About Us
Who Are We?
We are a 501c3 nonprofit organization focused on helping Omaha and metro area youth develop critical life skills and build a foundation for a positive transition to adulthood.
Our Goal
The goal of MAMA Reporting Services is to make long term changes in our communities by providing juveniles an environment of positive influence to become productive, contributing members of society. Our program offers additional hours of positive adult contact and supervision emphasizing development of life skills and not afforded opportunity to make poor decisions or be surrounded by people who do.
How We Do This?
Change the environment and you can change the child. We use our powerfully positive martial arts community to immerse area youth in a structured and discipline environment surrounded by positive peers and inspiring mentors. Martial Arts are a proven medium to provide purposeful intervention and constructive impact on our youth.
Why Martial Arts?
FACT: Youth do not resist change, they resist being changed
The MAMA program harbors mutual support, motivation and drive that naturally promotes a willingness to change for the better. Peer coercion is replaced with peer concern; antagonism and intimidation have do not exist in what is a helpful, positive culture. Peers and teammates have an obligation to help not hold back. The norm of adult absence and neglect is replaced with positive and supportive experiences.
FACT: The longer a student trains in martial arts, the less aggressive he/she becomes.
A paradox that most martial arts instructors know first-hand is the longer a student trains in martial arts, the less aggressive and deviant he or she becomes. This was the conclusion of a landmark study from Canada in the early 1980’s and has been supported ever since. Martial arts decrease such behavior because it builds a student’s self-control, self-assertiveness, self-esteem and self-confidence. These positive traits reduce violence and aggression. A follow on cross-sectional study found an inverse relationship between rank and aggression in students participating in the martial arts; suggesting a decrease in aggression can be attributed to training, not attrition. Supporting studies indicate martial arts practice reduce Type A patterns characterized by: hyper-alert, aggressive, explosive speech mannerisms, and hostile emotions. A threefold study further showed a decrease in aggressiveness and anxiety and an increase in self-esteem in youth identified as juvenile delinquents after just 6 months of martial arts training.
FACT: The benefits of martial arts go above and beyond traditional sports
There is no argument that traditional sports and team activities have a tremendous positive effect on youth. While martial arts have much in common with other sports (physical activity, physical fitness, skills acquisition, and social interaction) separation begins with emphasis on self-knowledge, self-awareness, self-improvement, and self-control. The involvement of philosophical and ethical teachings, ceremony and ritual, integration of mind and body, and meditative components provide additional avenues for individual growth and development.
FACT: Martial Arts have proven therapeutic for children with various disabilities
Numerous studies support the practice of martial arts as being beneficial for individuals with physical and psychological disabilities and ailments. In particular, youth diagnosed with ADHD, ADD have shown increased attention span, decreased distraction, development of motor and behavioral control, improved self-esteem, and an ability build positive peer relationships. Research also confirms more involvement, not less, in structured programs have a psychotherapeutic effect in helping children overcome personal struggles such as anger management, stress, depression, and self-expression. The dojo (training hall) becomes a safe haven detached from the daily world; it is an opportunity to focus on the individual, working through personal issues with others doing the same.
FACT: Martial Arts have shown therapeutically beneficial for those with traumatic experience
Several studies have found that women recovering from psycho-sexual abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse and growing up in dysfunctional families reported that martial arts training was helpful in their recovery with many cases achieving quicker results than verbal therapy alone.
Current Initiatives
R.A.W. D.A.W.G.S.
YOUTH CORPS GANG PREVENTION PROGRAM
This program is an incentive, military type program that offers positive alternatives to gang membership for boys 5 to 13. The RAW DAWGS was originally developed by Dr. Joseph Jennings whose first program was funded by President George Bush. Dr. Jennings provided Compassion In Action all the necessary material to establish his program in Omaha, NE in 2012. After CIA relocated to it's current location to expand services to people confined and facilitate the RAW DAWGS Program, Dr. Jennings passed October 7, 2013, but his legacy continues with us.
Juvenile Justice Center
The reporting center is available for juveniles who are involved in the juvenile court system to report for daily supervision. The staff and program are dedicated to working in professional, scalable, and individually tailored programs to provide youth an environment that is proactive, safe, caring and responsive.
DCYC - EPIC
The Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) Education Department currently offers three types of educational programming to meet the needs of a diverse population. It's EPIC (Encouraging Positive Intelligent Choices) evening program aims to facilitate positive and productive life choices.
You Turn
Creating opportunities for young people to break the cycle of violence and poverty so they can lead productive lives in our community.
We are focused on intervention and prevention strategies for adolescents and young adults, who are at risk for gangs, violence and activities that negatively impact their opportunity for success.
Board of Advisors
Aaron Cerrone - Director
Aaron is a 21 year military veteran and active reserve officer in the Air Force. He is a professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha teaching in the College of Business Administration. He holds a Masters Degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma and a LEAN Six Sigma Master Black Belt from Villanova University. Aaron brings career experience in data criteria development, data collection, metric analysis, evidence based decision making, and SOP development/implementation.
Edward Shobe
Ed is a Human Resources specialist and former director at Children’s Square USA where he oversaw youth programs, emergency services, runaway hotline, and youth shelter. His experience working directly with at-risk youth (something he continues) resonates through his martial arts instruction.
John Falewitch
John is a successful entrepreneur and owner/President of Falewitch Construction Services. He is regularly involved in various community service initiatives throughout Omaha and is an acting sponsor within the AA program.
Catherine "Cat" Hock
Bringing 10 years of overall counseling experience, Cat (MS, LIMHP, NCC) provides the program with accessible counseling for every student. As a Clinical Mental Health Counselor at Offutt AFB, Cat is embedded into high risk units to provide counseling for service members with high operations tempo and high stress careers. She is certified with the American Association of Suicidology as a Certified Crisis worker and has five years working as a Crisis on call clinician assessing and treating those at risk of suicidal, homicidal, or psychotic behaviors or ideations. Cat also worked in higher education as adjunct faculty at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and Colorado Technical University Online for five years.
Page Dalton
A career educator, Page is a social studies teacher at Harry A. Burke High School. Her success working with high school age youth and their daily struggles is confirmed on a daily basis and is widely considered one of Burke’s top teachers.
Matt Allen
Matt brings career experience working with at-risk area youth. His first-hand knowledge of the Nebraska Juvenile Probation Department and the Juvenile Court system affords invaluable and contextual insight for this program as well as helping youth and their families effectively navigate the system.