Building a Teen Safety Net

Middle school is a tough time for kids. They now have six teachers instead of one. Hormones are just beginning to boil. And many parents have to let children supervise themselves after school; at least until dark. Freedom, responsibility and puberty . . . a dangerous mix.

It’s during these years, ages 11 to 15, that many kids get off track: joining gangs, getting pregnant, giving up on school.

The Willard Middle School Project is trying to catch children as they fall through the cracks by giving them something positive and productive to do after school. The program provides at-risk children with a safe environment and school-based service-learning opportunities.

“Middle school is the biggest need we have in most communities right now,” said John Provost, executive director of the Central Orange Coast YMCA. “The kids are at a higher risk. They have opportunities to go in different directions. What the YMCA does is give them the opportunity to go in the right direction.”

At Willard Middle School, 1342 N. Ross in Santa Ana, the opportunities are going to get even better: Thanks to a very successful $100,000 donation drive, the YMCA has been able to purchase a modular building and is currently acquiring the equipment to make it the model for future middle school programs.

The building will soon have a study center with four computers with Internet access for skills training and for doing homework. The building will also have a game center and a terrarium with lizards, snakes and fish.

Art Wannlund, president of the YMCA Orange County, expects the building to be completely furnished by the time the children return to school in January. Miguel Gonzalez went through the Willard Program seven years ago . . . now he leads the project, working part time at the center while attending ITT Technical Institute in Anaheim.

“There are kids that I worked with four years ago and now they have good jobs and they’re doing really well in life,” said Gonzalez. “The program helped me in that it kept me off the streets. It kept me in touch with the good things we need to do in life.”

“The kids get together on weekends and do community service projects,” said Wannlund. “And we’ve worked with local businesses and had career days. Whether it’s vocational or professional careers, the kids get to talk to them and learn what it takes to make it in that career.”

Currently the YMCA has 11 middle school programs in different stages of development throughout Orange County. Wannlund said they plan to have a grand opening in January.

*

Chris Ceballos can be reached at (714) 966-7440