New Directions is a 12-week pre-trial diversion program in partnership with Be More Positive Enterprises, Inc. This program is tailored for first-time juvenile offenders, with a focus on steering them toward positive life choices.

New Directions offers guidance and support, providing participants with the skills needed to succeed both personally and academically. By promoting accountability and community engagement, the program aims to reduce repeat offenses and empower our youth to become active, positive contributors to society.

The program utilizes the “I Have Willpower” curriculum, structured in four phases to guide students through a journey of self-awareness, growth, and future-oriented thinking. It addresses the underlying reasons for unhealthy decision-making and teaches youth to take accountability for their choices.

During this phase, focused on perspective, participants will:

• Analyze the concept of perception versus reality, emphasizing the difference between what participants think strength and control look like and the actual consequences of misrepresenting those qualities.

• Discuss how perceptions can lead to poor decisions and the importance of rethinking these perceptions.

• Learn how one bad decision can lead to a series of negative outcomes.

The goal of this phase is to foster personal responsibility and empower participants to make choices that benefit their lives. This is achieved by guiding them to:

• Take a deeper look at their own character and choices.

• Examine their lives and understand how their decisions impact not just themselves but also those around them.

In this phase, participants explore long-term thinking to understand the significance of their choices and the potential impact on their future. They will be equipped with the tools to take control of their futures, rather than allowing external forces, such as the legal system or government, to dictate their outcomes.

Participants prepare to exit the program, armed with the tools and mindset to carry forward their learning into everyday life. Key topics include:

• Building support networks.

• Setting goals for their future.