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Youth Services Division

HENDERSON-VANCE RECREATION

Youth Services Division
500 N. Beckford Drive
Suite A
Henderson, NC 27536

Staff

  • Youth Services Outreach Administrator – Vacant
  • Youth Services Program Coordinator – Darius Pitt (dariuspitt@henderson.nc.gov)
  • Youth Services Outreach Specialist – Vacant
Mission

To protect the public through a balanced approach of accountability and comprehensive services that prevent and reduce delinquency through collaboration with juvenile court, law enforcement, schools, families, community and other human services agencies, while providing opportunities for “at risk” and delinquent youth to become responsible and productive citizens

Vision

Successful youth, strong families and safe community

Purpose

To provide services for referred youth to prevent and reduce juvenile crime

Core Values

  • Can-do attitude
  • Character (integrity, honesty and fairness)
  • Customer service
  • Collaboration
  • Commitment
  • Community
YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS
 
Project Youth Outreach (PYO)

Project Youth Outreach started as a community-based program in 1985 under the sponsorship of Henderson-Vance Recreation Department. Guided growth activities are used as diversions for court involved and at risk youth, ages 6-18.  The program’s goals are to prevent delinquent and undisciplined behaviors and curtail commitments to Youth Development Centers.

PYO is an interpersonal skill building program for youth referred by Juvenile Services, Vance County Schools, Law Enforcement and other Human Services agencies.  Each PYO group meets weekly for an in school activity and monthly for an after school activity. The program works through the following modules to develop the social skills required for youth to interact in positive ways with others.

  • Informal Counseling – Bullying, Gang and Substance Abuse Prevention
  • Character Education
  • School Drop Out Prevention
  • Steps to Respect Curriculum
  • Healthy Habits
  • Recreational  Activities
Current Project Youth Outreach Schools

Elementary Schools

  • E.M. Rollins
  • E.O. Young
  • Clarke
Middle School

  • Vance County Middle School
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For more information, contact  Shantel Hargrove at 252.430.0382 (shantelhargrove@henderson.nc.gov).
 
Vance County Community Service/Restitution

The Vance County Community Service/Restitution Program was established in February 1985 under the auspices of the Henderson-Vance Recreation Department. The primary goal of the program is to provide a means whereby adjudicated delinquents can demonstrate responsibility to compensate the community and/or victims of crime. The Community Service/Restitution Program serves youth 6-18 years of age who are involved in the court system. Juveniles are court ordered to perform community service hours or earn restitution funds to compensate crime victims.  For more information, contact Shantel Hargrove at 252.430.0382 (shantelhargrove@henderson.nc.gov).
 
Vance County Teen Court

A Teen Court component was added to Youth Services for the fiscal year 2010-11. Teen Court is an alternative to the restorative juvenile justice system for first time offenders with misdemeanor offenses.  A jury of their peers tries the referred juveniles who admit guilt and agree to be accountable for their offenses.  If the jury finds the juvenile has committed the delinquent act, the jury may assign the juvenile to a rehabilitative measure or sanction, such as community service, jury duty, community service/restitution, and/or anger management classes. The juveniles pay back the community by serving on the Teen Court jury.  Through the use of student volunteers who take on the legal system roles (clerks, bailiffs, attorneys and jurors), the volunteers and offenders learn about the legal system. District and Superior Court Judges and attorneys, along with other adults volunteer their services to Teen Court through this community based program.  Based on referred cases, Teen Court meets the first and third Tuesday of each month starting at 6:00 pm at the Vance County Courthouse. For more information, please contact Darius Pitt at 252.431.6099 (dariuspitt@henderson.nc.gov).

The 18th Annual North Carolina Teen Court Association “Mock Trails” Summit

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Vance County Teen Court hosted the 18th Annual North Carolina Teen Association “Mock Trial” April 8-10, 2016, where 13 counties from across the state competed in Mock Trials.

The 19th Annual North Carolina Teen Court Association “Mock Trials” Summit

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The 19th Annual North Carolina Teen Court Association “Mock Trails” Summit was held in Greensboro, North Carolina April 7th – April 9th, 2017. Vance County Teen Court Program received 1st place honors in this year’s competition, with Jordan Thomas winning the best overall Lawyer.

Shown are front row from left to right are: Jackicse Bell, ZiRisse Jones and Robert Foster. Back row from left to right are: Joshua Thomas, Jordan Thomas, Marquise Hargrove, Timeah Kearmey, Zymir Lewis, Jacob Harris and Chyna Hargrove.

The CORe Project ©   

The CORe Project is a 7-16 week self-esteem program for troubled teenagers that was first integrated into the Robeson County Teen Court Program as part of NC-ACE…the North Carolina Academic Center for Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention runs through a grant given by the CDC to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  CORe is an acronym for Creating Our Reality and was co-developed by motivational speaker and consultant, Anthony DeNino, along with Jim Barbee of UNC Chapel Hill and the Center Coordinator for NC-ACE.   The objective of the CORe Project is multi-faceted and ranges in topics including emotional development, bullying, self-esteem and empowerment.

The CORe Project is also being implemented in school systems! It is being utilized in after-schools programs as a measure for those having disciplinary issues, as a stand alone class during the school day and/or as part of the Health class curriculum as it meets many of the Common Core Standards for Health class.  The CORe Project team is proud to announce that we are now part of the curriculum in Alamance-Burlington School System’s, Ray Street Academy in North Carolina!  Plus,  our program has now become part of Clover Garden School – a Charter School in Burlington, North Carolina.  For more information, please contact  Shantel Hargrove 252.430.0382 (shantelhargrove@henderson.nc.gov)