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Open Doors Program Helps Young People Find Their Own Way

Sept. 17, 2007 — A former prison official is working to help at-risk young people avoid serving time and make better lives for themselves through a program called Open Doors.
"Once they get to prison, there is only so much that can be done," said Horace Magras, a former Bureau of Corrections director. "We need to get to the root cause in the beginning."
Magras is the principal for Magras Consulting, a firm located in Estate Richmond.
Students leaving class Monday had good things to say about the program.
"The classes are helping a lot," one student said. "It keeps us out of trouble and encourages us to do good things."
Open Doors instructors are contractors from different health professions and divisions of labor. It's a two-tiered program with follow ups. In the first tier, students cover basic life skills, research and career fields, anger management, drug use and abuse prevention, teen pregnancy and parenting, communication skills and conflict resolution.
Education plays a major role in the program. If the students are still in school, they must focus on staying in school. Those out of school focus on reintroduction to school. The program works with students ages 16 to 25.
"We reinforce that staying in school is the key to success." Magras said. "We are competing for them, just like the dealers and criminal elements. This is the devil's playground."
Open Doors works to provide alternate voices and perspectives.
"It's not just a catch phrase — peer pressure is real," Magras said.
The second tier focuses on students getting employment and keeping it. After they find jobs, the program does follow ups for six months — or longer, if needed. Magras has contracted with the Department of Labor to provide graduates from the program. Most government agencies employ the students, who work side by side in a shadowing program.
"I would like to see more private businesses partner with us and just give the kids a chance," Magras said.
The program gets promoted primarily through word of mouth, with some advertising and referrals from different agencies. Open Doors is voluntary, with many participants just walking in off the street. Workforce instructor Ira Phillips specializes in juvenile-delinquency prevention.
"More adults need to get involved with youth and take time to deal with them," he said.
Families are strongly encouraged to participate and work with caseworkers from government agencies.
"Everyone needs to play a part in young people's lives," Magras said. "If I help one person, I'm satisfied. We need to help the kids get on the right track and become law-abiding citizens and contributing members of society."
The class meets 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the office at 52 Richmond, Pikard Building. For more information on the program, call 713-0960.
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