" Private and state run facilities are getting very crowded and each youth is costing eighty thousand dollars to stay ten and a half months. These children are being moved out of their homes and arrested for the smallest things. Instead, they should be helped out by people who support them, their community. The Adolescent Portable Therapy is a pilot program which provides treatment that is family centered for the kids who are using alcohol and drugs frequently. They are placed in what is called Esperanza/Hope programs but still live at home and go to school regularly. This program will provide family counseling and supervise the youth so that he/she does not get into any more serious trouble. It is only six months because the main focus isn't for the program to take over as parents for the child but to guide the family into the right direction.
Schools are another factor that Vera thinks we should concentrate on. Our schools are beginning to not feel as safe as students would like. Therefore, there are many police officers who work inside schools monitoring entrances, patrolling hallways, and making sure students do not violate the rules. These police officers should have a way to better their involvement with the school system as well as the students. Vera is developing a training program to show the police officers when to use force and aggression but in the least amount. The officers will go into classrooms to try to understand how to become skilled in positive behaviors and how to change problem behaviors. Then, they are helped by field trainers who will give them feedback of their techniques in establishing this positive behavior.
The reason for why children are put into foster care is not because of abuse given to them by the parents; it is because of status offenders. For example, breaking curfews, using drugs, or even skipping school. It is not because of neglect.