Parent Opportunity Program CWAH continues to be encouraged by the impact of its educational and developmental programs for both youths and their parents. Our Parent Opportunity Program offers a variety of educational workshops and classes to help families become more self-sufficient. GED, career assessment and counseling, family therapy and individual counseling periodically, self-help workshops, job readiness, fitness training, nutrition, financial literacy, credit repair and first-time home buyer workshops, health and wellness classes, breast cancer, healthy heart, and mental health workshops, and non-violent summits for youths and parents. Our Summer Enrichment programs offer youths and their parents an opportunity to have fun while they learn a new skill in various classes such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), computer science, health, nutrition, Tai Chi, and fine art. A review of the Missouri Juvenile Offenders Recidivism 2009 Juvenile Court Report shows 31 percent of African American youths return to the attention of juvenile authorities through an act of recidivism. African American youths have the highest rate among all race categories. This report also cites that the rate of recidivism for juvenile offenders peaks between the ages of 13 and 15. Relating to the four behavior-related factors, two that stand out for our organization are school-related factors for recidivism: below average or failing grades, and moderate to severe school attendance problems. A number of observations include the relationship of these variables to recidivism is likely mediated by socioeconomic and family relationship factors. Our experience shows that the parental management style, a mental health history that includes substance abuse, and weak support or no positive role models for many children/youths strongly influence negative behaviors. Our objectives are that this program will improve self-awareness and self-esteem, offer instruction to improve awareness, and improve the health of our youths by the way they purchase and prepare foods, offering substitutions for high-fat, sugar-laden products, and the importance of exercise to their well-being. We also want them to learn computer skills, PowerPoint, media technology, and engineering to understand the value of education, study our history as it relates to where they are today, and explore what they will need to be successful in the future in order to become productive citizens.
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