Delinquency prevention programs are designed to provide “one-stop shopping” with most of the basic services available at the site or at easily accessed locations. Program providers offer a mix of services aimed to address interpersonal and social skills, behavior modification, family intervention, and educational support. Core components of all programs include:

1. Academic Assistance
Delinquency prevention programs are designed to help youth succeed and advance educationally. Activities include: school attendance improvement efforts, literacy and math training, homework assistance, technology education, and related activities. These programs also offer individual and group supports to assist youth in the development of critical thinking. Most providers seek to foster mentoring relationships and assist family members to support their children in attending and succeeding in school. Programs also establish regular consultation with teachers and other relevant school personnel.

Participants who are not returning to “regular” schools are provided with or linked to appropriate education alternatives, including GED programs, apprenticeship training, referral to Twilight Schools, etc.

2. Counseling
Counseling services include one-on-one counseling by a Masters level counselor, on site or at a location convenient for the client, in addition to family counseling and home visitations. Counseling services are goal-directed and guided by a structured approach. Asset-based assessment and the identification of achievable treatment goals for youth and family are completed within the first 30 days of counseling and are regularly reviewed to ensure that goals remain well-aligned with the clients’ abilities and needs. Youth have daily contact with staff and the staff to client ratio is no higher than 1:12.

Programs also provide in-home family support focused on increasing family communication, decision-making, and functioning, as well as parenting education. Case management is available to refer the family to other community services when appropriate.

3. Community Service
In order to help youth develop an identification and bond with their community, delinquency prevention programs require participation community service activities. These programs are designed to help the youth redefine him/herself as a positive, creative and contributing member of the community; teach useful skills; bring youth into active and sustained contact with positive, supportive adults; and help the youth learn to analyze community problems and their solutions.

4. Physical and Behavioral Health Supports
Delinquency prevention programs also help to assure that physical health screenings, personal hygiene instruction, HIV/AIDS/STD education and screening, lead screenings, and mental health and substance abuse assessment and treatment are available to each participant directly or by referral.

5. Life skills, Job Readiness and Employment Training
Programs assist participants in improving their life skills, conflict resolution and mediation, and anger management skills through workforce experience, career development, workplace maturity training, vocational education, job readiness training, employment counseling, etc.

6. Other Elements
The majority of delinquency prevention providers also provide::
• cultural enrichment activities,
• law related education,
• victim and community awareness education, and
• physical activities.