From the Director

While we may feel safe in Austin, our youth are not removed from violence. Recent murder charges against a 16 year old for the shooting death of another youth walking home from school, represents a reminder of the presence of youth violence in Austin. In one of our safer neighborhoods, the West Lake Hills and Rollingwood Park Police detained over 100 Westlake High School students halting a ”fight club” near Zilker Park. More recently the Austin Independent School District Safe and Drug Free Schools Report for 2004-2005 states that “58% of 7th and 8th graders reported experiencing bullying at least one time during the 2004-2005 academic year.” The extent of bullying was significantly lower than the district average at Bedichek and Webb Middle Schools where CARY operates Violence Prevention programs.

The Council on At-Risk Youth (CARY) begins intervention with troubled and troublesome youth at a time when we know they are beginning to establish life long patterns of violence. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development “nearly 60 percent of boys classified as bullies in the sixth through ninth grade will receive at least one criminal court conviction by age 24, and 40 percent will three criminal court convictions by age 24.” A recent study by the Texas A&M University Center for Public Policy Research has found that a student’s involvement in the school disciplinary system is the most powerful predictor determining whether he or she will enter the juvenile justice system.

Thus, CARY works with students when the schools suspend them for disciplinary reasons and assign them to “in school suspension” or “detention” settings or remove them altogether and assign them to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (the Alternative Learning Center in Austin, the Georgetown Alternative Program in Georgetown or the Eagle Rebound Program in Luling). With available research and early evaluation findings, CARY is working toward actualizing our vision of helping troubled and troublesome youth become contributing members of our community.

Consider making a tax-deductible donation to help continue this program.

Sincerely,
Adrian L. Moore
Executive Director