Gift to Appeal saves taxes, kids

BY MAUREEN MCGUINNESS

Deanna Crow has a job that saves taxpayers money, gives teens a second chance and provides parents with another avenue of support.

She is not a superhero; she's a screener and advocate for Catholic Charities' pre-PINS program in Catskill. PINS stands for Person in Need of Supervision.

Ms. Crow is featured in the 2008 Bishop's Appeal brochure. The theme of the campaign is "A Simple Act -- With Profound Impact." Catholic Charities receives funding from the appeal.

Prevention

The program, Ms. Crow said, is designed to intervene with youth before they are declared a PINS. Through referrals from school districts and other agencies, she screens youths for problems that may lead to a PINS designation.

She then puts together a program of services for the young people and their family to help remediate behaviors. Those service can include such things as mental health counseling and anger management.

She sees a wide range of teens from various socioeconomic, ethnic and family backgrounds.

Truancy

"It's not just the kid who's on the radar at school because they're always in trouble," Ms. Crow noted. "It can be a kid with attendance issues."

For parents of a teen who has been skipping school, running away, drinking or getting into trouble, the referral to Catholic Charities can be a reprieve.

"It's a relief for parents," Ms. Crow said. "There might be a light at the end of the tunnel for them."

Family angle

Ms. Crow works with youth and parents over a period of months to make sure all of the necessary services are in place for the family.

"This is a strength-based approach that can help families stay together," she said.

Teens declared PINS can be removed from their homes, she said. Preventing that is important.

"We're saving the county money," Ms. Crow explained. "And we're giving a child a second chance."

(The New York State Division of Correction and Probation Alternatives defines a PINS as: "A person less than eighteen years of age who does not attend school in accordance with the education law or who is incorrigible, ungovernable, or habitually disobedient and beyond the lawful control of a parent or other person legally responsible for such child's care, or who possesses or uses illegal or controlled substances.")

(04/24/08) [[In-content Ad]]