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effectively with stressors and/or improve their functioning in all settings by changing the way they

think about life and their circumstances. Future Leaders is a leadership and life skills development

program designed to enhance the lives of teens through education, mentoring, college preparation

and career identification. Students are provided skills and techniques to better understand their

learning styles, improve their academic achievements, and develop confidence in their ability to

excel. Prevention is taught by the police department’s SROs, Diversion Staff, and Prevention

Specialists. The program provides two hours of programming designed to identify who youth are –

and who they would like to become – for youth ages 6-11 and their parents/guardians. The

county’s Teen Court is an alternative justice system for youth with no previous convictions

between the ages of 12-17; it emphasizes accountability, positive peer influence, and youth

empowerment and involvement. Teen Court requires that youth admit guilt, have their case heard

by their peers, perform jury duty, complete community service hours, and render any additional

sanctions assigned by their jurors. Urban Thoughts is a conflict resolution series that focuses

attention on clients’ perception of self, community, and environment to empower youth on issues

that affect positive growth at the individual and community levels. Youth Development Initiatives

was discontinued as a service provider in 2015; however, the program provided services to increase

school retention and community service and to develop job-readiness skills.

After youth complete the intervention program services, they are required to make four

face-to-face contacts at school with their assigned School Resource Officer (SRO) over the next

four school quarters. The SROs are instructed to explore the following topics during their

conversations with diverted youth: 1) How was your diversion experience? 2) Are you having or

have you had any issues or concerns you would like to share? 3) If you have any questions or need

advice, feel free to ask me anything. The SRO contact component of the Youth Diversion Program

was added in 2016.

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