Thrive

Thrive is an early intervention, in-home program designed to support children who may have current or previous involvement with juvenile justice systems and their families.

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

Thrive intervenes at the critical point when a child may have had a first experience with the juvenile justice system. It helps children and families work through challenges together, focusing on strengthening communication, solving problems and helping children succeed at home, in school and in the community.

The goal is to help youth avoid further juvenile justice involvement through in-home, family-based services that incorporate evidence-based interventions. Specialists help families navigate concerns, such as school absences, missed appointments, communication challenges and family stress.

The program utilizes evidence-based Collaborative Problem Solving and Motivational Interviewing models to address the underlying causes for negative behaviors and provide motivation for change.

Focusing on systemic issues and engaging parents and caregivers, Thrive provides trauma-informed care that builds resiliency in youth who may encounter the juvenile justice system and who have a higher prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Thrive’s holistic approach directly addresses multiple drivers for behavior to promote positive long-term outcomes, safely preventing a child’s need for out-of-home help.

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Who can benefit from Thrive?

Thrive is appropriate for children who may have previous or current juvenile justice involvement and their families.

Their issues may involve:

  • A few encounters with the juvenile justice system
  • Lower-level juvenile offenses
  • Minimal risk for removal from the home/entry into state custody
  • Low-to-moderate risk behaviors
  • Parents or caregivers who agree to participate in services

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

  • On-call 24/7; low caseloads of eight to 10 families per specialist
  • Substance abuse, trauma and safety/risk assessments
  • In-home service model, family-based approach
  • Regular communication with the court regarding case progress
  • Coordination with other services, such as outpatient therapy, as indicated
  • Safety planning, including assistance creating and enforcing curfews
  • Monitoring rules/regulations established by court
  • Attending court hearings with youth/family
  • Monitoring and encouraging school attendance
  • Promoting academic success
  • Monitoring completion and engagement with community service
  • Compliance with mental health appointments
  • Classes to teach parents how to implement

COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING

Collaborative Problem Solving is an evidence- and strength-based, neurobiologically grounded approach that provides concrete guideposts for trauma-informed care and empowers youth and family voice. It targets risk factors and prevents and mitigates Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by building and sustaining the following protective/resiliency factors:

  • Healthy youth/caregiver relationships
  • Substance abuse, trauma and safety/risk assessments
  • Communication skills
  • Emotion regulation skills (thinking rationally when frustrated, managing difficult emotions age-appropriately)
  • Self-regulation skills (impulse control, self-soothing)
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Social skills
  • Empathy/perspective-taking skills

MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication with particular attention to the language of change.  It is designed to strengthen personal motivation for and commitment to a specific goal by eliciting and exploring the person’s own reasons for change within an atmosphere of acceptance and compassion.