Diversion Programs
Community Attendance Assistance Panel
Truancy and chronic absenteeism is a major issue and can be a gateway to criminal activity. To address this issue PESA has created its Community Attendance Assistance Program (CAAP). CAAP utilizes a holistic approach to determine the root cause of absenteeism. Then, utilizing all of the programs and staff at PESA, the root cause is addressed. By utilizing a supportive approach rather than a punitive one, the needs of the youth are identified, and the youth is transformed into an energetic student willing to utilize education for them to obtain their personal goals.
PEER SOLUTION DIVERSION PROGRAM
The PESA “Peer Solution Diversion Program” is one of the most successful diversion programs in the State of California. The program utilizes Peers and Near Peers to encourage diverted youth to reflect on the actions that led to negative interactions with law enforcement. The goal is to transform the youth into individuals that aim to obtain their personal goals through legitimate means.
PESA’s transformative justice team then utilizes assessments to determine the root cause of the youth’s poor decision-making. Typically, PESA provides counseling to address these root causes and educational workshops that provide youth with the requisite tools to make good decisions.
In addition, PESA also assesses a youth’s strengths to determine what those strengths can be used for. The youth are then reconnected to the education system and given the necessary resources to succeed. PESA also assists in connecting them with internship opportunities. Data indicates that this program is highly successful, with an 8% recidivism rate. There is no question why parents, educators, and diverted youth praise the program as being the best.
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Stop Hate & Delinquency by
Empowering Students
The Stop Hate & Delinquency by Empowering Students (SHADES) program is the only diversion program specifically designed to address hate/bias/bullying conflicts and intolerance. Youth who are involved with incidents of hate and bullying towards the protected classes such as sexual orientation, gender, race, disability, and nationality are referred to the SHADES diversion program.
The peer jury who will assist the minor are trained by the Museum of Tolerance (MOT). The peers participating in the weeklong MOT intensive human relations program reside in all parts of Los Angeles County and have diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The aim of this training is to provide the peer jury with tools to help the minor understand that their conduct was insensitive and improper. Then, in addition to the transformative services PESA provides to all diverted youth, the SHADES diverted youth are mentored by an adult who is a member of the targeted class.
This program is effective in accomplishing its goal of preventing hate/bias crimes and incidents in a timely manner. It also cultivates awareness about hate/bias crimes and incidents within the community which leads to collaboration with community agencies to educate youth to combat hate/bias in their communities.