Dick DeLaRosa and wife, Joann
The United States Embassy has announced the visit of Dick and Joann DeLaRosa, who are scheduled to arrive in Jamaica next week to conduct a three-day programme on violence prevention in schools and communities, gang intervention and suppression techniques and the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
The goal of the programme, according to a statement from the embassy, is to offer alternative solutions and strategies for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, guidance counsellors and community-based organisations that work closely with at-risk youth.
The visit of the DeLaRosas is sponsored by the US State Department and is administered by the US Embassy's Office of Public Affairs under its US Speaker Programme.
Dick and Joann DeLaRosa are a husband and wife team, each with over 30 years of experience working with young people in the community and school system. Mr DeLaRosa recently retired from a career of training and administering programmes related to at-risk youth, and served as gang policy manager to the City of San José's mayoral officer during the 1990s.
Much of his efforts have focused on empowering youth as well as helping ex-gang members become productive citizens again. Mr DeLaRosa has also developed training curricula for cities throughout the US with a focus on developing an understanding of the continuum of services for youth: prevention, intervention, suppression, and after-care.
Mrs DeLaRosa is an educator in the East Side Union High School district in San Jose, California, where she administers the Healthy Start Programme, working with students, teachers and parents.
During their stay, the DeLaRosas will conduct a one-day workshop at the US Embassy on Tuesday, February 26 for caregivers at juvenile correctional institutions, community-based organisations and school guidance counsellors. They will also conduct sessions with community relations and schools resource officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and a group of inner-city youth at the YMCA.
