Dayton Police Department unveil new youth initiative to cope with post-traumatic stress

Outdoor Youth Adventures is offering an eight-week summer program for young people coping with anxiety or stress disorders.

>> WATCH: Highland Park parade shooting: Shooting was preplanned for weeks, police say

Maj. Brian Johns, Dayton Police Officer, developed the pilot program to encourage discussion between peers who share common experiences. Program members are also able to develop relations with DPD personnel and other potential mentors.

Johns witnessed the need for change during some of his experiences as a DPD officer.

“One of my daily duties is to supervise the Violent Crimes Bureau of the Dayton Police Department which investigates such tragic crimes as murder, sexual assault, child abuse/neglect and others,” Johns said. “In many of these cases there are young people who have been victimized or experience the loss of one or both parents to violent crime or overdose.”

Johns also drew inspiration from his own life to take action against these complicated issues.

“As a young person growing up in Dayton, I too was personally impacted by violent crime. It was far from easy to deal with, but fishing in the river Downtown and doing other outdoor activities with my grandpa helped me through it,” Johns said. “I started this program in an effort to provide young people today experiencing tough times the same opportunity given to me.”

Outdoor Youth Adventures has booked every slot for this summer, but DPD plans to bring continue the program next year. Youngsters looking to join may contact Maj. Johns for application information.

Community partner organizations have contributed to the project by donating food and supplies to the group participants, and include the City of Dayton, Miami Valley CrimeStoppers, CODE Credit Union, Evans Bakery, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Dayton FOP Lodge #44, Shoes for the Shoeless, Five Rivers MetroParks, Attorney Jenifer Petrella, Kroger, Mrs. Carol Rountree, Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association and more.

©2022 Cox Media Group