Since its inception in 1997, SOCK has been Mason County’s chief proponent of positive “living & learning” alternatives for local youth at risk.

SOCK serves those youth at most risk of juvenile delinquency, violence, gang involvement, substance abuse, early pregnancy and academic failure. Fundamentally, three core beliefs influence our approach to young people, and the types of programs we offer them.

Too many causes to champion only one

Across our nation, countless bookshelves are filled with titles of works purported to explain what is wrong with kids today. Indeed, you can make a case-by-case argument that problems with today’s youth are due to (a) poor parenting; (b) decaying school systems; (c) loss of family values or traditional structure; (d) drugs, alcohol and other chemical substances; (e) peer pressure; (f) poor study habits in school; (g) poor self esteem; (h) severe parental neglect or abuse (i) violent video games; (j) a decline in physical education, nutrition and overall physical health; (k) negative influence of television, music and movies––the list continues on and on.

At SOCK, we do not crusade on behalf of any one cause or solution. Rather, we serve a variety of youth, who in turn, present a variety of “back stories” as far as individual at-risk factors are concerned.

First core belief

Despite the many different influences weighing on a young person today, we, as an organization, hold as our first core belief that SOCK’s primary role is to offer each and every child, no matter their background or current situation, a glimpse into the world of possibilities. Our mission is to present youth with a chance at discovering, for themselves, new alternatives to the negative scenarios they have known thus far.

Second core belief: show by example

Take action. Set examples. Show enthusiasm, and you will find it easier to get people involved.

SOCK has always used a “hands on” approach to teaching young people, whether through our YES Community Technology Center, our Digital Media Studio, community gardening or clean-up projects, all the way to arranging open mic poetry readings or simple pickup basketball games.

Kids know when you care

When you take the time to show kids how to do things, you demonstrate that you care. Youth at risk are looking for connection, especially with adult role models who care. Such connections open up the chance for ongoing positive influence.

At times, direct adult supervision proves too restricting. However, by developing a variety of mentoring programs, we are able to pair mature teens with younger students. Over time, our mentoring experience has developed into a solid model for many of our programs going forward.

Third core belief: kids need a place of their own

As Shelton’s only youth center and kids’ gathering place, SOCK remains committed to providing a safe and structured environment that kids can call their own.

Malls won’t do it. Streets won’t do it. Gangs won’t do it. For youth at risk, only a youth center can effectively channel their energy and attention toward positive recreational and learning experiences.

Ideally, the SOCK youth center will continue to serve as a crossroads––a place where troubled kids and teens arrive with a variety of issues facing them, but are met with an opportunity to cross over to a new set of choices, a genuine chance to build an alternative future for themselves.