DREAM is a program designed to provide select at-risk youth an alternative to court-ordered placement. It is a comprehensive program designed with a balanced approach to juvenile offender rehabilitation. The program will hold these youth accountable for their offenses, provide positive alternatives for participation, instill a positive work ethic and at the same time, protect the community at large. All participants enrolled in the program will be referred by the Juvenile Probation Office, and in special cases, the PAL staff. Placement in the DREAM Program is designed to last six months. In certain instances, shorter placement times can be arranged. Outstanding performance may also result in an early discharge.

Hours of Operation

The DREAM Program is held Monday through Friday

• Morning Session: 11:00am - 3:00pm
• Evening Session: 4:00pm - 7:00pm
• Saturday: As scheduled per special events

School Closings & Holidays

• When the Reading School District is closed for the day, DREAM program hours will be from 12:00pm - 4:00pm.
• During Christmas vacation and Spring Break, DREAM program hours will be from 12:00pm - 4:00pm.
• If a student is suspended from school, he/she is expected to attend both sessions of DREAM.

Transportation

The DREAM Program provides transportation to and from the program. The van will only pick up students at their home or school, and drop them off at home at the end of the program. Under no circumstances will the van driver drop students off anywhere else but at their home, unless a note is brought in by a parent asking to have their son/daughter dropped off at another location.

Dress Code

The following items are unsuitable to wear to the DREAM Program:

• Shirts with offensive images
• Anything that represents gang affiliation
• Short shorts and short skirts
• Shirts that leave midriffs exposed
• Low cut shirts
• Bandanas

If a program participant comes to program with any of these items he or she will be asked to remove them, or sent home to change. 

We recommend that sneakers be worn, because some community service activities take place outside.

DREAM Curriculum

Successful discharge from the DREAM Program depends on each individual's satisfactory completion of three components:

• Behavior modification
• Community service
• Education/Prevention

Students will be evaluated on their progress in each of these components monthly, and will be awarded a passing or failing grade according to their progress during each month. Students must pass each of the three components to receive a passing grade for the month.

The goal of the Behavior Modification component is to teach participants to become responsible and respectful members of society.

The Education component will consist of Prevention Education and Nontraditional Education/Tutoring. Students must pass both portions to pass the month.

Prevention components will be completed at the rate of approximately one per month. Students will be required to complete a minimum amount of lessons from each unit in order to pass the month.

Prevention Education Units are as follows:

• Conflict Resolution
• Computer Literacy
• Anger Management
• Drug and Alcohol Counseling
• Tobacco Labs
• STD Prevention

The number of non-traditional education lessons planned for the month will be established at the beginning of each month. Students will be required to satisfactorily complete a minimum number of lessons for that month to pass the month. Students that require tutoring will be excused from, and receive credit for, non-traditional education classes.

Students will be expected to complete at least 15 hours of community service per month to pass this component.

For more information about the Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading, click on the link below.

Olivet Boys & Girls Club