinates a Career Awareness Program. • The Life Skills Component: provides a vehicle for dissemination of information about gang involvement and awareness as well as health, drug and reproductive issues through a forum for various opinions. The Life Skills component serves as the primary vehicle for the dissemination of information. Each youth enrolled in the ACE program is required to attend at least one Life Skills Workshop per week. The curriculum used for this component is based on the "Passport to Manhood" national program utilized by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and "Changing Scenes," a reproductive health program for youths. • The Community Service Component: provides youths with an active opportunity for the practical use of the principles learned through the ACE program. Youths see first-hand how they can positively impact the lives of their families and members of the community. Community service provides an opportunity to turn selfishness (one of the major contributors to juvenile crime) into selflessness (a primary component of community spirit). • The Recreational Component: allows participants to develop social skills, teamwork, personal integrity, and friendly competition. This component also provides positive teen alternative activities. The Parent Project For assistance with parenting skills, the ACE program operates the PARENT PROJECT. The PARENT PROJECT is a ten-week program that was created specifically for parents of strong-willed or out-of-control children. It provides concrete, no-nonsense solutions to many common, but difficult, parenting problems. Involvement by parents helps ensure that their actions are in synch with what ACE is working on with their child. Youth Employment Training Program This summer the ACE program will implement a Youth Employment Training Program for its members. This program will provide selected youths with actual work experience, academic assistance, life skills and physical fitness programs, along with educational and recreational field trips. |
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Activity Guide & Registration
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The City of East Palo Alto is proud to provide you the flexibility of Program Registration online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Click on the brochure icon above to view the current activity guide or click the link below to access our online class registration.
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© 2005 City of East Palo Alto
