-
EligibilityYouth, ages 12 through 18, from the towns of Atkinson, Danville, Hampstead, Kingston, Newton, Plaistow and Salem are eligible for our diversion programs. They can refer themselves or be referred by others, including schools, counselors, parents, police, courts or others.
-
Course StructureOur educational courses are strictly confidential and include structured curriculum, guest speakers, individual exercises and group work. Each session usually has between eight to ten youth in attendance and is facilitated by two experienced Family Mediation & Juvenile Services facilitators.
Parent-Child MediationFamilies in conflict work with two trained volunteer mediators in a neutral setting to identify underlying issues associated with their problems. The mediators help each family member voice concerns, clarify ways the situation could change, and establish a sense of equality. Families strengthen their communication and conflict resolution skills while gaining insight into each other's needs.
Objective: Assist families in solving their own conflicts.
Peer MediationConflict resolution skills are an important component in adolescent development. Therefore, the agency supports local schools in developing and training peer mediators. This 14-hour training, targeted to elementary, middle, and high school students, reviews positive ways to resolve conflicts and teaches youth improved communication skills. Once students and teachers are trained, the students then provide mediation for their peers in a structured and supervised setting.
Objective: Empower students to take responsibility for their own conflicts with other students and encourage them to resolve the conflict before it escalates to a point where teachers must intervene or violence may occur.
Back to top ^
**Substance Abuse Awareness (Challenge Course)Youth learn how alcohol and other drugs affect the body, the mind, and the family unit during this 14 hour course. Youth are guided through the process of evaluating the role of substances in their lives and learn healthy alternatives to using substances.
Objective: Assist youth in self-evaluation and to give the youth tools to make positive decisions concerning substance use.
Back to top ^
**Anger Management (Teens Learn Self-Control)During this 11-hour course teens explore anger and the role it plays in their lives, learn communication and conflict resolution skills and positive ways to express their emotions. Covers learned behavior, stressors, peer pressures and the underlying emotions surrounding the actions.
Objective: Assist youth in developing healthy coping mechanisms.
**The parent component of the Challenge and TLC programs emphasizes and expands on the youth curriculum and is a vital piece of these programs.
Back to top ^
**Parenting Support EducationThis course mirrors the youth’s Challenge and TLC curriculum with emphasis on parenting resources and communication skills. Additional topics include self-esteem - one’s own and their child’s, conflict resolution, responsive and active listening, and parental goals. The classes are held during the youth program’s timeframe, but at another location. We have found that the more parents become involved, knowledgeable and understanding of the issues with their youth, the more likely issues can be resolved in the best interests of all the members of the family.
Back to top ^
Stop Shoplifting Course (Stop Shoplifting-Teens Option Program)A seven-hour course designed specifically for youth who are caught shoplifting or stealing. The program focuses on the effects of stealing on both the individual and on society. Teens are encouraged to explore their own motivation for stealing while learning the risks involved with such an activity.
Objective: Assist youth in developing a personal strategy to stop shoplifting/stealing.
Back to top ^
Tobacco Education (Up In Smoke)A three-hour tobacco education program in which youth evaluate their tobacco use, examine the health, financial, and social risks of smoking and second-hand smoke.
Objective: Assist youth in self-evaluation and give youth the tools needed to quit.
Back to top ^
Community Service ProgramThis program provides an opportunity for youth to ‘work off’ their consequences while contributing to the community where the offense was committed. Youth are involved in activities, which are supervised by community volunteers. Positive reinforcement is gained for both the youth and the community, which can turn a negative incident into a positive life-changing experience.
Objective: Encourage accountability, responsibility, and community awareness.
Back to top ^
Restitution ProgramYouth who are required to pay monetarily for property damage are referred to this program. A payment plan is established, and once the sum is collected, the money is the forwarded to the victim. The victims are notified of the process ahead of time and are encouraged to call the agency with any questions.
Objective: Promote personal responsibility for their actions and to empower the victim.
Back to top ^
|
Polar Design