JUVENILE INTERVENTION & PREVENTION PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Juvenile Intervention and Prevention Program (JIPP) targets at-risk students in Local District 4 using a comprehensive and collaborative systems approach aligned with the Superintendent’s strategic plan for high priority schools. JIPP aims to instill a positive change in students’ behavior, academic performance, family interaction and coping skills by addressing student needs and enabling them to experience success in the following areas:

educational settings

family relationships

community

JIPP uses a focused and holistic systemic approach, where all aspects of a child are identified, treated and supported. Interventions target four main areas of need:

Psycho-Social-Emotional. Students participate in a researched-based psycho-social-emotional interactive software program, Ripple Effects, which is utilized by LAUSD to develop individual treatment plans for students as an alternative to suspension. The software teaches a broad repertoire of social, emotional, and behavioral skills. JIPP students also receive clinical services from graduate interns to support their process.

Academic. Students receive academic intervention in English Language Arts and Math using an Extended Learning Academy model. Academic intervention classes have a student-teacher ratio of 25:1 and are assessed using pre and post-tests. In addition, JIPP school-based counselors monitor students’ attendance, grades, and behavior.

Bio-Behavioral. LAPD officers conduct a strict, military-style physical training program called Boot Camp. The officers also supervise students as they participate in work crews to remove community graffiti and complete community beautification projects.

Family Support. Parents of participating JIPP students attend a parenting class designed to empower them to make changes in their parenting techniques. The goals of the classes are to provide parents with additional parenting skills and tools while teaching them new parenting strategies. Parents are encouraged to support their children throughout the rigorous activities of the JIPP program. Parents are provided information on how to identify drug use and gang involvement as well as information on supporting their children academically.

Interventions occur over an 18-week program cycle, divided into three 6-week student modules:

Resistance. The Resistance component focuses on improving students’ resistance to gangs and decreasing other anti-social behaviors. Students participate in classes focused on behavior and participate in physical training and work crews.

Empowerment. The Empowerment component empowers students to make appropriate changes and develop the academic and social-emotional skills needed to experience success.

Leadership. The Leadership component focuses on improving participants’ leadership skills by providing opportunities to mentor other JIPP participants. The leadership academy, facilitated by LAPD officers utilizes, the Pillars of Success curriculum which promotes the following six “pillars”: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

All three schedules address the goals of supporting and educating the whole child. The three stages, when completed, build:

self-esteem

increased sense of accomplishment

ability to make the needed changes in the student’s life

Students participating in the JIPP program experience an improvement in school performance and social skills, which enables them to engage in positive behavior and peer interactions. Expected results include: improved student conduct, improved academic performance, decreased truancy rates, decreased drop-out rates, reduced graffiti, stronger family systems, and, ultimately, decreased gang involvement.

This leads to increased school performance, positive peer interaction and improved behavior.