City of Decatur Youth Services Department is designed to help facilitate and encourage a community-wide effort in combating the problems in our community. This would entail high rate of school drop-outs, illiteracy, unemployment, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol use/abuse, gang activity, juvenile delinquency, and poverty, just to name a few. One of the primary functions will be to work coopera
tively with existing agencies to enhance interagency communication and cooperation, which will result in the children being the beneficiary of our collective efforts. Also, this department will assist our law enforcement agencies by aiding in the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents, youth felons, and juveniles who are serious habitual offenders. This department will support activities to deter gang membership. The Department of Youth Services will focus its efforts on at-risk youth and young adults from every socio-economic class and all areas of the community. However, the realization is that children from low income areas and minorities may benefit from our programs and services more efficiently. The goals of the Youth Services Department are to assist children in developing self-esteem by promoting a "Yes, I can" attitude, establishing a sense of self-worth by teaching children to excel on their individual levels, and building character by interacting with confident, successful adults to provide positive role models and mentors. With a coordinated community effort in helping to combat problems facing our youth and young adults, the City of Decatur's Youth Services Department will be an asset in changing young minds.
