MEN ENGAGING IN LEADERSHIP AND OPPORTUNITY WORKS (M.E.L.O.W.)

M.E.L.O.W. is a pre-adjudicatory program designed to serve as an alternative to secure detention, intervention/prevention course of action and mentoring Program for teen male status offenders and post-adjudication probation teen males.  The mission of the M.E.L.O.W. Program is to provide additional support to at-risk youth involved in delinquent and high-risk behaviors. 

The overall goal of the M.E.L.O.W. Program is to provide a safe and structured environment for youth after school and until bedtime hours, which is usually the peak hours in which youth participate in delinquent activities.  The M.E.L.O.W. Program has a strong belief that individuals have the ability to control their own actions and behaviors.  It is also the belief of the M.E.L.O.W. Program that with some guidance from the M.E.L.O.W. Counselors, youth will learn to make more positive and rational decisions through the use of the skills learned while participating in M.E.L.O.W.

The M.E.L.O.W. program will provide an educational, inspirational, and supervised environment for low to medium-risk teen men currently involved with the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court.  The Program serves as an alternative to detention, intervention/prevention course of action, and mentoring Program for pre-adjudicated teen men, status offenders, and post-adjudication probation girls.  These youth, otherwise, may be detained or removed from the home because of their supervisory needs. 

The Program is designed to keep low to medium-risk youth from re-offense or failing to appear in court hearings.  The Program may also serve as a post-adjudication condition of probation. M.E.L.O.W. provides youth with supervision in a safe, structured setting and is intended to address the specific needs of young men involved in the juvenile justice system and divert them from delinquent activity during times known for peak delinquent activity.  The Program provides a structured, supervised environment during out-of-school hours from the end of the school day. 

The M.E.L.O.W. program includes pre and post-assessment, homework assistance, and tailored life skills sessions featuring guest speakers.  The Program provides and incorporates the most effective methods for monitoring male youth involved in the juvenile justice system while holding them accountable as they continue to be engaged with school and relationships with their families and communities. 

The Program will also provide weekly group counseling.  Within 30 days of enrollment into the M.E.L.O.W. Program, each participant will receive a minimum of 2 individual counseling sessions with a Licensed Professional Counselor (L.P.C.). 

ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION

Youth who commit school base offenses.

Days/Hours of Operation: Mondays and Wednesdays:  4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

M.E.L.O.W. Coordinator: Michael B. Raymond, D.D. 

Office: (504) 658-9554

Cell: (504) 669-1413

Email: Michael.Raymond@nola.gov