Background on SOCK

SOCK (Save Our County’s Kids) was founded in 1997 to prevent youth violence, re-direct juvenile energy and provide alternatives to gang membership and involvement. For the past nine years, SOCK has provided evening recreational activities, structured after-school educational programs, free nutritious meals, transportation, emergency help and employment opportunities for Mason County’s most at-risk youth in its 12,000 square foot community center.

In 2002, SOCK was awarded federal juvenile justice funds to expand its prevention programs and to employ the Search Institute’s 40-Asset Resiliency Model.

In 2005, SOCK was awarded federal Department of Education funding, through the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools, to implement a mentoring program for youth in the 4th-8th grades.

SOCK is a locally driven approach to youth violence prevention that targets Mason County’s most at risk children. Nine years ago, in 1997, the Shelton community was galvanized into action by the murder of a teenager. As a response—after a series of parental and community meetings focused on crime, gangs and the need for activities for youth—a large community group: (1) did an all-day county-wide graffiti paint out; (2) decided to continue efforts by opening a youth center called SOCK (Save Our County’s Kids); and (3) partnered with the National Guard to house the youth center in the old Shelton Armory. When the Guard Unit housed there was dissolved in February 1999, SOCK became the sole tenant in the Armory and signed a long-term lease for use of the building.

At the present time, there are 3,796 youth in the database who have participated in SOCK activities. In 2005, SOCK volunteers contributed 8,113 hours to keep the doors to SOCK open so that 654 youth could participate in fun, non-violent, pro-social activities. Approximately 90-125 youth attend SOCK’s after school and evening recreation programs each week. Of the 654 youth served in 2005:

• 425 (65%) were between the ages of 13 and 18
• 196 (30%) were between the ages of 0-12
• 33 (5%) between the ages of 19 and 22

SOCK is the only game in town for youth. We do not have a Boys and Girls Club; YMCA; or Big Brothers, Big Sisters Organization here. For many years now the city has cut its recreation programming and eliminated funding for many youth activities.

At SOCK, youth are able to channel their energy through sports and recreation activities, and learn ethics and skills that will serve them in life and their careers. SOCK provides the safe, supervised place that Mason County’s at risk youth need and truly want.

The overall goal of SOCK is stated in its name – to Save Our County’s Kids – to save youth from a bleak future of unemployment, crime, drugs and alcohol abuse, gangs, violence, welfare, poor education, homelessness, school failure, truancy, unwanted pregnancy, couch surfing, family problems, automobile accidents, poverty and suicide.

In Mason County there is extreme economic deprivation, particularly in the rural areas where separate families and small communities subsist, often deep in the woods. Struggling families can make poor choices in attempting to solve economic and family problems. Family behavior (substance abuse, poor parenting skills, lack of employment) contributes to truancy, delinquency, battering, and child abuse.

SOCK targets the young adults connected to these families—the special population at highest risk in our county—the teens who are transient, delinquent, truant or high school dropouts.

According to the Northwest Area Foundation Indicators Website, Mason County has 16.2% of its youth ages 16-19 that are not attending school and not working. That is exactly twice as high as the Washington state average of 8.1%. The poverty rate of youth under 18 is 25% higher in our county than the state average (19% vs. 15%). We have 69% higher dropout rate (9.8% vs. 5.8%). Our teens are having babies at a 37% higher rate and the juvenile arrests are 16% higher in our county than the Washington State average.

Mason County, in its attempt to deal with the problems of at-risk youth (between the ages of 10-17), is fighting an uphill battle and must expand its prevention programs, like SOCK, on which the youth of the county depend.

SOCK co-ordinates with the governments of:

• Washington State
• Mason County
• City of Shelton

SOCK also has a close relationship with a number of organizations including:

• Mason Transit Authority
• United Way of Mason County
• Mason County Literacy
• Community Action Council
• Hood Canal Food Bank
• Mason Matters
• Mason County Drug and Alcohol Prevention
• WSU Extension – 4-H
• Thurston County Volunteer Legal Services
• Mason County Shelter

In addition, to re-direct youth, SOCK works closely with:

• Mason County Probation Department
• City of Shelton Police Department
• Mason County Sheriff’s Office

Partners involved in supporting SOCK

SOCK has the financial support of national and local companies was well as interested individuals.

Goals and Objectives

SOCK has qualified staff, uses the Search Institute’s 40-Asset Resiliency Model, and is growing its youth employment program. SOCK is open year round to offer educational assistance, social mentoring, structured recreation, free meals, emergency help, and transportation.

40-Asset Search-Institute Resiliency Model

Findings by the Search Institute assert that "many things you personally do – or could do – every day make a big difference for children and teenagers. Whether you are a caring adult or someone working in a community institution, there are many ways you can help young people succeed–in building their own developmental assets—the positive relationships, experiences and inner strengths that young people need to grow up healthy, caring and responsible."

SOCK uses the eight-step Asset Development framework in its operations to: “(1) support young people with caring and attention; (2) empower them to use their abilities to help others; (3) set reasonable boundaries and have high expectations; (4) help them find activities that make constructive use of their time; (5) spark their commitment to learning; (6) guide them toward a life based on positive values; (7) help them develop social competencies and life skills; and (8) celebrate their uniqueness and affirm them.”