A Dream Comes True

Since 1998 I've had a dream to work with juveniles with the use of Handwriting Formation Therapy (HFT).  I’m working with the juvenile probationers in several Texas counties using HFT with the goal of reducing the current 69-80% recidivism rate.  The Texas Government is very supportive of this because it costs pennies compared to the typically unsuccessful programs they currently use. The juveniles who will be part of the program's trial run will receive the therapy for a minimum of six months.  My team and I will continue to track the success of these juveniles for the following year.

Our goal is to 'reach' the juveniles early enough to turn their behavior around before it becomes a repetitive issue.  HFT serves to change people's behavior patterns by training them to write in a different way.  My preferred description is 'behavioral modification on a neurological level'.

The Birth of HFT begins with Teenage Terrors

While working at a juvenile agency in 1998, I realized that the traditional methods were just not working with these kids. I also noticed that their behavior changed after their appointments with the traditional psychologists.  I conducted my own research and identified disturbing

'red flags' of writing styles that were directly related to the individuals’ potential toward acts of violence.  This is why I wrote Teenage Terror - the Personality Behind the Pen.  It was after this research that I had the idea about this pilot program.

During this program, I will not have direct contact with, or have any identifying information about the offenders; probation officers will serve as my link to them.  After I receive a handwriting sample from each juvenile, I will provide both a profile and personalized alphabet to the offender's probation officer.  This personalized alphabet includes, but is not limited to, different shapes, sizes, zones and pressure of letters, spacing between words and a change of baseline. The probation officer then shares the alphabet with the juvenile and ensures that he or she is practicing their new writing technique on a daily basis.  By writing this way, for a minimum of 15 minutes per day and a minimum of six months, the individual should successfully drop the "criminalistic" traits and pick up more productive ones such as manual / technical skills, or the liking of sports or literary arts.

During the program, I will review the juveniles' work weekly for the first two months, every other week for the next two months and every three weeks for the last two months.  I will then provide them with another profile and a 'compare and contrast' report to see the differences. By then these young offenders will have made some progress in a positive direction and away from their criminal traits and find more productive interests.  

It is one thing for the majority of the members of society to say, "Something should be done" but.... as a society we can no longer afford to wait until disasters occur.  Instead we need to not only think but, more importantly, act proactively to help today's children.

For more information check out the book nook.