Several years ago, the Plainfield Community School Corporation began looking at different ways to help students experiencing difficulties. At the time, when a student caused a problem at school the options were suspension, expulsion or probation, but the administration wanted to find alternatives.
So often, when a parent is ill at home or the teen gets involved with the wrong crowd, it becomes obvious through behavioral issues. The child begins getting into trouble; sometimes it manifests through plummeting grades or testing the waters with drug and alcohol use.
Regardless of how the issue presents itself, concerned adults wanted to make sure these students don’t become statistics.
The Plainfield school board researched what Hamilton County was doing and found the success they had experienced with their youth assistance program. It’s been operating for nearly two decades and is designed to catch those students prior to entering the legal system.
The Plainfield Youth Assistance Program (PYAP) was created with the help of several leaders in the community.
“They brought it to [retired] Judge Karen Love and when she saw it, she was all in,” said Staci Hovermale, director of PYAP. “She wanted to pilot the program in Plainfield. She wrote the statute, and as a court employee program, both the county and the Town of Plainfield signed a five-year contract.”
Things slowed down during the pandemic, but organizers continued to work to get policies and procedures in place. They applied for nonprofit status and prepared for the opportunity to begin early intervention, which students would need more than ever after a tumultuous year or two.
In the meantime, Hovermale was working at a residential facility in downtown Indianapolis as director of education for students with behavioral needs. She’s a graduate from Ball State with a special education degree in severe and profound disabilities, and though she was making progress, Hovermale felt her skills might be better suited elsewhere.
“We heard about the PYAP program at a Kiwanis meeting and after lots of prayer and much discussion, I decided to apply,” she said. “I eventually interviewed with the Plainfield school board and then Judge Love. I’m not experienced in nonprofits and I don’t like to public speak, but ultimately, I’ve lived in Plainfield for 20 years, and if I can help kids get to the point of not entering that residential facility, I want to take that leap of faith.”
She came on board in the fall of 2021 and has been working to assist those students in need ever since.
Hovermale is quick to point out that these students are not “bad” kids. In fact, just like adults, youths go through ups and downs and things happen in life that change their trajectory. The team at PYAP wants to guide them back to the right path.
“We’ve all been through these seasons of life,” Hovermale said. “These students are at risk when you look at their grades and their behavior in school, but they’re often referred due to the loss of a loved one, they were vaping, they’re experimenting with drugs, or there has been a housing displacement.”
Life is messy and things can get overwhelming.
Referrals can come from anywhere; school officials, coaches, neighbors and parents can fill out the referral paperwork when they notice a young person who could use some guidance. It’s a volunteer program, requiring parents or guardians and the student to be involved and interested in finding new alternatives.
Perhaps what makes the program so successful is the individualized approach interventional advocates take toward every situation.
“It’s not cut-and-paste, because everyone has a different need and a different goal,” Hovermale said. “We are student focused, but we might have a mentoring component for the entire family. We also partner with amazing organizations in our community already set up for their needs, like Strides to Success, Art on Main, the Optimist Club and others. We are getting the kids plugged in and active in the school and their community.”
They are constantly tweaking the program, and finding new ways to involve families and the community in meeting the students’ needs.
Though Hovermale said the program isn’t meant for lifelong assistance, even the amount of time per case can fluctuate. A family displaced due to a fire might be with them for six months. A family dealing with significant medical issues might be with them for two years.
All students receive follow-up attention too. PYAP touches base with teachers and guidance counselors at the school to make sure they are seeing the same progress, and families share nine-week report cards to show improvement.
“Four years ago these kids would have gotten lost in the system, but now there’s an option for those that show signs of needing guidance,” Hovermale said.
What matters the most is the program is working, and if it’s anything like the Hamilton County program, they’ll soon see juvenile cases plummet and student success continue to rise. It brings excitement and hope to the community.
“It’s sitting and listening and building relationships, and helping people find the resources that may work for them,” Hovermale said. “It’s pretty emotional when we watch the success. Everyone wants to see the numbers but we get to see the personal impact. For some it might be making the honor roll, when six months ago they were failing their classes. We get to see their confidence build and it’s amazing.”
So far PYAP has only served Plainfield schools. That first year they assisted 55 students, and in 2023 they assisted 222 students, but Hovermale hopes those numbers and the area reached will expand soon.
“Plainfield is the pilot and we want to show progress and growth, but we really are a Hendricks County youth assistance program,” Hovermale said. “We’re talking with Avon Community School Corporation and Danville Community School Corporation. Our goal is to begin serving other communities.”
They are already utilizing partners and programs across the county, and while the youth assistance programs might look slightly different from town to town, the end goal is to help every student possible.
“There’s a misconception that we’re specific to Plainfield,” Hovermale said. “We’re in a position to grow now and it’s not just the PYAP staff. It’s going to take the businesses, schools, individuals and everyone wrapping around these kids. The program wouldn’t exist without all of the financial support and volunteers we’ve seen over the years. We get to witness it on a daily basis. We are watching their entire journey and it’s just remarkable.”
