Demography
Agency and Program Location: The William George Agency, 380 Freeville Road, Freeville, NY
Target Region: Tompkins County, NY
Target Population: Males between the ages of 12 and 21
Describing the community, it should be noted that it is relatively small but actively developing. The population is about 100,000 people, with an average age of 31.4 years (Census Reporter, n.d.). The majority of the population is white (76%), followed by blacks (4%) and Asians (11%) (Census Reporter, n.d.). The population is almost equally divided between men and women, 51% and 49%, respectively (Census Reporter, n.d.). The average annual income is $37,938, which is not significantly lower than the state of New York as a whole (Census Reporter, n.d.). It is worth mentioning the fact that 17.2% of the population is below the poverty line (Census Reporter, n.d.). In addition, 95.4% of the population received a high school or higher education (Census Reporter, n.d.). Evaluating the data obtained, it is possible to pay attention to the fact that the population has access to education and a stable income. In addition, the population is relatively young, which may be because universities are located in this region. The program is aimed at providing support to young boys who exhibit Sexually Harmful Behaviors. These demographic factors may indicate that the provision of this service in the given region is an acute issue.
Problem Analysis
The Needs
The main objective of the program is the prevention of Sexually Harmful Behaviors in the community. The main interests of the population are therapeutic and psychological assistance, which will be aimed at limiting further abusive behavior. It is worth noting that for a small community, the scale of the problem is relatively moderate. This is evidenced by the fact that the program is aimed at a small number of young boys (20 people). However, the problem has several cultural and gender factors that can influence it. The main reason may be a lack or misunderstanding of the basics of the socialization process. Thus, young people exhibit behavior that harms the safety of society. Consequently, another interest of the program’s population is acquiring skills of interaction with other genders. It is in this way that the program provides assistance to young people.
The Stakeholders
The main stakeholders are The William George Agency, the parents of young people, and the boys themselves who have shown Sexually Harmful Behaviors. It should be noted that the county’s male population is 50%, approximately 50,000 people (Census Reporter, n.d.). The population of the program is approximately 23% of the total population (Census Reporter, n.d.). Thus, it can be noted that the young male population is relatively large. Parents’ interest is determined by their desire to help their children learn the proper communication and socialization skills. In addition, it should be borne in mind that The William George Agency is also interested in this program since this center is working to solve problems related to the risky behavior of the young population.
Additional Data
Considering additional data regarding this problem, it is necessary to refer to the statistics of health problems in Tompkins County. Based on the data, it can be understood that 28% of the population is studying at college or has received a higher education, which indicates the well-being of the county (Census Reporter, n.d.). However, disappointing statistics show that sexual harassment occurs at 28.9 per 100,000 population (Ithaca NY Rape Statistics 2006-2018, n.d.). Such a number is relatively high, which justifies the need to implement a program to work with young people. Such an approach will also make it possible to take relatively preventive measures to solve the existing problem.
Market Analysis
It is worth noting that there are practically no services that are dedicated to sexually harmful behavior in Tompkins County. Their main activity is aimed at maintaining mental health, which is partly correlated with the Sexually Harmful Behaviors Program. However, focusing specifically on working with young people is a relevant and unique service offered at The William George Agency. In this case, the Tompkins County Department of Mental Health should be singled out, mainly engaged in implementing programs for working with psychologists and drug treatment of mental and mental disorders (Local Mental Health Resources, n.d.). In the field of support from domestic violence and sexual abuse, the Advocacy Center is represented, which implements programs to protect victims. It is worth highlighting the Family & Children’s Service, which is engaged in support of psychological assistance (Local Mental Health Resources, n.d.). They implement their programs aimed at preventing family problems. In this case, they can interact with young people and parents who are concerned about the sexually aggressive behavior of the child. However, in general, this aspect is not the main trajectory of the activity of this service.
In addition, it is essential to mention the Youth Support Group, which holds online meetings aimed at working on support and mutual understanding. Thus, no organization in Tompkins County could implement a similar program to work with young people regarding the sexually harmful behaviors. Speaking about the impact of culture, race, ethnicity, and gender on the implementation of service delivery, it is necessary to note the current concerns. The program aims to work with boys, which can cause misunderstanding. However, it is worth considering the statistics provided, which indicate the need to provide the service in a similar format.
Asset Maps
Tompkins County has a relatively small population, which can be a problem for community development. However, it is worth noting that the population is predominantly young and educated, which indicates a well-built system that attracts people to participate actively in society. The problem of sexually harmful behaviors is quite complex since it is built mainly on the population’s improper upbringing or mental problems. On the other hand, Tompkins County has a sufficient number of medical facilities that meet all the necessary needs of the population. On the other hand, there is an urgent problem as 17.2% of the population is below the poverty line (Census Reporter, n.d.). This can cause certain depressive traits in the development of the county.
Consequently, the existing problem may be because young people do not have sufficient access to attend additional classes that could improve the socialization process. In this case, it should be noted that the county is worthy of holding various events dedicated to children and health, for example, Healthy Kids Day (YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, n.d.). In addition, various Youth Sports Programs are offered, which can become a positive factor in developing the well-being of the young population (YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County, n.d.). On the other hand, the problem may be an insufficient level of sexual education and enlightenment, which may affect the behavior of young people. Tompkins County has various programs dedicated to this aspect, but their number is insufficient. Therefore, it should be noted that the community has many opportunities for young people to self-actualize. However, there are also significant problems with the lack of awareness.
Discussion
Assessing the needs of the population, it is necessary to pay attention to the scale of the problem. Sexual abuse in the county occurs at about 28.9 per 100,000 population (Ithaca NY Rape Statistics 2006-2018, n.d.). Based on this indicator, it can be understood that the problem is relevant, and the population is interested in correcting it. However, it is essential to consider that the lack of programs aimed at correcting the existing trend may be due to economic backwardness. On the other hand, people may be disinterested in applying to such programs since society has a certain level of stigmatization. Consequently, various concerns may arise, which are reflected in the unwillingness to approve the service.
In this matter, estimating the number of people who require services is complicated. However, the gap between those who receive the service and those who need it can be explained by the fact that people lack financial opportunities. In addition, people may not be sufficiently aware of the availability of such programs. Therefore, it is necessary either to increase media coverage or to make the service more accessible. In addition, it is necessary to create a positive image that can explain the need for this program for the population. All this can also help to remove the doubts that people have because of the fear of misjudgment by the community. On the other hand, people are unaware of the existence of problems of a similar nature or are unaware of the connection of the problems they have with their psychological state. This trend is explained by a variety of socio-economic factors that need to be worked out before implementing the program. The population may not be aware of the need, as it does not face the problem directly.
References
Census Reporter. (n.d.). Census profile: Tompkins County, NY. Web.
Ithaca NY Rape Statistics 2006-2018. (n.d.). MacroTrends. Web.
Local mental health resources. (n.d.). Tompkins County. Web.
YMCA of Ithaca and Tompkins County. (n.d.). The YMCA. Web.