DARRYL Alexander
Alexander says. It starts with substance abuse and moves on to violence prevention before nishing with pregnancy prevention programming. An afterschool program is Alexander says. It starts with substance abuse and moves on to violence prevention before nishing with pregnancy prevention programming. An afterscho l program is offered. It helps students improve their grades and prepares them for offer d. It helps students improve their grades and prepares them for sta e mandated test . Youth-led groups are headed by leadership teams, Alexander says. The aim of the program is to impact their pe rs, causing a rip le ffect within the community of adolescents positively in uencing adolescents. Program leaders concentrate the me tings on “not becoming engaged in pregnant or fathering a child or committing acts of interpersonal violence,” Alexander says. Relapse prevention programming aims to empower those who have been released from prison. They work to develop the necessary skills so that they do not commit another offense and end up back in jail, admitted into the program through referral. The environmental prevention strategies mobilize the state mandated tests. Youth-led groups are headed by leadership teams, Alexander says. The aim of the program is to impact their peers, causing a ripple effect within the community of adolescents positively in uencing adolescents. Program leaders concentrate the meetings on “not becoming engaged in pregnant or fathering a child or committing acts of interpersonal violence,” Alexander says. Relapse prevention programming aims to empower those who have been released from prison. They work to develop the necessary skills so that they do not commit another offense and end up back in jail, admitted into the program through referral. The environmental prevention strategies mobilize the drug and alcohol usage, becoming drug and alcohol usage, becoming Alexander says. Individuals are Alexander says. Individuals are
community through forming a coalition to effect or to change policy, laws and community norms. “The community, in essence, is determining what our priorities are to prevent underage use of drugs and alcohol by teens within the community,” Alexander says. COMMITTED TO ENACTING CHANGE The Youngstown UMADAOP does more than the average prevention organization to in uence the lives of the community’s youth, Alexander says. The organization works with the same group of youth throughout the entire school year and calendar year. In contrast, Alexander says, many organizations may only work with youth for month-long or 12-week-long programs. Not only does the Youngstown location work with students year round, it offers youth-led services throughout the whole year. Enacting change is not just an aspiration, Alexander says. The organization has already yielded tangible, quanti able results. “We just did an independent evaluation of our prevention programs this past year and com unity through forming a coalition to effect or to change policy, laws and com unity norms. “The com unity, in es ence, is determining what our priorities are to prevent underage use of drugs and alcohol by te ns within the com unity,” Alexander says. COM IT ED TO ENACTING CHANGE The Youngstown UMADAOP does more than the average prevention organization to in uence the lives of the com unity’s youth, Alexander says. The organization works with the same group of youth throughout he entire scho l year and calendar year. In contrast, Alexander says, many organizations may only work with youth for month-long or 12-we k-long programs. Not only does the Youngstown location work with students year round, it offers youth-led services throughout the whole year. Enacting change is not just an aspiration, Alexander says. The organization has already yielded tangible, quanti able results. “We just did an independent evaluation of our prevention programs this past year and
we’ve had a number of results deemed statistically signi cant.” HELPING HIS FELLOW (WO)MAN Alexander took a path of stewardship to education and helping others before landing at Youngstown UMADAOP. He spent time teaching at Penn State University, the corrections eld and the developmental disabilities eld. “This eld was something that I was curious about,” Alexander says about working in prevention. After taking the role in 1986, he hasn't looked back. He’s responsible for the overall operation of the agency, including scal and program management as well as insuring the organization complies with all licensure standards. “There is a good core group of people to work with that really makes it an enjoyable experience.” In terms of the clients, “when it's all said and done, you're about doing what you can do to insure that they will have successful lives,” Alexander says, noting that “the dysfunctions that tend to hit people, you really are on a mission to do all that you can do to enable them to not end up having those dysfunctions impact their lives negatively.” we’ve had a nu ber of results de ed statistically signi cant.” HELPING HIS FEL (W )M Alexander to k a path of stewardship to education and helping others before lan in at Youngsto n U . H spent time teaching at Pen State University, the cor ectio s eld and the develop ental disabil ties eld. “This eld was so ethin t at I was curious about,” Alexan r says about working in prevention. After takin the r le in 1986, he hasn't looke ack. He’s responsible for the overal operation of the agency, including scal and progra manage ent as well as insurin the organization co plies ith all licensure standards. “There is a good core group of people to work with that really makes it an enjoyable experience.” In terms of the clients, “when it's all said and done, you're about doing what you can do to insure that they will have successful lives,” Alexander says, noting that “the dysfunctions that tend to hit people, you really are on a mission to do all that you can do to enable them to not end up having those dysfunctions impact their lives negatively.”
“The community, in essence, is determining what our priorities are to prevent underage use of drugs and alcohol by teens within the community.” — Darryl Alexander, Youngstown UMADAOP executive director
investing in youth for the
have to reorient ourselves in terms of how we fund and our funding mechanisms,” says Alexander. have to reorient ourselves in terms of how we fund and our funding mechanisms,” says Alexander. INVESTING IN YOUTH The Youngstown location concentrates on school-based INVESTING IN YOUTH The Youngstown location concentrates on school-based substance abuse and violence and pregnancy prevention. It also offers a youth led prevention program, relapse prevention for those who have been incarcerated, an environmental prevention program, and community coalition-building that outlines environmental prevention strategies. The school-based substance abuse, violence and pregnancy prevention program is done sequentially, substance abuse and violence and pregnancy prevention. It also offers a youth led prevention program, relapse prevention for those who have been incarcerated, an environmental prevention program, and community coalition-building that outlines environmental prevention strategies. The school-based substance abuse, violence and pregnancy prevention program is done sequentially,
“If we don't invest in youth properly, not short term but long term, then these problems of adolescent behavior that impact youth will maximize,” says Youngstown UMADAOP Executive Director Darryl Alexander. Alexander, who has held his position since 1988, follows a tradition at his UMADAOP location of staffers joining the team and staying for the long haul. That sentiment, of committing and investing in the community through supporting adolescents, is evident in how the organization executes its programming and reaches out to the community. “As a society, if we really want to insure that youth really have the greatest possibilities of success, we “If we don't invest in youth properly, not short term but long term, then these problems of adolescent behavior that impact youth will maximize,” says Youngstown UMADAOP Executive Director Darryl Alexander. Alexander, who has held his position since 1988, follows a tradition at his UMADAOP location of staffers joining the team and staying for the long haul. That sentiment, of committing and investing in the community through supporting adolescents, is evident in how the organization executes its programming and reaches out to the community. “As a society, if we really want to insure that youth really have the greatest possibilities of success, we
“If we don't invest in youth properly, not short term but long term, then these problems of adolescent behavior that impact youth will maximize.” — Darryl Alexander, Youngstown UMADAOP executive director
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