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Army Veteran Gives Guidance To At-Risk Youth

Pictured, from left, are Daniel A., Stephanie R., Joshua Cosme, Billy Torres, of G.A. Family Services; Jouseph V., Brady M., and Deborah Hassan, of G.A. Family Services. P-J photo by A.J. Rao

Pictured, from left, are Daniel A., Stephanie R., Joshua Cosme, Billy Torres, of G.A. Family Services; Jouseph V., Brady M., and Deborah Hassan, of G.A. Family Services.
P-J photo by A.J. Rao

Being considered an “at-risk youth” is not a recipe for hopelessness. Rather, with guidance, direction and a little hard work, anything is possible.

So believes Dunkirk native and U.S. Army veteran Joshua Cosme, who recently met with a group of teenagers enrolled in the Accountability and Responsibility Program of G.A. Family Services.

The program, which admits up to 10 teenagers, ages 13-18, per cycle, is typically composed of youth who have been referred by a juvenile probation officer or the Department of Social Services Child Services.

“Most of these kids are in a really tough spot and have gone through some kind of trauma,” said Billy Torres, of G.A. Family Services. “We try to relieve that stress and put a smile on their faces … and get their confidence and self-esteem up.”

Part of this includes exposing them to positive role models like Cosme.

Meeting at Honest John’s Restaurant and Pizzeria on Monday, Cosme shared his life story with the group–a story, he said, that may not be too different from their own.

“I grew up in a bad situation kind of like them,” he said. “I wasn’t the greatest student. My father wasn’t around, he was in prison my whole life. I grew up in a single-parent household with not much money.”

Joining the U.S. Army and serving the country for eight years, including a tour of duty in Iraq, Cosme relied on the military’s support system to guide him through tough times.

Now, with an upcoming graduation from Jamestown Business College, Cosme said his life has turned around.

“Everything is going very well in my life and I wanted to get that message across to these kids,” Cosme said. “They can’t give up hope.”

The Accountability and Responsibility Program of G.A. Family Services engaged youth in community service activities, stressing the importance of education and helping them communicate effectively and cope with conflict.

In addition to everyday life skills, the Accountability and Responsibility Program exposes its young people to potential career paths.

For more information on G.A. Family Services and the Accountability and Responsibility Program, visit www.gafamilyservices.net.

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