BIDDEFORD — Keeping youth who have committed crimes in their communities, near their support systems and community services, plays an important role in reducing repeat criminal activity by young people, according to an administrator with the Maine Department of Corrections.

That’s why opening a branch of LearningWorks at the J. Richard Martin Community Center is so important, said Daniel Harfoush, the regional correctional administrator with the DOC.

LearningWorks has provided a variety of services in Portland for more than 45 years. The organization has evolved over the years and currently provides learning opportunities to at-risk youth, the immigrant community and low-income families.

The Biddeford branch, which opened this week, is the first expansion of the agency.

It will focus on serving boys and young men involved in the Juvenile Justice System and youth who are at-risk of perpetrating violence, substance abuse and other risky behaviors. LearningWorks provides three types of programs, said Director of Community-based Youth Services Donna Mrowka.

There is the “Alternatives to Detention” program, which is an after-school program for youth who are involved in the Juvenile Justice System.

“It keeps them in a safe place where they’re not out causing trouble,” said Mrowka.

Youth activities range from creating art work, learning life skills and participating in community service projects.

“Back on Track” is a curricula-based, 17-session program in which young people learn skills about how to make better choices and how to manage anger.

There is also “Targeted Case Management,” in which case workers help youth who are diagnosed with behavioral health disorders. The program works with the child and his or her family to connect them with appropriate services.

Funding for the programs comes from both the Department of Corrections and MaineCare.

The center first opened on Monday and already there are 30 to 40 youth who will be receiving services at the Biddeford center, said Mrowka.

More referrals were received on Wednesday.

“I think it’s fantastic,” said Harfoush about the opening of the Biddeford location. “Recently we’ve discovered there’s a huge need in Biddeford.”

Incarcerating youth, and exposing them to more criminals, makes them more apt to commit more criminal activities, he said. Keeping youth in the juvenile justice system within their communities and connected with services like LearningWorks has helped drop the recidivism rate dramatically, said Harfoush, to the current level of about 30 percent.

“If we address the kids’ need,” said Harfoush, “we have a much better success rate.”

York County Probation Officer Kelli Roger agreed.

The DOC requested that LearningWorks open a Biddeford branch for their local clients, she said.

“To keep our clients in the community is our number one goal,” she said.

LearningWorks Executive Director Ethan Strimling credited Biddeford’s mayor with making the organization’s office at the community center possible. The city is providing the group with rent-free space.

Mayor Joanne Twomey said she was in favor of providing space for the groups because, “I could see there was a niche for this.”

She wanted the LearningWorks in the city, “Because we do have those kids in Biddeford who are just lost and need a little bit of help.

“It’s just priceless what you do,” she said about LearningWorks.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.