POlices

Juvenile Advocacy and Mentorship

NIGHT SPORTS

Structures in Place to Support Youth/Staff/Volunteers

Check-In & Check-Out Process
  • Welcome Desk:
    • Positive Greeting from a place with a controlled access (front door).
    • Welcome folks, and explain the set up. If they are first time or are not otherwise on the list,  give them a consent form. They are allowed to stay the first week, but must have the consent form to return. Then introduce the kiddo to an advocate that can bring them into the space.
  • Agreement – (What the space is/isn’t, how we invite you to be with us tonight. We can provide the agreement to sign and return along with the consent form.)
    • Sobriety
    • No weapons or intent for violence
    • Agree to stay, and if signed out understand that they won’t be allowed back in unless they have checked in and made a plan with both a mentor/volunteer and a guardian/contact
  • Check-Out: Thank kiddos & Acknowledge exit: When a young person leaves the space, mark them as signed out
  • Adults must be on a check list to enter the building. If they have kids with them, they will need to check the kids in and out. This is particularly applicable to the Friends group. For the open door, an adult can fill out an application to be involved.
Facility
  • We have court 3 and 4 as well as the outside basketball area. On occasion, the field will be open as well.
  • Limit access to the court 3 and 4 side of the building; don’t use the office area bathrooms. Instead use the locker room bathrooms and bathrooms between court 3 and 4. Use outside faucets and water dispensers for water.
  • Post person (Shawn)
  • Use equipment as intended
  • Cahoots for mental health issues
  • 15th Night for homlessness issues
General Practices

Be mindful of assumptions. Every kid is different to other kids and different to themselves based on how they are triggered and their capacity to regulate and find support–try not to assume.

Use positive reinforcement and non-violent communication and harm reduction language…. “What happened to you? Not, what is wrong with you?

Activity Practice
  • Set up activities and plan for the night in advance
  • Rainbow Method: start with 10 minutes of warm up, 15 minutes of passive game, and 10 minutes of an active game. In between games add a message of positive reinforcement or a learning moment for the kids.
  • Three modifiers to use when things/activities do not go to plan:
    • Add Music
    • Add a competition element; set rewards and goals for activities
    • Coaches participate: kids like when coaches get out there
  • Recall, recall, recall. Notice and remember things about the kids and let them know you notice. This helps to develop relationships by letting the kids know you care and are listening.
  • Give kids the opportunity to decide how “discipline” or conflict resolution should go. Help them find the language or give them plan options.
  • Call out on peer leaders to help and build non-leaders.
  • Provide ownership to the activities: What do you want?
  • Provide free time/play
  • Set up activities and offer water breaks during free play and between activities
What does it mean to be an advocate?

An advocate supports others in their resilience to both internal and external obstacles.

A JAM advocate embodies the energy of one who has experienced justice systems, trauma, and resileices. A JAM advocate, therefore strives to create a culture of people and systems that are inclusive, considerate, and humanizing.

Situations/Questions:

Can young people leave and come back?
No

What happens if someone gets hurt while at the gym?
Evaluate and determine. We have 1st aid, ice, slings, incident/accident reports and numbers if none of the above seem appropriate.

What happens if there is a fight inside the gym?
Same as above.

What happens if there is a fight that happens outside of the gym?
Same as above

What if someone discloses that they are afraid and/or experiencing violence or abuse at home?
Report to me. I will report to Bev, who will report to DHS

What if someone discloses that they are planning to hurt themselves (suicidal ideation) or that they are planning to hurt someone else?
Same as above.

How to report instances of abuse/harm?
Same as above

What do we do with non high-school aged kids?
Use your judgment. If they are younger, will they fit? If they are older, do they fit? If yes, they will need to fill out an application to volunteer.