About CARY
Mission
“Helping youth promote safe schools and safe communities.”
Vision
Research shows strong correlations between students’ entry into school disciplinary system and later entry into criminal justice system. CARY’s vision is that cost effective application of “science based” interventions with these students will decrease crime and delinquency and result in improved school attendance, improved grades and improved citizenship.
History
CARY has been operating Youth Violence Prevention Programs with at-risk youth at the Austin Disciplinary Alternative Education Program now in the 6th year; at Bedichek, Dobie, and Webb now in the 3rd year; after school programs at Pearce and Webb now in the 2nd year and Service Learning and Violence Prevention at Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs in Georgetown, Lockhart and Luling now in the 3rd year of operation.
Target Youth
CARY works exclusively with troubled and troublesome students placed in in-school suspension, detention or removed to behavioral alternative learning centers. Average age is 13; 70% are minorities; 85% are males; 90% are poor. Students involved in assault, bullying and insubordination are referred to CARY by school administrators and counselors.
Funding
Support has come from Hogg, RGK, Allstate, Trull, Lola Wright, Meadows and A Glimmer of Hope Foundation. Federal grants have been received from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance Community-Gun Violence Prevention and U.S. Department of Education-Safe and Drug Free Schools program through the Texas Education Agency. Current support comes from the City of Austin and Travis County.
Program
Comprehensive case management approach is used with:
- A social cognitive skills based program Positive Adolescent Choices Training, a “best practice” by the U.S. Department of Education that emphasizes violence prevention and positive social skills
- individual counseling, coaching and behavioral goal setting
- parent training groups using Parenting Wisely
- service learning projects
Staff
MA staff personnel with social work, psychology or counseling emphasis and 5+ years experience in mental health, special education and/or correction.
Evaluation Results
Surveys with administrators, counselors, teachers, parents and an independent evaluator shows improved attitudes, behaviors, and social skills; decreases in fighting, anger outbursts and personal conflicts; and improvements in school attendance and academic grades among CARY student program participants.