Diversion to Assets Program
Connecting youth offenders to positive opportunities that utilize their strengths, develop their social skills, and build meaningful relationships with the local community
Diversion to Assets promotes healthy youth development and enhanced community partnerships resulting in fewer repeat offenders. The program is open to youth ages 9 to 17 residing in Androscoggin County who have been charged with a non-violent first offense.
Police, Juvenile Community Corrections Officers and District Attorneys make the referral. Youth decide, in conjunction with parents and law enforcement, whether they wish to participate. If they do, parents and youth sign a consent form.
A Diversion to Assets Youth Specialist then coordinates a Program Team to make an assessment, develop an activity and a follow-through plan, which the Youth Specialist implements and follows through on.
The assessment aims to divert the youth’s asssets (strengths and skills) to the support of community-based programs and people. It holds youth accountable through:
- Strengths assessment
- Connecting them to caring adults and peers
- Assisting them in developing their assets through local opportunities
- Connecting them to mentors, after-school programs, community service, non-paid jobs and projects, restorative justice meetings, evidence-based curricula and other community-based learning experiences.
Diversion to Assets is designed by Communities for Children and Youth, the Maine Department of Corrections and THRIVE System of Care Initiative. It is supported by Maine’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
