In 1994, NC Governor James Hunt recognized a need to improve efforts to
reduce juvenile crime. Statistics provided that adolescents were most likely to
participate in harmful situations between the hours of 3-6 p.m., when they were
out of school and unsupervised. Support Our Students was developed to address
this need. The Support Our Students
(SOS) Program is a community based after-school initiative that
provides support and guidance to young people by involving them in constructive
activities to keep them focused and out of trouble.
The NC 4-H
School-Age Care Program, via NC State University College of Agriculture and Life
Sciences, has been involved in this initiative since its inception. This
involvement demonstrates a University desire to partner with other agencies to
meet the needs of youth of all ages. The NC Department of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention welcomes the expertise and educational abilities NC State
brings.
Through this partnership, the 4-H SOS Project Coordinator
position was developed. The primary responsibility of the 4-H SOS Project
Coordinator is to provide training and technical assistance to the NC counties
that provide SOS programs.
Who should I contact for more
detailed information? Contact Tracey Langston, 4-H
Youth Development, NC State University, at (919) 515-8099.
