MENTOR OFFERS SUPPORT FOR TROUBLED TEENS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- At his weekly appearance in Juvenile Drug Treatment
Court, Chad Kenyon acknowledged smoking on the sly during a stressful day
trip home from a rehabilitation center. "I smoked a cigarette with one of
my friends," said the 14- year-old, bowing his head in a drab county
courtroom with fluorescent lighting. "I told staff and got frozen for it."

"I appreciate your honesty," responded Judge Anthony Sciolino, who mixes
chastisement with heaps of congeniality. "You know you're not perfect, but
you're back on track."

A half year later, in May, Chad completed a 10-month stint at Park Ridge
Chemical Dependency Adolescent Residence and moved back home. In August, he
took another big step by graduating from drug court. Everyone hopes he's
done with the criminal justice system.

Three painful years have passed as Chad has worked to dispel the curse of
his marijuana habit. During the last of those years, the polite youngster
with cropped hair and a droll sense of humor could count on someone outside
his family and rehab roommates for advice and friendship.

Dr. Jeff Alberts signed on last year with Compeer Inc., which enlists
volunteers to befriend people with psychiatric disorders. The group, based
in Rochester with satellites in 30 states, had just launched a pilot
program to match troubled teens with adult mentors.

Chad views Alberts, a 39-year-old pediatrician who specializes in
adolescent medicine, as a key prop in his recovery. He'll lean on him more
than ever as he edges away from a cadre of counselors and court officials
who have kept him under close watch.

Drug courts for adults flourished in the 1990s after years of
tough-on-crime measures pushed the nation's prison population toward 2
million and the government sought more creative and less costly ways of
dealing with nonviolent drug offenders.

The first drug court for juveniles was created in Las Vegas in March 1995.
Spurred by federal grants, 284 of them now operate and 110 more are
planned, in all 50 states.

The court in Rochester, New York's first when it opened in 2000, relies on
parents as well as therapists, caseworkers, schools and community groups to
steer youngsters back on track. It is the first in the nation to
systematically offer mentoring as an aid in recovery.

"There's the thought in the drug court movement that it's not programs that
influence people; it's people, relationships," Sciolino said. "We find that
where we're successful with youngsters turning their lives around, it's
because they've connected with a caring adult."

Alberts spends a few hours each week gently tugging Chad toward wholesome
pursuits.