UNIVERSITY NEWS - JULY 2003

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168 or kmcgrath@fau.edu

Aftercare Program Created To Rehabilitate Offenders
FAU Administrator Is Founding Member of "I Know - I Can - I Will"

BOCA RATON, FL (July 28, 2003) - Susy Quiggle, director of Florida Atlantic University's Broward Computing Services, worked in conjunction with other community members through Leadership Broward to create a project named "I KNOW - I CAN - I WILL," that seeks to help with the rehabilitation process of those sent to the Broward County Sheriff's Office boot camp correctional facility. The program's primary goal is to support lives outside of "the system" by breaking the cycle of crime and incarceration.

"In creating the program, we consulted with nationally recognized experts from various relevant backgrounds, including law enforcement, academia, support programs, and ex-felons that had been repeat offenders," noted Quiggle. "It was our hope that the final result of this would be ex-boot campers providing mutual support for each other in the development of healthy relationships and patterns of choice that make them valuable contributors to society."

I KNOW - I CAN- I WILL is set up to address cognitive behaviors with the hope that those in the program will return to society with a different set of values and attitude. The program, which is anonymous and confidential, incorporates some of the best elements of the highly successful 12-step and 10-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous.

Highlights of the aftercare program include:

" Boot campers, whose average age is 22, begin enrollment into the program six-weeks prior to leaving boot camp and continue their participation in the program six-weeks after boot camp.
" After the primary enrollment period, the program becomes voluntary. Eventually, the aftercare program becomes self-perpetuating and led by former offenders.

I KNOW - I CAN - I WILL is coordinated in conjunction with the Broward County Sheriff's Office and Legal Aid Services of Broward County. Quiggle and fellow volunteers in this Leadership Broward Community Project earned a $1000 award for creation of the community project.

For more information on I KNOW - I CAN - I WILL, contact Susy Quiggle at 954-236-1205.
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