Yesterday I had the privilege of going on a site visit of the one of Students Targeted with Opportunities for Prevention (STOP) program sites a service of the County Probation Juvenile Services Division. For more information on STOP click here. Our 'tour guide' and the site coordinator Ray Guevera did a great job of showcasing the program. Despite being a minimum school day and class being out, the campus was busy with supervised activities from flag football to Hmong dancing to arts & crafts. Kudos to Tehipite Middle School!!

But STOP is more than an after school program and Ray demonstrated that by taking us on a quick tour of the neighborhoods surrounding the school. It was here that we met Rob DeFrees. Rob has taken it on himself (and anyone who will help or listen) to turn his street into the type of neighborhood filled with civic pride and community spirit for a safe and healthy neighborhood. He has created a website www.calaverasstreet.com and on May 10th, 2008 will be hosting an Evening of Music. The event will feature a multitude of musicians and an attempt at a hands across Fresno activity up Calaveras Street, down Blackstone all the way up to RiverPark Mall.

It's dedication from public servants like Ray that keep young people engaged in their communities, their education, and their own development as well as making connections with men like Rob who stand up for what they believe in and act. True prevention efforts!

Thank you Ray for the site visit, and thank you Rob for all of your efforts.

"Because one of the properties of music is to entertain and to, I don't mean this lightly, distract us from the things that pull us down. Music should be not only a source for political ideas but also a source of hope." - Dave Matthews (quote from Rob's website)

Students Targeted for Opportunities in Prevention (STOP) 

The Students Targeted for Opportunities In Prevention Program, operated by the Fresno County Probation Department- Juvenile Services Division, expanded the number of sites providing juvenile prevention services and absorbed the costs of existing sites when the funding from California Board of Correction ended for the Youth Challenge Community Program.  STOP is a school based prevention program whose mission is to provide prevention and early intervention services to 10-14 year old at-risk youth and their families.  It is also designed to gauge the effectiveness of those interventions in reducing the number of school related problems, juvenile delinquency, substance and alcohol abuse, family dysfunction and gang involvement.

EspanolBROCH.pdf (1.10 mb)