"Sentenced to the Arts" Project (STTAP)
The Sentenced to the Arts Project (STTAP) allows adjudicated youth to emotionally express themselves in a creative and positive manner through an art of their choice. STTAP is a program in which adjudicated youth are "sentenced to the arts" involving themselves in an arts education program, community service and expressive therapy component. Expressive therapy in this case focuses on therapies for specific types of offenses including sex offenses, violent behavior, shoplifting, arson, etc. By having more accountability for juvenile offenders, this adjuncts goal is to decrease the likelihood to commit post treatment offenses, to reduce recidivism, and to improve behavior. This opportunity for accountability creates a unique opportunity to try another and different approach to assisting wayward youngsters in returning to a productive and meaningful youth hood, gaining another lifestyle.
This program has been in operation for six years, reaching over 700 participants per year and is delivered through McCune, Hilltop, Halfway Homes, Detention, Community Facilities, and Public & Alternative Schools. It is successful because of its partnerships beginning with COMBAT & The City of Kansas City, Missouri, including: Jackson County Family Court, Pan-Educational Institute, and Alternative Schools Network Association.
"This project is supported by funding made available from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and provided through a grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Missouri Department of Public Safety and the State Juvenile Justice Advisory Group." A grant match is provided by the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, COMBAT Unit.
