Juvenile Probation encourages youth to read this summer and earn prizes
PHOENIX (July 29, 2024) – For the fourth consecutive year, the Juvenile Probation Department, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, has collaborated with the Maricopa County Public Libraries to bring the Summer Reading Program to kids in detention.
The initiative aims to motivate these young individuals to read during the summer to prevent the “summer slide,” advance early literacy skills and emphasize the enjoyment of reading.
“The Summer Reading Program is completely voluntary for our youth in Detention and for them it’s something to look forward to, something to accomplish,” said Juvenile Probation Department Project Lead Senior Christina Badilla. “We’ve been able to develop some great Detention-appropriate prizes. One thing that we know is that sometimes our kids haven’t earned certificates in the past. So, to be able to say they’ve accomplished something is big for them.”
The Summer Reading Program, which will continue until Aug. 1, allows participants to earn prizes for every minute spent reading. Prizes include bookmarks, certificates and books from a youth-appropriate book selection. Additionally, the department is organizing a facility-wide competition to reward the participant who reads the most minutes, further promoting involvement in the program.
Dedicating only 20 minutes of reading a day can have a major impact on youth, helping them develop a lifelong habit of reading. Tracking reading points can make reading fun for participating youth and allow them to enhance early literacy skills. Currently, there are 88 youth in Detention participating in the Summer Reading Program.
“The Summer Reading Program is a neat program that we offer in Detention and it’s great to see the partnership that we’ve made with Maricopa County Public Libraries,” Badilla said. “Additionally, it also provides our youth with some more knowledge about libraries. And when they are back in the community, they have the option to continue participating in this program and we encourage that.”