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Decatur youth-services team outlines year-round programs, data tracking and affordable summer camp fees
Summary
DYS staff presented their annual calendar of events and five program categories, said KidsTrack monitors long-term participant progress, and noted Camp Safe Haven costs $25 per week per child; staff estimated 400–500 weekly participants and a back-to-school event serving about 2,500 residents.
Representatives from the city's youth services (DYS) gave an overview of year-round programming and the department's goals at the Decatur City work session.
Johnny Jones (presenter listed on the agenda) described a calendar that includes an MLK celebration with scholarship partnerships, an "Impact Night" that draws roughly 400 youths, Mardi Gras parade participation, spring-break trips, a May start to the summer youth employment program, Camp Safe Haven (about 100 campers), and a back-to-school gym expected to serve about 2,500 community members. "We have about 400 kids come out" for Impact Night and "we're serving about 2,500 people here in the community for back to school," the presenter said.
Staff outlined five program categories: education (including in-school teams and a GED partnership with Calhoun), mentoring (boys and girls groups), workforce development and summer employment, family counseling through grant-funded programs, and sports/recreation which includes boxing and basketball partnerships. Shannon Shackleford, lead personnel with KDU Services, described two grant-funded programs through the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect (workforce development/all-star parents and Family Matters), which combine job-placement help with parenting and counseling services; she said grants also fund training and paid supports such as work clothes or boots for parents entering the workforce.
DYS staff said they use KidsTrack to monitor participant outcomes (grades and other metrics) and that the system has historical data spanning roughly 20 years. Staff also reported cross-training and certification efforts for staff (anger management and fatherhood training) and emphasized partnerships with Decatur Middle, Calhoun, Parks & Rec and other community groups. The presenter and staff highlighted that many of the department's services are low-cost: Camp Safe Haven is $25 per week per child, with lower rates for multiple children in the same household.
Next steps: staff asked council for awareness and potential sponsorships for athletes and programs that travel to regional events; no formal action was requested during the work session.
