Balanced and Restorative Justice dictates that we provide opportunities for residents to belong, contribute, form close relationships, make meaningful choices, develop transferable skills and mentor others while avoiding harmful behavior. To allow them to practice and demonstrate competency, our programs need to provide meaningful community roles for residents that allow them to contribute to the well being of others. There is strong emphasis placed on determining and building on the strengths of individual residents. This approach sees residents as individuals who lack full development of certain basic competencies that allow them to be a productive law-abiding member of society. A thorough assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of every student should result in an Intervention Plan that is highly specific to the individual student.
Community service allows residents to learn new skills and work habits.
Victim offender mediation and conflict resolution teach personal and communications skills as well as insight about conflict management. Victim awareness groups or counseling will increase empathy and interpersonal skills. Regardless of the specific competencies needed by any individual resident, it is critical that the program and Intervention Plan provide opportunities and the expectation that resident's practice and demonstrate the competencies acquired. Competencies are best developed when the resident has the opportunity to become a provider of a service to members of the community, not just a consumer of services. Residents who have completed their GED can tutor others who need academic assistance.