Specialist Youth Services Corp (SYSCO)

A twenty week youth development programme, followed by a 40 week post programme follow up and support, for 14-17 year old offenders both male and female. Participants are referred through family group conferences from Youth Aid or Child Youth and Family.  This programme is based around assisting young people to modify their behaviour through building trust, setting goals, accepting and participating in challenges, solving problems as individuals and groups and increasing their motivation to succeed. The New Plymouth YMCA is the sole organisation that offers specific community based services for at risk youth/youth offenders in Taranaki. Young persons learn and acquire new skills, increase their confidence and motivation.  The service offers support in an active environment to remove barriers to education, employment and training.  It offers a supportive learning opportunity for young people where academic National qualifications framework is enhanced by challenging recreational pursuits, transitional skills training and work experience. The SYSCO programme in particular works specifically with young offenders.  We have secure funding for this programme and have achieved successful outcomes.  Some of the tangible outcomes achieved:

• We have a proven healthy and trusting relationship with whānau and community within the most prominent areas where youth at risk are prevalent.  We work closely with vulnerable and disengaged youth from other parts of New Zealand, placed in New Plymouth.  These youth have returned to their families on completion of our programme, and parents and professionals have reported a positive change in attitude, increased self motivation and self esteem.
• More measurable outcomes include youth going into full-time tertiary study, full-time employment and a return to mainstream schooling.  We have in place a monitoring system to follow up on participants once they have successfully completed our youth offenders programme, and ensure they maintain the outcomes post course at 10, 20 and 40 week follow ups.  These are then reported quarterly to CYF detailed in contractual service reports.
• Soft outcomes include: a reconnection to whānau, a development of own identity, and improved communication with adults and professionals, in particular breaking down the barriers and perceptions that youth at risk have with police and social service professionals that provide support.

Our staffs work with both male and female youth at risk to build quality and trusting relationships in a positive and supportive environment.  At times, young persons have disclosed sexual and violent abuse to staff that in turn have assisted them in finding the appropriate professional agencies, and supported them through the process.  We have proven outcomes with both male and female young offenders. We have proven results specifically in building a happier and more resilient young person; a young person who engages positively and proactively within the programme and then within the community.  These results are proven by an average of more than 90% attendance, more than 85% are satisfied with the programme, and reported improvement of their personal, social skills and contribution to the community. The programme ending December 2009, achieved an 85% from a targeted 70% transition to further education, training or employment.  This 85% outcome was maintained at the 10 week follow up period, reported in the April 2010 CYF service report.