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Neighborhood Intervention Program (N.I.P.)
Description | General
Eligibility | How to Apply
Services | Cost | Contact
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Description
The Dane County Neighborhood Intervention Program is comprised of the Early
Intervention Services Unit and the Community Supervision Services Unit.
Early Intervention Services Unit
The primary goal of N.I.P. is to provide opportunities that enrich the social
and educational experiences of youth in Dane County. Our mission is to
intervene in the cycles of risk that are part of the natural stages of
adolescent development. The program has developed a philosophical framework and
curriculum called "Right Track". The "Right Track" concept is a proven youth
competency and asset building methodology. The goal of these services is to
allow youth to become involved in a range of constructive recreational, social,
and self-enhancement activities that will promote their own self-esteem and
sense of involvement in their community.
Community Supervision Services
CSU - Is a delinquency reduction and re-directive program based on the
principles of the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. Using these
principles the CSU intervenes on the cycle of failure by assisting youth to
"get on the right track." Neighborhood Intervention Program - Community
Supervision Unit consists of 5 different programs. Each of these programs are
designed to assist the youth in developing pro-social and educational
competency, holding the youth accountable to their victims and providing
services which promote community protection.
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General Eligibility
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Services are geared to Dane County youth and their families. Specific
eligibility criteria are listed for each service.
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How to Apply
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For prevention and early intervention services, see the contact listed in the
service description below or contact the Neighborhood Intervention Program at
(608) 288-2400.
For community supervision services, referrals must be received from the
assigned Dane County Department of Human Services Social Worker or, in some
instances, the school (RePlay).
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Services
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Community Supervision Services
Intensive Supervision Services
- is a program for delinquent youths ages 13-17 who have had significant
interaction with law enforcement agencies and the Courts and who demand
intensive daily supervision if they are to remain in the community. Youth are
monitored with electronic monitoring devices. Curfew checks are conducted. The
program offers redirective discussion groups and other positive activities.
Most youth no longer need services after 3-6 months.
RePlay (Redirective Pro-Social Learning
Alternative for Youth) - is a pro-social, re-directive school alternative. The
program is a collaboration between the Department of Human Services and the
Madison Metropolitan School District. The target population is boys in 7th and
8th grades who have experienced failure in traditional educational settings
owing to chronic disruption, truancy, fighting, or other inappropriate
behaviors. RePlay serves up to 12 students for (normally) one semester.
Participants must also be at risk for institutional placement.
Right Track Plus - Right Track Plus
is designed to redirect adjudicated youth from further escalation and to reduce
their chances for further court involvement by providing intensive case
management services, supervision, study tables, and life choice discussion
groups.
Right Track Second Chance -
Right Track Second Chance (RTSC) serves males between the ages of 13-17 who
have been adjudicated delinquent. The goals of RTSC are to teach youth to be
accountable for their actions, teach self-esteem, and to teach youth to think
before they act. It is hoped that youth completing the program will have more
value for themselves, their families, their education, and the community. It is
further expected that graduates of RTSC will have learned to take ownership for
the behaviors which got them involved in the juvenile court system and to
refrain from those behaviors that are harmful to themselves and/or others.
Weekend Report Center - is a
program for adjudicated youth 10-17 years of age who have violated some portion
of their court order. It can be used as an alternative to detention.
Prevention and Early Intervention Services
B.I.G. (Behavioral Intervention Group) - is a service offered by DCDHS through
the Neighborhood Intervention Program. It is designed for male and female
middle and high school age students throughout Dane County who are struggling
with anger management issues. Presently the groups meet on Wednesday evenings
for five weeks, at the Neighborhood Intervention Program office which is
located at 501 East Badger Road in Madison, WI. Parents are required to attend
the first group with their child. Referrals come primarily from DCDHS social
workers, school district staff members, or from municipal court as an
alternative to filing formal delinquency charges. It is expected that youth
appropriate for BIG do not have severe mental health problems, nor should they
be in need of more lengthy and intensive behavioral interventions for their
anger issues. Other services such as Alternatives To Aggression should be
considered in these situations. There is no cost for this service and
transportation assistance is available. For more information contact Steve
Varsos at (608) 261-5076 or (608) 288-2437.
Gang Squad - The Gang Squad is a program for youth that are identified as gang
affiliated or are in danger of being influenced by peer pressure to join. Youth
are able to participate in discussion groups. Facilitators implement workshops,
seminars, training and active street level outreach.
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Learn
more about the Gang Squad:
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Madison Spartans Youth Basketball -
is the award winning boys and girls basketball program. The Madison Spartan
Basketball program is known for outstanding teams that possess speed;
athleticism; character; and aggressive, in-your-face, man to man defense. The
Madison Spartans Basketball program was founded in 1988. The objective for the
development of the basketball program was to give at risk, low-income youth
exposure and opportunities to organized tournament basketball play. The program
hopes to teach life choice skills, honor, and integrity through the use of
basketball. In keeping with this philosophy, Spartan coaches keep in mind that
they are teachers and role models first, basketball coaches second.
RT-ADDS (Right Track - Assessment, Deflection, Deferment and Stabilization) -
is a re-directive early intervention service offered by DCDHS through the
Neighborhood Intervention Program. The target population is male youth ages
10-16 who either have committed minor delinquent offenses or are at risk for
involvement in the juvenile justice system. These youth typically come from
neighborhoods where there is a disproportionate number of families with limited
access to social and recreational activities for youth, employment options, and
treatment resources. Referrals to this program come from DCDHS social workers,
neighborhood police officers, school officials, and family members. The 14-week
program cycle includes a weekly re-directive group, school monitoring, curfew
checks and random drug screening when indicated, plus a variety of other
recreational and educational opportunities. There is no cost for this service
and transportation assistance is available. For additional information or to
make a referral, contact Steve Varsos at (608) 261-5076.
STARS - (Striving Towards Academic Responsibility and Success) provides
educational support services targeted to African-American males ages 10-14 who
are not yet involved in the juvenile justice system who need cultural,
academic, and social assistance. The primary purpose is to provide educational
support to students having difficulties in core subjects such as math, science,
and language arts. Additionally, staff provide counseling in behavioral and
emotional management and communications skills. STARS seeks to position
participants for success at their home schools in the following academic
semester. Follow-up is provided for at least one academic year.
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Cost
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There is no cost for the majority of the prevention and early intervention
services provided by the Neighborhood Intervention Program.
Costs may be charged based on the ability to pay for other delinquency
services. There is a $25.00/per month fee for all youth placed under Human
Services supervision. This fee is waived if the juvenile is placed outside the
parental home. In these instances, however, a monthly fee is charged for the
placement. Parents are sent information by Dane County fiscal representatives
which help determine the amount of the fee.
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Contact
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Stephen Blue, Delinquency Services Manager
Dane County Department of Human Services
(608) 261-5090 or (608) 288-2401
blue@co.dane.wi.us
Andre Johnson
Neighborhood Intervention Program
501 E. Badger RD
Madison, WI 53713
(608) 288-2402
johnson.andre@co.dane.wi.us
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Language Services
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For more information on Language Services, please visit out
Language Services> page.
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