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Why I can't seem to make up my mind and keep changing it. |
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Entry for May 18, 2006 Youth-at-risk Request for Help 
 Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:13 pm Post subject: Youth at Risk Programs in Bay County |
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My wife and I visted Panama City Recently, visiting family, and attending the FSU graduation. We are mentors for 'at-risk' youth here in Phoenix, AZ and we understand the true value of programs which advocate the success of youth who are at risk in all of the most horrific ways. We were chatting with our son-in-law at a Starbuck's explaining what we are trying to accomplish in our Phoenix Youth at Risk program. A very brave young girl came to our table and spoke to us of a need for an 'at-risk' youth mentoring program in Panama City. She had thought we were from her area and we could possibly guide her to a place where she and her friend could have guidance from mentors. We sat with her and spoke to her concerning her need, and the needs of others like her in Panama City. It seems her friend is the brother of Martin Lee Anderson, the young man suffocated at the 'boot camp' near Panama City. We got her phone number and told her we would research available services in her area and then contact her. Our experience with youth indicate that this young lady ws showing great desperation and courage in coming to strangers seeking help for her friend.
I have been surfing the net, contacting the United Way, The Youth in Action Program, and the Anchorage Childrens home in Panama City, all for naught. So, where do I turn? Where does this young girl turn? Where do her peers turn? And most importantly, where does the family of the dead young man turn? From what this young lady tells me, her friend is very much at risk, she appeared desperate and faithful toward finding help. WOULD YOU HELP?? WHO WILL HELP?? I will continue my search the best I can, this is just a part of my search. Thank you. | |
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thatstan
Joined: 16 Oct 2004
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Patrick,
You're on!
Welcome to Bay County. At least people read your posts, so you know there's an interest and need.
OK, Emmy and Panama Tiger, I recommend an organizational meeting next week at the Burger King across from the Mall. I'm high class but cheap.
Emmy picks the day and time of the initial meeting.
Here's my proposed rules and why to get us started:
Since every juvenile is at risk, and none are not at risk, I recommend we find a more descriptive term. Besides we need to attract parents and or kis with and without so-called troubled backgrounds. I suspect we'll be finding more at risk parents with normal kids who are just trying to get along.
I recommend we employ the Mormon 3 person rule, not one on one between adult and child. Either 3 adults are always together in interactions or 3 juveniles are. BTW, I'm not a Mormon or member of any other religious, political or racial cult. OK, I'm a cracker, but that's not my fault. We certainlly should welcome members of all groups as counselors, but our mission is too important to have it distracted by religion, politics or ethnicity. For example, Mormon's, Jehovah's Witnesses and SDA (adventists), Arabs and Mexicans do a better job at raising kids than other blacks and whites. We need their advice on parenting and should welcome it.
The 3 person rule is to minimize the chance of child sexual abusers participating and to protect other adults from being falsely accused of such behavior.
Those are the only two rules that bother me.
OK, Emmy, tell us the best day and time next week. Either before or after the evening dollar movies in the mall. This is how we did the Airport move protest meetings.
This will give me a chance to brag about my grandson and show pictures of him to everybody. And tell his story.
As a promotion, I'm offering a free Whopper to every single Mom who shows up, if any. I'm not having much success on the dating service forum in enticing any women to share a whopper with me at Burger King even though I offer a free toaster as a bonus. Perhaps if I offered a four slice model my luck would improve.
Again, thanks Patrick. When I was a kid, rather than fight with my troubled parents I simply 'adopted' my friends' parents and it worked out well for me. Only one girl finally figured out that I came around to really visit her parents not her. She married somebody else.
Stan
PS Patrick, please sent mentoring guidance to get us rolling. s | |
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pbuckles
Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 9
Location: The Desert
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| Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the "welcome", but, I'm not residing in Bay County. My wife and I are 'desert rats', or 'gila monsters', living in Phoenix, AZ.
check out these sites and you'll have an idea where I'm coming fromconcerning mentoring programs:
http://www.phoenixyouthatrisk.org/ and http://www.nyyouthatrisk.org/
Just pokin around right now, seein' who might want to help out. | |
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thatstan
Joined: 16 Oct 2004
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 10:56 am Post subject: Where does this young girl (and boy) turn? |
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Hi Patrick,
When I said welcome to Panama City, I meant welcome to Panama City Community Apathy toward at risk youth. That's why I feel the two kids you talked about have no one to turn to for mentoring. I knew you were from Phoenix. I'm a great Steve Nash fan (Phoenix Suns NBA). He's the only white guy in the NBA for us lower Alabama racists to root for. It's unfair!
I read your excellent information and about Big Brothers, and they would be great for Bay County just like they are for Fort Walton/Mary Ester. If we try hard and find some fat cat donors and corporate sponsors, we can probably establish such a complex organization here -- in about ten years. Meanwhile, Where does this young girl (and boy) turn? "
My approach would be to start with them as a a base or seed and nurture the effort to make it grow by attracting more volunteers and youth and families. Once a healthy community group is established, then it can join a national group. My way, the service would be there right away without having to wait an extra generation of kids. A group as small as three can get us started. And we can respond to the girl's plea now.
I particularly identify with the young male. I had a brother, Jimmy, who was 14, a year older than me. One day he was perfectly healthy, the next morning he was dead -- spinal meningitis. That was over 50 years ago but seems like today.
At our 50th High School Reunion in Manassas Virginia last year, each of us was asked on a questionaire to list the most important memory of high school. Classmates I hardly knew put down Jimmy Clark dying of spinal meningitis. I wanted to show the kid the picture of me and my younger sister the day of the funeral. And how Jimmy is still alive in my mind and memory and dreams the same as over 50 years ago.
Deal? Or no deal? Stan | |
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