IEA FACT SHEET

“Coming up without a father is hard but Ben's Kids is like that father I never had. They placed me in places of opportunity. It has really changed my life….a little push was all I needed, for me to make a change.” – Ben’s Kids Participant 

“I really appreciated IEA and appreciate how they call to check on us to see how we’re doing. I feel like there’s someone to turn to when I need it. Ben’s Kids has really helped us. I feel a lot of support that we didn’t have before.” – Parent of Ben’s Kids Participant 

Mission:  The mission of Inspire, Encourage, Achieve (IEA) is to initiate and support educational programming and rehabilitative services for at-risk youth in Southeast Texas by inspiring and encouraging them to achieve.   

Two Components

• Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Center (MRJJC): more than 300 detainees impacted annually
• Outreach: more than 2,000 youth impacted annually with direct services offered through Ben’s Kids Outreach (over 100 youth) and “Do the Write Thing” Program (nearly 2,000 youth) with additional support extended to their families through case management, referrals and parenting education/support groups.

 Services Provided in Detention

• Individual and Group Counseling, including anger management and substance abuse intervention and education (additional counselor interns provided by Lamar University)
• Literacy instruction 
• Art therapy
• One-on-one mentoring
• Service Coordination (between IEA, court, attorneys, probation officers, parents, and schools)
• “You can change your life” Speaker Series

 Outreach Services

• Case management
• Individual and Group Counseling (including anger management and substance abuse intervention and education)
• One-on-one mentoring
• Academic remediation, including tutoring and literacy instruction
• Twice monthly group meetings with mentors and other volunteers
• Parent counseling
• Annual summer camp experience (Camp Bright Star)
• “Do the Write Thing” Challenge
• Jefferson County Juvenile Drug Court Coordination
• Access to personal development opportunities
• Including equestrian therapy (Stable Spirits), workforce development (Powerzone & individual career counseling sessions) community service, organized sports and recreational activities 
  
  

Program Impact

In 2009, approximately 97% of the juvenile offenders referred to IEA did not commit a new offense.  A total of 89% completed their period of juvenile probation without any violations that lead to detention at the Minnie Rogers Juvenile Justice Center.   

Partners & Supporters

Major partners and supporters include: Jefferson County Probation Department; Jefferson County Commissioners Court; BISD; PAISD; Lamar University; Sam Houston State University; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; Family Services of Southeast Texas; 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont; Jefferson County Dispute Resolution Center; Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)