Civilian Conservation Corps (ccc)

Week 2 Journal Entry 1

I am in agreeance with the opinions of the article, we are all affected by juvenile crime. Sargent Shiver and Lyndon B. Johnson have been at he forefront of innovations to help prevent juvenile delinquency, through early intervention programs. As Sargent Shiver was the creator of the Head Start program, “the ultimate goal was to prepare kids to enter school – to give underprivileged kids a “head start” (Mills 3-4). Head Start’s desire was to have an impact on children at a very early age, “to improve intelligence, academic readiness and achievement, self-esteem, social behavior and physical health” (Mills 165). The comprehensive strategies of Head Start are a great approach to decreasing the numbers in the juvenile delinquency column. But, the gap occurs during the ages of 7 years and 15 years old. There are no programs that step in to assist this age group with steering a very fast “moving car.”  Both Lyndon B. Johnson and Shiver stepped in and came up with the Job Corps programs and his ‘War on Poverty” were a move in the right direction. The ideals of the Job Corps program are to educate and train young people, between the ages of 16 to 24 years old, to aid in them securing meaningful and permanent employment. The same comprehensive approach Head Start took, was also taken on by Job Corps, through a four-stage program. Sargent Shiver was the first assigned director, of the Office of Economic Opportunity, he designed the Job Corps program after and emergency relief program called Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which began as an effort to educate and train unemployed youth. The CCC program ended after World War II and Job Corps was built on its foundation. Job Corps allows youth ages 16 years to 24 years of age meaningful work experience at residential centers. Youth with backgrounds of poverty are assisted with becoming responsible citizens and able to gain productive employment. Through Job Corps developmental stages is how they plan to accomplish their goal; Outreach and Admissions, Career Preparation Period, Career Development Period and Career Transition Readiness. The program was to assist from inside the home, to transitioning into the world of employment or furthering their education.  But, because of its connection with the military, youth are reluctant to attend. Also, with Job Corps age requirements, those adolescents between the ages of 7 years and 15 years old are not assisted. Recreation centers are closing, at an alarming rate and after school programs are dwindling away just as fast. Yes, parents should be parenting, but, these type programs allow parents to parent, by helping kids with homework, during work hours and allowing kids to get to know the people in their village. These programs help with alleviating some crime, because people are less likely to commit crimes on people they know, and they will intervene when it is someone they know and care about. Therefore, I would look at developing programs that assist youth ages 7 years to 15 years of age, to continue what Head Start began. A residential program may not be best, but, something after school or on weekends, would be a start.