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DIVERSION TO ASSETS. An Evidence Based Opportunity To create community supports for first-time youth offenders, diverting them away from the system and toward pro-social experiences. Boundaries and Expectations. Support. Empowerment. Constructive Use of Time. Commitment
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DIVERSION TO ASSETS An Evidence Based Opportunity To create community supports for first-time youth offenders, diverting them away from the system and toward pro-social experiences
Boundaries and Expectations Support Empowerment Constructive Use of Time Commitment to Learning Social Competencies Positive Values Positive Identity
Diversion to Assets Overview • Diverts youth age 9-18 to mentoring, community service, restorative justice, after-school programs, evidence-based curriculums, or other community-based learning experiences • Program time varies from 3 weeks to 3 months • Holds youth accountable to caring adults in the larger community • Holds youth accountable to develop their assets and make a restorative, positive contribution to their community
Diversion to Assets Target Population Low-risk youth who commit a chargeable offense in school or in the community • Examples • Theft • Criminal mischief • Substance abuse • Assault
Diversion to Assets The Process Local Police, School Resource Officers or JCCOs refer the youth directly to the local D2A Coordinator—located in at the South End Teen Center.
Diversion to Assets • The D2A Coordinator administers the Developmental Asset Profile (DAP)-- depending on the situation, may also administer the JASAE or a Career Exploration Assessment • Together with the youth and their family, the D2A Coordinator creates several interventions that will build the strengths of this young person • The DAP is administered at the end of the intervention to determine whether or not the youth has increased his or her assets
Diversion to Assets Actual Interventions • Substance abuse counseling • Youth empowerment activities • Recreation • Parent education • Teen parent education • *Community service (volunteer internships) • Mentoring • Restorative justice • Mental health counseling
Diversion to Assets Process of Volunteer Internship Placement • Utilizing the DAP, Career Interest Survey and Sparks survey we determine youth’s area of interests and assets. • Identify potential youth friendly businesses to host youth for 8 week volunteer internship. Key is to match business and youth based on youth survey results. • What can business expect?
Diversion to Assets Waterville’s Story: Since beginning in June 2008 27 referrals –of which have completed 23 the program successfully Of those 23 only 2 have re-offended That is a 85% success rate (of the 4 that did not complete the program 2 were determined inappropriate and 2 re-offended before beginning program
Diversion to Assets Results 75% of participating youth showed an improvement in their Developmental Asset Profile scores— internal assets revealed the most statistically significant change
For more information Nancy Souza 313-0704 nancyd2a@yahoo.com Nancy Findlan GWC4CY 859-9840 nancy@gwc4cy.org