A second chance isn’t always an option, but much to the delightof some youths, that opportunity is now available through a newprogram in the area.

The Lincoln-Copiah County Adolescent Offender Program givesjuvenile offenders a chance to learn how to change their ways.

“We’re an alternative to training school. We’re trying to keepthem out of the criminal justice system,” said Wilma Richardson,director of the program sponsored by YMCA.

Juveniles who have already been in trouble with the law arecourt-ordered to the program, along with their parents, to find theheart of their problems.

During the year-long obligation, participants meet withqualified counselors and case managers in individual, group andfamily therapy sessions four days a week.

“We’re like this extra parent. We’re a support system for theparent and the child,” said Richardson.

AOP employees pick the students up after school and transportthem to the Martha Sykes Center, which serves as the program’soperating site.

Counselors provide the students, ranging from 12 to 17 yearsold, with a snack, and then spend one-on-one time listening to thestudents’ feelings and trying to provide them with solutions totheir problems.

Parents pick the juveniles up in the evening and regularly meetwith counselors. Richardson pointed out that parents play a bigfactor in the effectiveness of the program.

“The parents are more involved than they ever have been before,”Richardson said.

She encourages parents to spend quality time with theirchildren, because that makes a tremendous difference inattitudes.

Counselors also work closely with the participants’ teachers andemployers, if they work, to monitor their progress.

“The teachers can’t do it all, and the parents sometimes can’teither because they work,” Richardson explained. “If we can allwork in a collaborative effort, it’s going to resolve a lot ofconflicts at home and at school.”

So far the statewide program has proved effective in modifyingthe behavior of participants, with about 90 percent not returningto the court system.

Richardson is excited about the federally-funded program makingits debut in Lincoln and Copiah counties.

“It’s amazing what a little bit of structure, time and attentioncan do for a child,” she commented.

Richardson feels a closeness with the participants. She, alongwith her staff of six employees, believe their concern for thechildren is one reason the program has been successful.

She worked with troubled children several years through theDepartment of Human Services’ child protection division. The AOPprogram is another way Richardson believes she can contribute to abetter society.

“We’re trying to create a safer, more productive environment,and if you focus on the children, it can be done,” she said.

Besides becoming better people, the juveniles also learn theimportance of contributing to their community.

This spring and summer they will plant a vegetable garden nearthe Martha Sykes Center. The juveniles will learn to producevegetables that will be given to elderly residents in the area.

“We also plan to get them involved in some other communityprojects,” said Richardson.