The Aurora for Youth (AFY) program was started in 2013 and is funded by grants and money from funds from the city's municipal ticket surcharge. The program was initiated as a pro-active, multi-faceted approach to youth issues in the city. AFY is comprised of five programs focusing on providing comprehensive prevention, intervention and educational services for youth and their families.

COMMUNITY-BASED AFY PROGRAMS

Dawn Barrett is the program manager for the two community-based AFY programs: Aurora's Gang Reduction Impact Program (A-GRIP) and Power Up.

A-GRIP is a comprehensive strategic plan that is designed to keep youth (ages 11-17) out of gangs and to provide intervention services to young people (ages 14-24) who are actively gang involved. Sixty-five representatives from 50 different agencies participated in developing Aurora's gang-reduction plan using evidence-based model from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).

The plan consists of five major goals:

1) Prevent youth from becoming involved with gangs.
2) Intervene with high-risk and gang-involved youth and their families.
3) Suppress gang-related crime and violence through law enforcement efforts.
4) Reduce recidivism rates of gang-involved youth returning to the community from incarceration.
5) Create an environment that inhibits gang activity.

The objective of A-GRIP's strategic plan is to develop a continuum of services for youth, their families, and our community that provides a coordinated, multi-disciplinary response to help youth stay out of gangs and assist gang-involved youth to break free of the gang lifestyle. These services include: youth risk assessments; pro-active street outreach; case management; mentoring; pro-social activities; educational and court advocacy; job readiness training; employment assistance; tattoo removal; support groups; and mediation to de-escalate gang tensions in the community. A-GRIP also provides an array of presentations to generate greater gang awareness among parents and in our community.

Power Up is a family-intervention program that addresses youth behaviors including alcohol and substance abuse, truancy, bullying, and criminal or high-risk conduct. Through this program, families can access an array of services at no charge. These services include: youth risk assessments; Functional Family Therapy (FFT)—a short-term, evidence-based treatment model provided at the family's home; and, one-to-one mentoring for a minimum of one year for youth who successfully complete FFT. Power Up aims to achieve and sustain the best possible outcomes for youth and their families.

POLICE-BASED PROGRAMS

There are three police-based Aurora For Youth programs: Aurora Police Activities Club (APAC), Police Explorers, and the Resiliency Education and Enrichment Program (REEP).

APAC was started in 2012. Chief Oates envisioned a program where officers could interact with youth in a positive proactive manner. Positive role models have been shown to have a huge impact on the behavior of kids. Police officers can be especially great role models! Establishing cooperative interactions between APD and Aurora's youth will benefit our community in the long run. The goal of the program is to model behaviors that will help youth make good decisions and become future leaders.

Currently officers are participating in APAC activities in after-school programs, recreation centers, and at community events such as block parties and city festivals. Officers wear gym clothes and play a variety of sports with youth of all ages. At Moorhead Recreation Center, officers recently started teaching a martial arts class, which has become quite a hit with kids and their parents! APAC officers are available to answer questions and assist students with solving problems they may be experiencing.

APAC is expanding to include officers teaching a 15 character-building curriculum that focuses on traits such as integrity, goal setting, self-esteem, and responsibility. After the students have attended several sessions, they will be given a tee-shirt with the APAC logo. Officers will also be given the opportunity to host meals at recreation centers, teach classes such as Teens for Success, and participate in a variety of other activities.

POLICE EXPLORER POST 2024 is an extension of the Learning For Life career program. APD has had an active post since 1981.  

Youth who are interested in exploring a career in law enforcement are encouraged to attend a Recruitment Fair hosted by APD every Fall. The application process for youth to join the Explorers is similar to that of becoming an Officer. A four-month academy is held every January for new members. The Explorers program is available for youth ages 14 to 21. Many of our Explorers have gone on to become one of Aurora's finest!  Police Explorers has provided thousand of donated hours of service to our community assisting with traffic control, community events, DUI checkpoints, and numerous other functions.

RESILIENCY EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (REEP): Currently, the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance and Education) program is being taught in both school districts. It is mainly being taught at the elementary school level. Starting in January 2014, officers will begin teaching a new program called GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training). This program has been shown to be highly effective. It is a 13-week curriculum for middle school youth and a six-week curriculum for elementary school students. Additionally, there is a summer program for youth and a program specifically designed for parents. Officers are required to attend certification training for both DARE and GREAT, and are paid overtime for teaching.

A two week Teen Citizen Police Academy will be offered for Aurora Public School and Cherry Creek School District students 16-18 years of age. There will be two classes with approximately 30 students in each class.

Other educational enrichment programs that officers are currently teaching include: Stranger Danger; Eddie Eagle Gun Safety; Bicycle Safety; Bullying Prevention; and other topics requested by the schools or community. There has been considerable interest expressed in providing more training sessions for parents to help increase their awareness of issues occurring in our community.

The goal of Aurora for Youth programs is to have APD become a model for police departments across the nation in being pro-active in transforming Aurora's future, one kid at a time!