Camp Resiliency: A Collaboration Between Law Enforcement and Prevention for At Risk Youth.

Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

Cape Assist

First Presenter’s Email Address

temerity@capeassist.org

First Presenter's Brief Biography

Temerity Berry earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Stockton University. She also received a certification in Applied Education Neuroscience from Butler University and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Temerity was drawn to prevention education early on after several encounters with youth who were written off by adults, rather than helped. She made it her mission to help those who needed it. Following her passion Temerity has worked for Cape Assist for 19 years. In her current role as Senior Prevention Educator, Temerity supervises the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of multiple grant-funded programs. She also collaborates with local law enforcement and substance abuse treatment agencies in providing community outreach and offering resources to isolated and disengaged members of the community; and works with local partners to infuse evidence-based prevention programs and practices into community programs and events.

Second Presenter's Institution

Cape Assist

Second Presenter’s Email Address

nikki@capeassist.org

Second Presenter's Brief Biography

Nikki Nichols is a Prevention Program Manager and Adult Treatment Therapist with Cape Assist, in Cape May County NJ. Nikki is a 2012 graduate of Stockton University’s Master of Social Work program and is a Licensed Social Worker through the state of New Jersey, as well as Certified School Social Worker and Certified Trauma Professional. Nikki has extensive experience in the Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking field and understands the deep-rooted connection on how trauma and Substance misuse are connected. Nikki currently holds the roles of Youth Camp coordinator, and Lead Advocate for Cape Assist’s Rape Prevention Education Program. Nikki believes deeply in the role education can play in lives of others, and passionately enjoys presenting to adults and youth alike on the topics of trauma, substance misuse, and intervention and resources. Throughout her time with Cape Assist Nikki worked as a substance use navigator for adolescents, Recovery High School Social Worker/ Therapist, public advocate working with Local Municipal courts in Middle Township, Lower Township and Wildwood City, Quit Center Coordinator, and Youth Prevention Specialist.

Third Presenter's Institution

Cape May County Prosecutor's Office

Third Presenter’s Email Address

slesniewski@cmcpros.net

Third Presenter's Brief Biography

Sarah Lesniewski has been a Detective with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in Cape May County, New Jersey for 8 years. She spent 8 years in Economic Crimes and 5 years in Major Crimes. Sarah is a certified Forensic Interviewer, specifically for juveniles 12 years old and younger. She is currently assigned to the Major Crimes Unit and is a member of the Crime Scene Unit, Fatal Crash Investigation Unit, Arson Task Force, and Community Outreach Unit.

Fourth Presenter's Institution

Cape May County Prosecutor's Office

Fourth Presenter’s Email Address

mrybicki@cmcpros.net

Fourth Presenter's Brief Biography

Mary Rybicki has been a Detective with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office in Cape May County, New Jersey for 12 years. She spent 9 years in the Special Victims Unit where she investigated numerous adult/juvenile sexual assault and physical abuse cases. Mary is a certified Forensic Interviewer, specifically for juveniles 12 years old and younger. She is currently assigned to the Professional Standards Unit and is a member of the Crime Scene Unit and Community Outreach Unit.

Location

Session Six Breakouts (Scarbrough 3)

Strand #1

Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership

Strand #2

Heart: Social & Emotional Skills

Relevance

Camp Resiliency, the free youth summer camp, described in this presentation, helps at-risk and disengaged youth develop lasting connections through collaborations with trauma informed law enforcement and community prevention professionals. Youth engaged in this camp participant in a variety of community-based activities with an integration of daily life skills lessons. Each day law enforcement and prevention mentors introduce and focus on life skills topics such as communication skills, goal setting and mindfulness skills to cope and manage various crisis situations, and to build conflict resolution skills and emotional intelligence. Youth are then linked with the camp mentors throughout the school year and following summer vacation through booster sessions to ensure continued skill building, connection, empowerment, and resiliency.

Brief Program Description

This presentation will focus on how communities can implement free, law enforcement led summer camps for at risk youth through sustained cross-sector collaboration. Speakers will discuss the unique integration of daily life skill lessons into the social-emotional activities and field trips planned for each summer camp day. To reinforce the relationships built during camp, campers attend booster events throughout the school year.

Summary

Camp Resiliency is a one-week free youth summer camp with yearlong youth/family booster sessions. The camp is designed to reach an underserved and disengaged youth population. Camp's purpose is to foster positive relationships between youth and law enforcement while teaching important life skills and addressing social-emotional health in campers. Camp Resiliency was created in response to the CMC Prosecutor’s Office and Cape Assist noticing that the most at-risk youth in the county were not being recruited into free police-led summer camps in local municipalities. Camp Resiliency recruited at risk youth who were involved with DCPP (NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency Services); youth whose parents are involved in Recovery (Drug) Court and family court. Camp Resiliency also accepted referrals from faith-based organizations, school and community agencies that identified youth who live in poverty, struggles with mental health, or have been involved in criminal activity.

Camp Resiliency staff reflected Cape May County's commitment to collaboration through its diverse and expert staff. Cape Assist, a prevention and treatment agency for substance misuse, provided prevention educators and a mental health counselor to assist law enforcement to train summer camp staff in teaching and modeling life skills to youth throughout camp activities.

Evidence

The life skills educational component utilized during the camp, Botvin's Life Skills Training, is a Nationally Recognized Evidenced Based program for over 40 years. This program has shown effectiveness in reducing substance use including nicotine, marijuana and alcohol and has shown reduction in violence and delinquency.

The week long camp utilizes pre/post tests that look life skills knowledge and attitudes and thoughts of safety among law enforcement and in the community; a parent evaluation and a 6 month follow up behavior survey.

Learning Objective 1

Participants will learn avenues to identifying and recruiting at risk youth in the community.

Learning Objective 2

Participants will learn how to implement social emotional practices and life skills education into law enforcement led and community-based youth summer camps.

Learning Objective 3

Participants will understand the importance of booster sessions and individual interaction throughout the year to maintain connection with campers

Keyword Descriptors

Resiliency, Collaborations, Life Skills, Social Emotional, Empowerment, Leadership, Intervention

Presentation Year

2023

Start Date

3-7-2023 1:00 PM

End Date

3-7-2023 2:15 PM

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Mar 7th, 1:00 PM Mar 7th, 2:15 PM

Camp Resiliency: A Collaboration Between Law Enforcement and Prevention for At Risk Youth.

Session Six Breakouts (Scarbrough 3)

This presentation will focus on how communities can implement free, law enforcement led summer camps for at risk youth through sustained cross-sector collaboration. Speakers will discuss the unique integration of daily life skill lessons into the social-emotional activities and field trips planned for each summer camp day. To reinforce the relationships built during camp, campers attend booster events throughout the school year.