business to solve the problems, no matter what the anti-

social behavior.

Rick Ryan, our national director, once summed it up

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rather well. He said

"We are in the business to assist youngsters develop
in a manner that helps them to cope with the joys and
pains of growing into adulthood. Ke are endeavouring
to perform a job that keeps the youngsters we work
with from going astray and ending up as delinquents,
or worse yet, becoming adults with no zest for living
or concern for fellow human beings."

Development is the key. We are a developmental agency
that is working to develop children to the fullest extent
so that they can best realize their potential.

As part of this prevention image we often hear that our
purpose is to keep the children off the streets. This
makes me feel like we are being described as professional
babysitters. We are not just keeping youngsters off the
‘street. We are providing constructive occupation of their
leisure time. This is an important element of development,
but the solution must go beyond the occupation of their
jeisure time to include the fulfilment of the basic needs
of every youth. These include approval, a sense of belonging,
achievement, a sense of worth, and friendship. These needs
should normally be fulfilled by the family, yet in many
Situations they are not.

Our agerny's number one goal is to provide the basic

needs and to create an environment where development is the

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