CITY program honored for GED program

By Staff
Rebecca James, Franklin County Times
The Franklin County City Intensive Treatment for Youth (C.I.T.Y.) program was awarded a plaque earlier this week for having the most students return to school and complete their G.E.D. program.
The Franklin County program was in the running with nine other C.I.T.Y. programs from around the state.
"We're the smallest C.I.T.Y. program in the state," said Program Director Ramona Roberson. " They presented us with the plaque on Monday, I am really proud of our staff and of our students."
The C.I.T.Y. program began in Russellville in 1999 in the old College Avenue school building.
"We serve as a comprehensive day treatment for the juvenile court program," Roberson said. "In a lot of ways, our staff members can serve as surrogate parents to these students, because they become involved with the students and help turn their lives around."
The C.I.T.Y. program is a non-residential youth center that provides academic, social and behavioral skills to high-risk students. They offer a comprehensive approach to meeting the service and training needs of "at-risk" youth who are involved with the Juvenile Justice System and their families.
The program can last anywhere from six months to a year for students ages 12 to18. All students in the program are referred from the juvenile court system.
While in the program, students are encouraged to work on academics, life skills, recreation, and are also offered individual and group counseling. The goal of the program is to prevent these youth from having further involvement with the justice system by giving them the skills they will need to become productive members of the community.
"We are very fortunate because we have a great relationship with the court system," Roberson said.
"Our success in the program is determined by how many youth we keep from re-entering the court system."