Everything changed for ‘J-Dawg’, a pseudonym we’re using to protect the identity of this minor, on a fateful day, May 11, 2024. Sixteen at the time, J-Dawg and his like-aged cousin spent those warm spring hours in a park on the West side of Chicago, socializing with their peers post-school. The two boys remained in animated conversation until the early hours of the morning. As Saturday dawned, J-Dawg discovered his cousin unresponsive.
Racing against time, J-Dawg and his uncle hurried the unconscious teenager to the nearby hospital. The doctors soon established the cause of death — a fatal drug overdose. This news astounded J-Dawg, who was completely unaware of his cousin’s dabbling with substance misuse. The two boys always looked to each other for support amidst the perilous reality of prevalent drug overdoses and rampant gun violence in their vicinity.
Just two months prior to this tragic incident, J-Dawg had become a participant in ‘Choose to Change’, a supportive program which coupled cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with thorough mentoring. Its focus is on helping youths handle the traumatic fallout of violence they are routinely exposed to. Unlike other therapeutic methods, CBT tends more towards modifying present behaviour rather than delving into past traumas.
This initiative empowers its young participants by offering a wide range of support, right from organizing recreational activities like sports and meals out, up to practical help in securing employment or opening bank accounts. J-Dawg had embarked on this journey with Choose to Change a few months before his cousin’s untimely death, at a time when his cousin was often entangled in brawls.
While an aggressive stance could potentially aid survival in dangerous situations, it could also cause youths to perceive minor issues as major threats, thereby escalating tension. The loss of his cousin, a significant pillar of his existence, rattled J-Dawg considerably. A fallout of this trauma was his subsequent confinement in a juvenile detention center for an entire month.
In an unfortunate turn of events, J-Dawg found himself in police custody in early June 2024 following a physical dispute, despite his recent enrolment in Choose to Change. Post his release that summer, J-Dawg voiced his aspirations to his mentor, Theresa Wright, striving to rebuild his life positively.
On joining his junior year at school in August 2024, the skills acquired from Choose to Change were promptly put to test. The efficacy of CBT-based programs has garnered considerable appreciation and faith from experts, given the substantial reduction in arrests among high-risk teenagers demonstrated through research studies.
A key study spearheaded by the University of Chicago Crime Lab from 2015 to 2019 tracked 1,000 Chicago teens enrolled in Choose to Change. Their progress was compared to a group of 1,000 similar teens who only received traditional support services such as in-school counselling and after-school care. The former showed a considerable decrease in undesirable involvement with law enforcement, leading to cost reductions for the taxpayer.
Researchers have estimated a monetary saving of approximately $20,000 per participant for the taxpayers, largely attributed to reductions in interactions with police, public defenders, courts and the juvenile detention system. A fundamental aspect contributing to the success of such programs is believed to be the strong bond formed between the youngsters and their mentors, which assists in the effective integration of CBT learnings into their daily existence.
J-Dawg bears testimony to the positive impact of his bond with his mentor, as he gradually achieves his objectives. He secured a role as a counselor for younger children, providing him a sense of accomplishment. He’s also learned effective anger management strategies, contributing to a noticeable shift towards a non-confrontational approach since his earlier brush with the law. To top it all, he’s currently the third-ranked student in his class.