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How can communities interrupt the school-to-prison-pipeline?

 Research has shown that the trend of schools adopting “zero-tolerance” policies and incorporating school resource officers (SROs) has helped facilitate the school-to-prison pipeline – a system where youth are funneled from public schools directly into the criminal justice system. Intertwining school discipline with the criminal justice system not only increases the number of suspensions and arrests that occur in schools, but it puts more students into the pipeline for misdemeanors like “disorderly conduct”. Furthermore, these policies often end up targeting children with learning disabilities or children with histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect, who may not receive the specialized educational or counseling services they need. These policies also disproportionally affect students of color, who are more likely to be arrested or punished than their white classmates and receive harsher punishments for similar offenses.

One way that many communities battle against this trend is through youth intervention programs. These programs aim to keep children and adolescents away from the trajectory toward delinquent behavior, with the hope that they will not enter the school-to-prison pipeline. Studies show that early intervention, rather than remediation after disruptive behavior, is more effective and better supports a child’s development and resilience.

Youth intervention programs can take on many forms, such as after-school recreational activities; volunteer and community involvement; or classroom programs focused on bullying prevention or saying no to drugs. With social distancing now a reality, facilitating cyber clubs is a solution to create a safe place that gives young people a platform to discuss what matters to them.

The Lions Club International, a service organization with 1.4 million members serving communities worldwide, has at least 20 clubs throughout Delaware that encourage people to “join together to give their valuable time and effort to improving their communities, and the world.” The Bellefonte Lions Club, led by Hayat Omar-Hubert and partnered with the Bellevue Community Center, volunteers time to humanitarian causes in Claymont.

Says Hayat:

Circumstances in life are what they are, but in those times we get to choose to define who we are and the actions we take. I am taking on empowering youth to have their voice to be leaders in their community.  We all have a part to play to build each other up in these difficult times. 

As part of Bellefonte Lions, we are committed to educating youth about drug prevention as a key to empower them to make informed choices. I am holding a workshop for children ages 13 and up to raise awareness that mental health equals physical health.

We are also delighted to have Knights of Prevention and Education (K.O.P.E.) – a new online club geared to helping young people live drug-free lives, make healthy choices, and value service learning – to help train and provide resources such as securing a speaker on topics like mental health to guide youth to make a difference in themselves and with their peers. We combine resources so we can take a stand against substance abuse disorders together. It takes collective effort to cause a better world.

We are coming up on Red Ribbon Week (October 23-31) that started after Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena was brutally tortured and murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. Viewing service as means to prevention, we involve youth in projects to give them resources and access to imagine themselves to live a productive life that feeds their passion and souls. We are using technology to educate, promote positivity and engage youth to care about their peers and their community. Using our community partners, we choose to engage in prevention education.

Don't stay on the sidelines - get involved in your community to facilitate youth programs and cyber clubs!



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