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Jump Start

Jump-Start Program Mission Statement: A curriculum based mentoring and decision skills program designed for first-time, non-violent juvenile offenders and "at risk" youth. The purpose of this joint Kennebunk and Kennebunkport community program is to make youth answerable back to the community in which they live and for the community to accept ownership for their youth and the issues they face.

In 2006 Jump-Start will be celebrating its ninth anniversary. This program was not designed as an alternative to the already existing juvenile system but was; however, created with the desire to enhance that system while allowing for community involvement. Youth placed in this eight-week curriculum learn decision making skills while coupled with an adult mentor.

The need for this program was identified when two law enforcement officers discovered that many juvenile offenders were not receiving immediate consequences for their actions. It would often take weeks or months until juveniles were contacted by a Juvenile Intake Worker within the Maine Department of Probation and Parole with regard to their criminal offense. Often, juveniles would be placed on an "in-house" departmental probation while at the same time assigned to complete community service with no real significant and meaningful experience. It was found that youth learned nothing about the actions they engaged in or the consequences they were given, and were often found to be in trouble, once again, within a very short time. It was determined by those two officers, along with four Kennebunk and Kennebunkport citizens that something needed to be done and things needed to change. After more than a year of consistent meetings and organization Jump-Start took flight in 1996. Jump-Start has received both statewide and national exposure with similar programs, modeled after it, beginning in various towns around the country.

For additional information regarding the Kennebunk/Kennebunkport Jump-Start Program please contact Coordinator Sergeant Anthony J. Burpee at 207-985-2102, ext. 1611 or at aburpee@kennebunk.maine.org.