Adjudicated youth entrusted to Catholic Social Services’ Saint Gabriel’s System (SGS) by Philadelphia Family Court continue to overcome great adversities and graduate at high rates.
Last month, Saint Gabriel’s Hall, a residential program for court adjudicated youth with a dedicated on-campus high school, graduated 26 young men. Meanwhile, Saint Gabriel’s System day treatment program at De LaSalle Vocational graduated 14. These numbers are in addition to the young men who graduated in January: 37 young men from Saint Gabriel’s Hall and 29 from De LaSalle Vocational, making a grand total of 106 graduates this academic year.
Often, students come to “Saint Gabe’s” and “DelVoc,” as they are affectionately called by faculty and staff, with serious gaps in their education, as well as challenges related to relational skills, and family/community support systems. The SGS helps youth overcome adversities to achieve a positive future.
Established in 1899 by the De LaSalle Christian Brothers as the Philadelphia Protectorate for Boys, Saint Gabe’s is a residential program located in Audubon, Montgomery County. Today, dedicated lay people inspired by the LaSallian mission continue to provide a structured setting where youth receive transformative therapeutic, and educational support. Residential treatment employs a team approach to rehabilitation with educators, child care workers, social workers, psychologists, and counselors working together to provide an individualized treatment plan for each client in care.
Principal John T. Mulroney said, “At Saint Gabe’s, our motto is that everyman leave’s Saint Gabe’s as a ‘man with a plan!’ A plan to stay physically, morally, socially, and emotionally safe in some of the most troubled neighborhoods of Philadelphia. A strong work ethic along with the employability and technical-hands-on work skills that we preach and teach here Saint Gabe’s work hand in hand in this regard.”
One young man who is leaving Saint Gabe’s with a “plan,” is the 2017 salutatorian. This fall, he will be attending the University of Pittsburg and majoring in psychology. Principal Mulroney said, “He stood out upon his arrival for his determination to graduate high school with grades high enough to get him accepted to an upper echelon four year college or university with a reputation for their school of sciences. He was accepted to six very fine schools, all with outstanding undergraduate as well as graduate programs in psychology.”
This young man was one of six students to receive a special recognition for demonstrating excellence in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and Microsoft Office. In addition, one student received the De La Salle Award for best representing all Four Pillars of the National Honor Society.
DelVoc, the day treatment center of the SGS located in Bensalem, Bucks County, offers young men educational, vocational, and behavioral support services. Each year the program educates approximately 300 young men in academics as well as Carpentry, Auto Mechanics, and Culinary Arts. In addition, it boasts excellent job placement rates due to comprehensive career development assistance.
“The full program is designed to take guys from where they are when they enter and prepare them for future success. This includes both remediation and acceleration in academics. For most it is remediation but our year round program allows them to accelerate in competency and high school credit more than a typical public school,” said Mr. Charles Gaus, Director of DelVoc. “Most of our guys have suffered some form of trauma ether in their family or on the street. In addition, our Career Center prepares guys to search, apply, and interview for positions. During the summer we partner with the Philadelphia Youth Network to provide paid job internships and a contextual learning environment that helps to teach 21st Century skills.”
When DelVoc’s salutatorian arrived in March 2015, he came with his own personal challenges. Mr. Gaus said, “He had the courage to examine past difficulties and learn from them. He went even further by helping others to learn and grow, by sharing his story and journey. He spoke and conducted sessions at numerous middles schools, La Salle High School, Archbishop Ryan, and the Philadelphia Police Academy.” He went on to say, “His extraordinary work changed lives for the good- possibly forever.”
This young man received the De LaSalle Vocational Community Service Award. In addition, two additional young men received awards for attendance and highest general average.
Rearrests of students from these programs during the community reintegration period are below 10 percent and the number of youth absent without notice is in the single digit percentile. Both of these benchmarks position Saint Gabriel’s System of Catholic Social Services as a leader among service providers seeking to improve the lives of young people facing these daunting challenges.
