Striving to enhance public awareness, the Youth Work Ireland Midlands ALF Youth Diversion Project in Athlone aims to expand its target age group.
Speaking to the Athlone Advertiser this week, Roisin Kenny, Youth Worker with Youth Work Ireland Midlands ALF Youth Diversion Project in Athlone, stated that the ALF Youth Diversion Project has been operating in Athlone since 2000 working with young people who are at risk of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour and crime.
“The project is currently expanding its services to provide early intervention support for young people aged from eight to 11 years old. The aim of this is to provide community based youth work to promote individual development and civic engagement.
“The purpose of this expansion is to work with young people aged from eight to 11 years old who may be displaying challenging behaviours within their homes, schools or communities and to engage them in positive and meaningful interventions. These interventions are tailored to the needs of the individual young person with the goal of improving short and long term outcomes, including improved school attendance and achievement, pro-social behaviour, enhanced independence and problem solving skills, anger management and the ability to create apositive relationships within their family, peer and community settings.
“The ALF Youth Diversion Project works with young people on a referral basis, accepting referrals from parents, schools, professionals including Juvenile Liaison Officers, Education Welfare Officers, School Completions Officers, Community Gardaí and other youth service providers. This service is provided for free for young people who are admitted into the project,” Roisin said.
Youth Work Ireland Midlands is an affiliated member of Youth Work Ireland and works in partnership with young people and their community to develop, co-ordinate and promote a comprehensive response to the needs of youths.
For more information contact Roisin Kenny by phone at 087 199 0873 or email at [email protected].
