Interaction Inc

PROVIDE TRANSFORMATIVE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN WINDHAM COUNTY (VERMONT) COMMUNITIES. WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD RESILIENCE AND BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: BALANCED AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE (BARJ) PROGRAM WORKS WITH YOUTH AGES 10 THROUGH 22 WHO HAVE BEEN ADJUDICATED IN FAMILY COURT, ARE ON PROBATION, ARE AT RISK OF A TRUANCY FILING, OR REQUIRE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OR HAVE YOUTHFUL OFFENDER STATUS. BARJ SERVICES FOCUS ON RESTORATIVE INTERVENTIONS THAT REDUCE AND ELIMINATE FURTHER INVOLVEMENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO CHOOSE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS. LIFE SKILLS AND HEALTH EDUCATION: THE ORGANIZATION USES THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAM (PREP) CURRICULUM WITH HIGH-RISK YOUTH TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE-BASED, EFFECTIVE, AND COMPREHENSIVE SEXUALITY AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION. PREP CURRICULUM ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH TRAINING ON ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIFE SKILLS AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. THERAPEUTIC CASE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDES CROSS-SYSTEM CASE MANAGEMENT AND INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICE PLANS, ENSURING THAT YOUNG ADULTS ENGAGE IN THEIR OWN FUTURES. TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM (TLP) PROGRAM PROVIDES SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 16 TO 21. THE SERVICES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS MAKE A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO SELF- SUFFICIENT LIVING. YOUTH SERVICES PROVIDES YOUTH WITH STABLE, SAFE LIVING ACCOMMODATIONS AND SERVICES THAT HELP THEM DEVELOP SKILLS NECESSARY TO BECOME INDEPENDENT. TRANSITIONING FROM FOSTER CARE PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND INDEPENDENT LIVING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR YOUTH AGES 15 TO 22 WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN OR WERE FORMERLY IN FOSTER CARE. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO SUPPORTS LEADING TO EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND A NETWORK OF CARING ADULTS. CLINICAL SERVICES INCLUDE SUBSTANCE USE ASSESSMENTS, COUNSELING FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, INTERVENTION AND RECOVERY SERVICES; CLINICAL SUPPORT, SUPERVISION AND OVERSIGHT FOR ALL YOUTH SERVICES STAFF.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT: YOUTH-LED BUSINESS CONSISTS OF A YOUTH-LED BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS SCREEN PRINTING COMPANY, DEMOGRAPHIX, THAT PROMOTES JOB SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY PRODUCING PROMOTIONAL PRODUCTS ON FABRIC AND PAPER. YOUTH EMPLOYEES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INVOLVED IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE BUSINESS. BRATTLEBORO COMMUNITY JUSTICE CENTER AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE: CIRCLES OF SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY (COSA) GATHER THREE TO FOUR VOLUNTEERS AROUND A PERSON RECENTLY RELEASED FROM PRISON TO SUPPORT THEM IN THE CHALLENGING TRANSITION BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER INCARCERATION. THE PEER-LED COSA PROVIDES A WAY FOR FORMERLY INCARCERATED COSA PROGRAM GRADUATES TO GATHER WITH EACH OTHER FOR MUTUAL SUPPORT AND ACCOUNTABILITY. JUSTICE ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM RECEIVES REFERRALS BY THE POLICE OR STATE'S ATTORNEY FOR INCIDENTS SUCH AS NOISE VIOLATIONS, UNLAWFUL TRESPASS, UNLAWFUL MISCHIEF AND OTHER OFFENSES BEFORE SOMEONE IS CHARGED WITH A CRIME. REPARATIVE BOARD PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A GROUP OF FOUR TO FIVE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO MEET MONTHLY WITH THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED OR BEEN IMPACTED BY CRIMES SUCH AS RETAIL THEFT, LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT, OR DISORDERLY CONDUCT. INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED TO A REPARATIVE BOARD DIRECTLY FROM THE COURT OR AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION.

PREVENTION COALITIONS: YOUTH SERVICES, INC. COLLABORATES WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION INCLUDING BUILDING A POSITIVE COMMUNITY (BAPC), DEERFIELD VALLEY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP (DVCP) AND WEST RIVER VALLEY THRIVES (WRVT) TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO PROMOTE WELLNESS AND PREVENT THE USE OR MISUSE OF SUBSTANCES, PRIMARILY BY YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGHOUT WINDHAM COUNTY.

WINDHAM COUNTY COURT DIVERSION: ADULT AND JUVENILE COURT DIVERSION IS A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE APPROACH. IT IS A PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE ACTIONS THAT LED TO THEIR BEING CITED FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. ALL CASES ARE REFERRED BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY.