BUILD's Intervention program is designed to reduce youth violence in targeted high schools. Intervention Specialists and Case Managers engage youth in in-school sessions and/or after-school activities in order to identify issues, seek solutions, mediate disputes, and encourage education.

Gang/Violence Remediation - Intervention Specialists provides gang-involved youth with activities that are alternatives to gang life and reduce participation in violence and crime. Recreational and athletic activities allow staff to develop rapport with gang members in order to guide them to other resources such as tutoring, counseling, substance abuse treatment, and job training.

Juvenile Rehabilitation - Project BUILD, our rehabilitation program at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, intervenes in the lives of youth detained at and released from the Detention Center in order to reduce recidivism (rate of return). The offenses youth are charged with range from minor first-time offenses to felonies. Teachers and other staff of the Nancy B. Jefferson Alternative School, located at the Detention Center, primarily refer youth to Project BUILD. Other referrals may come from judges who mandate participation in Project BUILD as an alternative to detention, probation officers, family members and other service agencies. Case Managers provide a re-entry curriculum and provide follow-up case management to ensure that youth, upon release, enroll in school and engage in constructive activities to reduce their rate of return to detention.

For more information about BUILD's Intervention & Rehabilitation program, please contact our Intervention/Rehabilitation Director, Gersley Kendricks.