Orchard Place, mental health experts for
Iowa’s children, is proud to announce the 6th month anniversary of
the PACE Positive Choices Group. Formed
earlier this year, the program is a collaboration between the Juvenile Court in
Polk, Dallas, and Warren Counties.
The Positive Choices Group is a 2 hour
program offered once a month to first offenders who have a disorderly conduct
or criminal mischief act they have committed at school, home or in the
community. The goal of the program is to
educate youth about the offence they have committed, the impact of the crime,
how that affects themselves and others, and alternatives to poor decisions that
have been made. It stresses
accountability, consequences of behaviors, underlying causes of delinquency and
helps juveniles make better choices in the future.
“The factors which enable children to end up
in the Juvenile Court System are well known,” said Mark Cowan, Vice President
of Orchard Place’s PACE Program. “Early
intervention has been proven critical to help at risk kids better understand the
seriousness of their offense, and help them make better decisions in the
future.”
First offenders are referred to the program
by the Juvenile Court System in each of the three counties. Parents report that this program has helped
their child better understand the seriousness of their actions.
Delinquency prevention efforts such as the
PACE Positive Choices Group seek to redirect youth who have committed a
delinquent offense from deeper involvement in the juvenile justice system. Juvenile Court Officers receive completed
journals and student paperwork and a discharge summary stating the dates
attended and completion of the program.
For more information about the Positive
Choice Program, contact the PACE Juvenile Center at 515-697-5700 or visit http://www.orchardplace.org/services-pace-juvenile-center
About Orchard Place:
Orchard Place is the oldest locally-based
charity in Des Moines providing mental health treatment and expertise for
Iowa’s kids. Our inpatient, outpatient
and community program serves nearly 8,000 children from birth to age 22
annually. Four operating divisions work
under the Orchard Place umbrella of services:
Child Guidance Center, Orchard Place Campus, PACE Juvenile Center and
the Integrated Health Program. More
information can be found at www.orchardplace.org