(July 9, 2007)
Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato today announced the selection of the Auberle organization to implement the Stop Now and Plan (SNAP) Early Crime Intervention pilot program. The goal of SNAP is to provide guidance and support to the top two percent of most at-risk boys, ages 6-12, who have had a first encounter with police.

“SNAP is a proven program that reaches at-risk children before they begin a lifetime of illegal and violent behavior,” said Onorato. “SNAP will reduce crime and violence in our region, and it has the potential to save Allegheny County $4.0 million in court and detention costs.”

The SNAP program was developed more than 20 years ago in Toronto, Canada, to respond to rising incidents of juvenile delinquency and to reduce juvenile recidivism. The Youth Crime Prevention Council, Pittsburgh Social Venture Partners (PSVP) and Allegheny County Probation Department collaborated to bring SNAP to our region.

“Supporting efforts that help to reduce juvenile delinquency and rehabilitate youth is a priority for our department,” said Allegheny County Probation Director Jim Rieland. “In other communities, SNAP has proven to be successful with 70 percent of participants staying crime-free. We’re looking forward to its positive impact in Allegheny County.”

After reviewing several proposals, the SNAP Steering Committee selected Auberle to conduct the two-year pilot program with 63 boys from the Mon Valley in Allegheny County. For more than 50 years, Auberle has provided programs and services to abused, neglected and troubled children and their families throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“Auberle is pleased to have been selected as the sole implementation agency for the Stop Now and Plan program in Allegheny County,” said Auberle Chief Program Officer John Litz. “SNAP has demonstrated positive results in delinquency prevention for younger boys who are at risk of becoming more deeply involved with the juvenile justice system. We recognize the significance of the impact that a program like SNAP can have on the larger community.”

UPMC juvenile delinquency expert Dr. Rolf Loeber, Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic Assistant Professor Jeffrey Burke, PSVP’s Tom Canfield, and United Way President Bob Nelkin all played vital roles in convening local community groups to begin the process of bringing SNAP to Allegheny County.

SNAP will be funded in part by the Allegheny County Probation Office, donations collected by PSVP, and individual donors. The pilot is scheduled to begin in January 2008.

Since 1952, Auberle has been dedicated to caring for and healing abused, neglected and troubled children throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Auberle has helped thousands of children and their families by providing residential care, foster care, emergency shelter, in-home intervention, educational programs and community-based drug and alcohol treatment programs. For more information about Auberle, visit www.auberle.org.

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