Ryves Youth Center Issues - Annotated Bibliography Example

Annotated Bibliography and Addendum: Ryves Youth Center Topic: Ryves Youth Center Thesis: Ryves Youth Center offers services to children described as “at risk”, who have experienced physical and sexual abuse, illiteracy, and substance abuse among others. The issues related to youth have been a heated debate over the past decades. The most notable and major concern has always been “At risk youth”, which include youth crime, violence, sex, harassments, poor academic performance, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. According to recent research, “at risk youth” {“children who deal with extreme circumstances brought by family members, peers, and social circumstances on a regular basis such as substance abuse, violence, or extreme poverty” (Miller 10)} are faced with complex issues that pose hardships in their life. These problems are largely felt by the family members, relatives and the society. In order to help these “at risk youth”, many youth centers have been established in the United States. Among these centers is Ryves Youth Center which offers services to children described as “at risk”, who have experienced physical and sexual abuse, illiteracy, and substance abuse among others. Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall. Archdiocese of Indianapolis.2006. Viewed on 15 February 2012 form< http://www.archindy.org/cc/ryves/>  Since its establishment in 1982, Ryves Youth Center has been in the front line to offer guidance and assistance to these young Americans. Most of the children who go to Ryves Youth Center can be categorized as “at risk youth” as they come from single parent homes, from poor background and with no one to turn to. For this category of children, Ryves hall take cares of them. Most of these students enter Ryves hall with low esteem, lack of education, hunger, and obviously face unemployment. Some of the activities offered by Ryves hall include basketball, volleyball among other recreation activities. Therefore, it can be argued that Ryves hall is part of the change desired to change the lives of these young Americans. Ryves Community Optimist Club (RCOC).Ryvesoptimists. Viewed on 15 February 2012 from The Ryves Community Optimistic Club in Terre Haute was established in 2011. Its mission is to assist the youths of the Ryves region by supporting Ryves Youth Center. Ryves Youth Center accepts children from all backgrounds regardless of their social, religion or economic status. According to Ryves Community Optimist Club, approximately 95% of the youth who go to Ryves youth center live below the poverty line and the majority of them are homeless (Para 4). Ryves Community Optimist Club attempts to provide help to the youth center in order to assist them realize their dreams and meet their needs. This includes facilitating contacts with their friends and families to improve their health, subjecting them in center’s reading programs to develop and enhance their knowledge, and engaging them in recreational activities to advance their physical fitness. Miller, Kristy Ann. A Qualitative Study of the Self-Concept of Underprivileged Adolescents Attending Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall. Indiana University. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. 2007. Print. Using qualitative approach, this book presented interpretive analysis of the self-concept of underprivileged children attending Ryves Youth Center at EtlingHall which is located in Terre Haute, Indiana. During the study, the researcher used triangulation to compare and contrast participants’ observations. The purpose of this study was to develop a logical explanation of what youth centers such as Ryves does and to develop a model to explain this phenomenon. According to Miller, since the beginning of public education, students from poor backgrounds have been denied equal opportunities granted to students from rich backgrounds (1). Miller also noted that students from poor background often come from single parent homes where the mother is the sole financial provider and disciplinarian and my face difficulties in taking care of the children (4). Due to lack of some necessities, these children may experience low self esteem, and the situation is worsened by the fact that they lack people to turn to. With such difficulties facing these children, Miller asserted that it is necessary for these children to have a safe, warm, and friendly place where the children can seek refuge (5). In this regard, it is important to consider the impact of youth programs on these children. In addition to offering children with an environment that welcomes all children, youth programs offers a safe haven for these students. Morley, Elaine; Rossman, Shelli and Urban Institute.Helping at-risk youth: lessons from community-based initiatives. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. 1997 print. Due to recent years’ increased attention on issues like crimes associated with youths, and violent behavior, drug abuse, matters concerning their academic performance and other concerns associated with “at risk youth”, there has been community based collaborative that deals with care and connecting youth and relatives to a selection of services. One of such initiatives over viewed in this book is Community in School (CIS). CIS is a national nonprofit organization that organizes youth oriented services in local neighborhood and schools. It offers explicit services to youth at risk. At school level, the program take a team of adults to give services to youth identified as being at risk (2). CIS present some case management to evaluate student needs, put up service delivery plans, and keep an eye on student progress. They offer services like life skills education, study skills, corrective education, and group counseling. Just like in Ryves Youth Center, CIS can be said to offer support to “at risk youth”. Fashola, Olatokunbo. Building effective after-school programs. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, Inc. 2002, print. In this book, Fashola explains effectiveness of some youth programs that help improve the lives of “at risk youth”. Focusing on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Fashola noted that the organization was created to provide young children from single-parent families with adult mentors (50). Its goal is to provide young children with role models who mentor them on various positive aspects of their day to day lives. They teach them to make positive and right decisions of their lives and assist them strive for the best in life. Children participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting with local agencies. The organization has been cited to be one of the most effective organizations that help reduce violence and unwanted behaviors among the youths. In this regard, it can be argued that the Big Brothers Big Sisters is also concerned with assisting underprivileged children by mentoring them and brightening their future, just like Ryves Youth Center. Heritage school. Providing hope, nurturing relationships, changing lives. Viewed on 07 March 2012 from Heritage school gives “at risk youth” the tools to live life with hope. Heritage school uses therapeutic model to coach its children. It is a boarding school with a residential treatment center. Through the efforts of dedicated staff members, the youth rediscover their rights and overcome challenges in their lives. Heritage school provide a safe haven for “at risk youth” by providing high quality therapeutic and educational experience. Heritage school provides support for youth without resources. The school empower the youth through physical activity encouragement. Summary: As discussed earlier, Ryves Youth Center is safe haven for “at risk youth”. One of the primary aims of Ryves Hall is to serve the youth who face problems such as a lack of education, face unemployment, hunger, and latch-key children. The other addendum sources discussed above clearly unveil the importance of youth programs especially those that deal with “at risk youth”. One of the most notable characteristic of all the centers discussed is that they provide a safe haven for the “at risk youth”. Therefore, with such literatures, it is vital for the society to support these centers since they bring these youth to the right path as they have a promising future. Source evaluation Miller, Kristy Ann. A Qualitative Study of the Self-Concept of Underprivileged Adolescents Attending Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall. Indiana University. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. 2007. Print. It is apparent that the issue of “at risk youth” has been a heated debate for many years. This has been noted by Miller citing that due to lack of some necessities, at risk youth may experience low self esteem, and the situation is worsened by the fact that they lack people to turn to (5). This assertion by Miller can be argued to be true because unless something is done to help these children, they may develop some unruly behaviors that would be because of low self esteem which again is because of lack of some necessities. As one begins to read this book, a clear picture of what the youth programs can do to help these children is built up accordingly. In fact, Miller sets the stage by first highlighting the situation of at risk youth pointing out their problems which range from extreme circumstances brought by the fact that they are brought up by a single parent (5). In this regard, I agree with Miller that that it is necessary for these children to have a safe, warm, and friendly place where the children can seek refuge. On the other hand, Miller asserted that some of these children are subjected to teachers with little or no idea of the hardships they undergo (6). This worsens the situation since the children may end up lacking people to mentor and motivate them, thus leading to low self-esteem. If this assertion by Miller is something to go by, it can be argued that there is need to have much more of youth centers which would take care of the needs of these children accordingly. Works cited: Fashola, Olatokunbo. Building effective after-school programs. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, Inc. 2002. Print. Heritage school. Providing hope, nurturing relationships, changing lives. Web. 07 March 2012 . Miller, Kristy Ann. A Qualitative Study of the Self-Concept of Underprivileged Adolescents Attending Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall. Indiana University. ProQuest Information and Learning Company. 2007. Print. Morley, Elaine; Rossman, Shelli and Urban Institute.Helping at-risk youth: lessons from community-based initiatives. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. 1997. Print. Ryves Community Optimist Club (RCOC).Ryvesoptimists. Web.February 2012. Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall. Archdiocese of Indianapolis. 2006. Web.15 February 2012< http://www.archindy.org/cc/ryves/>  Read More

The purpose of this study was to develop a logical explanation of what youth centers such as Ryves does and to develop a model to explain this phenomenon. According to Miller, since the beginning of public education, students from poor backgrounds have been denied equal opportunities granted to students from rich backgrounds (1). Miller also noted that students from poor background often come from single parent homes where the mother is the sole financial provider and disciplinarian and my face difficulties in taking care of the children (4).

Due to lack of some necessities, these children may experience low self esteem, and the situation is worsened by the fact that they lack people to turn to. With such difficulties facing these children, Miller asserted that it is necessary for these children to have a safe, warm, and friendly place where the children can seek refuge (5). In this regard, it is important to consider the impact of youth programs on these children. In addition to offering children with an environment that welcomes all children, youth programs offers a safe haven for these students.

Morley, Elaine; Rossman, Shelli and Urban Institute.Helping at-risk youth: lessons from community-based initiatives. Washington, DC: Urban Institute. 1997 print. Due to recent years’ increased attention on issues like crimes associated with youths, and violent behavior, drug abuse, matters concerning their academic performance and other concerns associated with “at risk youth”, there has been community based collaborative that deals with care and connecting youth and relatives to a selection of services.

One of such initiatives over viewed in this book is Community in School (CIS). CIS is a national nonprofit organization that organizes youth oriented services in local neighborhood and schools. It offers explicit services to youth at risk. At school level, the program take a team of adults to give services to youth identified as being at risk (2). CIS present some case management to evaluate student needs, put up service delivery plans, and keep an eye on student progress. They offer services like life skills education, study skills, corrective education, and group counseling.

Just like in Ryves Youth Center, CIS can be said to offer support to “at risk youth”. Fashola, Olatokunbo. Building effective after-school programs. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, Inc. 2002, print. In this book, Fashola explains effectiveness of some youth programs that help improve the lives of “at risk youth”. Focusing on Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Fashola noted that the organization was created to provide young children from single-parent families with adult mentors (50).

Its goal is to provide young children with role models who mentor them on various positive aspects of their day to day lives. They teach them to make positive and right decisions of their lives and assist them strive for the best in life. Children participate in the Big Brothers Big Sisters by connecting with local agencies. The organization has been cited to be one of the most effective organizations that help reduce violence and unwanted behaviors among the youths. In this regard, it can be argued that the Big Brothers Big Sisters is also concerned with assisting underprivileged children by mentoring them and brightening their future, just like Ryves Youth Center.

Heritage school. Providing hope, nurturing relationships, changing lives. Viewed on 07 March 2012 from Heritage school gives “at risk youth” the tools to live life with hope. Heritage school uses therapeutic model to coach its children. It is a boarding school with a residential treatment center. Through the efforts of dedicated staff members, the youth rediscover their rights and overcome challenges in their lives. Heritage school provide a safe haven for “at risk youth” by providing high quality therapeutic and educational experience.

Heritage school provides support for youth without resources.

Read More