Release the Fear

About

Release the Fear teaches youth valuable skills by engaging their understanding of self and showing them alternatives to bullying and violence.

Story

We believe there is no such thing as a bad kid – they just haven’t found their gifts...Yet!

Release the Fear, Inc. (RTF) was founded in 1996 and established as a 501(C)(3) non-profit in 2002, delivering life changing programs to thousands of disadvantaged and disengaged youth to help them realize they have the ability to make their dreams, their reality.
Mission: Is to counter the effects of violence in our communities by turning fear, anger, and hate into acceptance, hope and self-empowerment, bridging endless possibilities through the creative process.

Vision: Is to inspire and empower youth with the tools to make better life choices

Goals: Are to unite communities; help youth realize they have a life purpose; help them learn to better communicate; help youth know they can make their dreams, their reality; help them become better prepared for their future by learning needed life skills and skills to help them with school work; engage disengaged youth in school and work; help participants learn that others share their same fears – fears that may be blocking them from discovering anything is possible, and realizing they matter!!; build cross cultural bridges of understanding between young and old and; continue helping reduce the recidivism of incarcerated youth.

How: Our evidence-based curriculum uses the creative processes of art, music, and communication. Our trained facilitators teach, through inquiry-based learning, character education to help youth and adults, combat peer pressure, bullying, anger, and violence of any kind. Our programs awaken a creative consciousness and expose the unlimited potential of critical thinking and problem solving to help participants develop better cognitive behavioral skills, preparing them for life's challenges.
Why: The more we share what we do, the more we are made aware of the tremendous need there is to continue. In a recent letter RTF received from the White House, April 7, 2016 it said, “Today, our criminal justice system holds approximately 2.2 million Americans behind bars at a cost to taxpayers of $80 billion per year,” and, “Too often, the criminal justice system has worked to the detriment of young people, especially those in communities struggling to overcome poverty… By channeling resources into early childhood education and issuing discipline guidance to schools, we are creating pathways to success instead of pipelines to prison….”


Research Findings: In the U.S. there are 5.8 million disengaged youth, 16–24, meaning they are not working or attending school. These youth could go either way if not given the proper life skills. Metropolitan Phoenix ranks 13 in the nation for disengaged youth. Over 100,000 youth that could go down one path or another. Arizona is one of the highest in the nation for Department of Child Safety (DCS) services, with 20,000 children in DCS care.
Quantitative Evidence: The Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) followed a three-year longitudinal study on 928 ADJC juveniles who attended one of more RTF “Inside Out Bridging Possibilities” programs between 2012 and 2015. The results demonstrate the RTF program is helping to reduce recidivism from 43 percent (the ADJC recidivism average) to 32 percent.
A separate report by the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Office released a 2010 report demonstrating the value of Release the Fear’s “Inside-Out Bridging Possibilities” workshops on 357 individuals in their juvenile population. The report said that 30 percent of incarcerated/detained youth recidivate. For the incarcerated youth who participated in one RTF workshop, that recidivism figure dropped to 23 percent. For those who were able to benefit from multiple workshops, it dropped to 16 percent – nearly half of their 30 percent average.
Another huge reason we do what we do is to continue to hear success stories such as these:

Qualitative Evidence: “I never thought that I’d come this far. I always thought that I’d be forever stuck in a downward spiral, trying to commit suicide, and being a brick wall. I finally came to Florence Crittenton, where I was helped by a Release the Fear program that helped me by showing me that I am much more than an individual. I am someone. I am great, powerful, loved, amazing, worthy, and a leader. I am me. And there’s so much more to me than just my past. I am very thankful for everyone that helped me get this far. I have spoken in front of more than 800 people, and told my story. I am grateful for all the things that I get to do. I am currently in 10th grade, and in a dual enrollment class getting 3 full college credits. I am planning on becoming a biophysicist. I plan on helping people, and I look forward to being the change I wish to see in the world.” Shelly – 17

Mission

MISSION STATEMENT:
To counter the effects of violence in our communities by turning fear, anger, and hate into acceptance and hope, by bridging endless possibilities through the creative process.