Youth boot camp seeks a change in course for youths

With the assistance of the Eunice Police Department and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, 180*: Changing the Course, a youth boot camp, has come to life.
Starting Aug. 6, the 12-week boot camp’s mission is to prepare selected youth for positive, successful lives by developing self-discipline, self-esteem, as individuals, by encouraging them to be successful family members and peers, a Eunice Police Department news release stated.
180*: Changing the Course is also trying to enable the selected youths to set, strive for, and reach life goals successfully and to establish education and knowledge as the keys to success, self-esteem, and self-worth.
The boot camp goals are to return to society an individual who can be a constructive, positive and contributing member of the community; to instill self-esteem and self-worth through physical fitness, training and education; to instill self-discipline and self-control through physical fitness and ceremonies and positive task completion; and to instill accountability, personal competence and problem solving skills through training, counseling and exercises.
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot stated, “Past programs such as this have proved to be successful, but no matter how low the success rate if it keeps one child out of prison the entire program is worth it. Even more important than the success rate of this program is the lasting relationships developed between the youth and law enforcement officers. These relationships will be carried well into adulthood and not only help youth for a brighter future, but also creates a new asset for our police department.”
180*: Changing the Course is geared towards youths who are ages 10 to 15 years old, boys and girls, who may be starting down the wrong path of life and need some extra guidance to get back on track. Some youths’ attendance may be recommended by the court, schools, or the youths’ parents.
For more information, contact Sgt. Stephanie Myers, at the Eunice Police Department at 337-457-2626.
Myers also asked if anyone who would like to help with the program to contact her.