The Vernon Hills Police Department has expanded its youth mentoring program.
The new Youth Opportunity Unlimited program pairs four police officers with four at-risk teens for mentoring and guidance. Participation is voluntary.
The program formalizes a mentoring arrangement that had involved two officers, said Officer Kim Christenson. The earlier program operated informally.
“We want the youths to see police officers as people who care about them,” said Michael Baber, the department’s social service director and director of the program. “The Y.O.U. program is an attempt to build bridges between youths and the police, rather than building walls.”
Baber said the program uses community-oriented policing and that officers are expected to visit the teens for at least six to 10 hours per month while on duty.
Participants, 11 to 18 years old, are selected based on recommendations from an officer, school and outside sources, and from Baber.
