Cleveland's first Operation 2nd Chance program on Saturday, September 29, 2007 from 9 am to 4 pm at the Mt. Pleasant Boys and Girls Club, 3689 E. 131st Street, will be hosted by Ward 3 Councilman Zack Reed, in conjunction with the US Marshall's Office, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), the Mt. Pleasant Boys and Girls Club, the Learning Disabilities Association of Cuyahoga County, the 4th District Cleveland Police Department, Cleveland Municipal Court and the Mt. Pleasant Community.

This pilot program is geared toward assisting families with outstanding truancy and curfew warrants in obtaining support for children that may have learning disabilities. All families in the Mt. Pleasant area that have outstanding truancy and curfew warrants have been invited to participate this Saturday.  

The pilot program is being launched in response to evidence that there is a correlation between behavioral problems and learning disabilities.  By addressing issues related to learning disabilities, Operation 2nd Chance hopes to prevent some of these unfortunate children from going down the wrong path. 

"These are not just bad kids," said Councilman Reed.   "The goal of this program is to get kids in need assistance and put them on a positive course in their lives.   The result will be a safer and closer-knit Mt. Pleasant community."

Upon arrival, children will be screened for learning disabilities by CMSD professionals and families will have the opportunity to connect with professionals from the Learning Disabilities Association of Cuyahoga County.  Parents will also be required to attend a one hour parenting class and children will need to attend a Passport
to Manhood or Smart Moves session conducted by the Boys and Girls Club.

The Cleveland Municipal Court will eliminate warrants and fines for those that participate in the program.  Those families with children that are shown to have learning disabilities will be required to accept assistance by agreeing to a plan recommended by educators and to participate in the GREAT families program.   The Boys and Girls Club will provide free memberships and Mt. Pleasant community organizations will be on hand with information on youth and family programming in the neighborhood.