Goals and Objectives

The primary goal of The Wilson Family Empowerment Foundation diversion program is to eliminate the risk factors that predispose our community member into delinquency and encounters with the criminal justice system. Research shows that the primary risk factors for delinquency include:

• Individual characteristics such as alienation, rebelliousness and lack of bonding to society;
• Family influence such as parental conflict, child abuse, poor family management practices, substance abuse, criminality, teen pregnancy and lack of education;
• School experiences such as early academic failure and truancy;
• Peer group influences, especially gangs; and
• Neighborhood factors such as economic deprivation, high rate of substance abuse, crime and disorganization.

Our program reveals that to counter these risks, protective factors which moderate the child’s exposure must be introduced. Three basic categories of protective factors are identified as:

1. positive social orientation;
2. bonding with pro-social family members, teachers, positive community members and friends; and
3. healthy beliefs and clear standards of behavior.

The objectives of The Wilson Family Empowerment Foundation are as follows:

1. To provide general guidance to at-risk youth and adults with intellectual disabilities within the Houston, and Harris County, Texas communities.
2. To promote personal and social responsibility among at-risk youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.
3. To increase participation and enhance ability to benefit from elementary, secondary education, vocational training, and college.
4. To discourage use of illegal drugs and firearms, involvement in violence and other delinquent activity.
5. To discourage participation in gangs.
6. To encourage participation in service and community activities.
7. To decrease teenage pregnancy incidences.
8. To decrease homelessness rates amongst this population.
9. To increase graduation rate, GED completion, and college enrollment for “at- risk” youths and adults.
10. To increase the employment rate by offering internships, apprenticeships, basic business and professional skill set seminars, and employment search assistance.