December 4, 1998

Faun Collett, President

Academy of Missouri Education Network

Dear Mrs. Collett:

Thank you for sharing your valuable experiences in training at-risk youth to train service dogs for the physically challenged. Your idea of developing a connection between a youth and animals to teach personal, interpersonal and transitional skills impresses me.

As an agency treating and service adjudicated youth, we see many youth who have not developed the interpersonal and life skills necessary to become productive citizens. Many of our youth have been abused and/or neglected and have not learned to develop healthy bonds. Many youth have not learned to handle responsibilities. Many do not feel valued. Learning animal care skills not only addresses those life skills, but also provides vocational/career opportunities for some youth.

A logical connection is drawn between teaching youth to train and care for service dogs and learning patience, responsibility, and self value. Nurturing and caring behaviors needed to train service animals may transfer to the youth's relationships with family and peers. We know the value of experiential education and daily application of academic skills in developing young people. The description of your program seems to support those learning strategies.

As an agency, we are interested in learning more about your program. I see the potential for students in nearby DYS residential facilities using your program as either a community service project or a treatment activity. I also see potential for DYS youth in your area being assigned to your program as a part of their aftercare programming. Your employment of teachers increases the feasibility of assigning youth who are in need of day treatment services not otherwise available in your area.

I see potential interest in your proposal for the juvenile and family courts in your judicial circuit. The Division of Youth Services supports juvenile court diversion programs intent on diverting youth from continued involvement with the courts and law enforcement. Your program may be a viable project for DYS support through the juvenile court diversion grant. Finally, as a not-for-profit organization, the possibility exists that your site would be eligible to be designated as a work site for youth working under the Private Industry Council program.

To summarize, your program concepts and description appear to have merit and deserving of further consideration. We will discuss with our regional administrators the prospect of your program serving DYS youth.

We are interested in obtaining as much information as possible about your program. I would like to schedule a visit for myself and our Northwest Regional Administrator to discuss your program for meeting the needs of some of the youth we serve.

Sincerely,

Dennis M. Gragg

Education Director

cc: Vicky Weimholt, Deputy Director

Terry Finn, Regional Administrator