Juvenile Justice

Developing healthy, positive decision-making skills for a brighter future

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Juvenile Justice Services

Lakes Center’s Juvenile Justice Program works in partnership with parents, schools, and the justice system to develop healthy, positive decision-making skills and interrupt harmful behavior patterns.

Our staff helps youth who are involved in higher-risk behavior understand that they are responsible for the outcomes of their decisions and empower them to make better choices. By using programs designed to reduce problem behaviors, our intervention programs help individuals gain vital development skills that lead to healthier relationships, better decision making, and a deeper connectedness with family and community.

We believe the advice, guidance, and involvement of parents and guardians is essential for a youth’s success in life. Through parent/guardian involvement in this program, positive values are reinforced and integrated into daily life.

Program Options

Our Approach

Juvenile Justice is based on four restorative justice values:

  • Crime is a violation of people and relationships

  • Crime creates obligations to make things right

  • Justice involves the victim, offender, and community

  • Justice seeks solutions that promote repair, reconciliation, and reassurance

  • One hour intake appointment where the youth will be individually assessed using the MAYSI and YLS screening tools. The MAYSI is a brief screening instrument designed to identify potential mental health needs of adolescents. The YLS is designed to provide a preliminary estimate of the level of risk for antisocial behaviors as well as an indication of areas for intervention. The results of those tools, combined with an interview, are used to assign program components that are appropriate for the client. A parent/guardian also must attend. $35 fee.

  • A half an hour meeting discussing community work service options. (Parents/Guardians also must attend, $20 fee)

  • Individual programming is a great opportunity for youth to learn and be heard. Give us a call to learn more!

    • Twelve & Under Program: This individual program is recommended for participants 12 years old or younger. It consists of 3-5 one-hour sessions that includes discussion on decision making and learning skills to prevent further offenses. A parent/guardian is required to attend part of the session. $35 fee per session.

    • Reason Skills Program (RSP): 3-5 one-hour sessions, one-on-one skill building program that is cognitive skill based to help youth make better decisions. A parent/guardian is required to attend part of the session. $35 fee per session.

    • INDEPTH: Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco, and Health. 3-4 sessions based on the American Lung Association curriculum that help youth further explore how nicotine impacts their lives. This is recommended as an additional option for higher risk nicotine users. A parent/guardian may need to attend part of the sessions. $35 fee per session

    • Chemical Dependency Screen: a thirty-minute to one hour session to screen for chemical use to determine if additional services are needed, including an in depth Chemical Health Assessment/Rule 25. A parent/guardian is required to attend part of the session. $45 fee.

    • Teen Intervene: 3-6 sessions based on the Hazelden curriculum. This program is designed to help youth who are at risk for chemical abuse or dependency. Participants will examine their use and make goals for reducing or quitting. A parent/guardian may need to attend part of the sessions. $35 fee per session.

  • Lakes Center for Youth & Families offers three classes to assist youth.

    • Chemical Awareness Class: A three-hour long Alcohol and Substance use prevention class that will cover topics such as why teens use chemicals, how various chemical affect the teenage brain, the specific dangers various chemicals present, addiction, goal setting, and values. A parent/guardian is required to attend. $100 fee.

    • Choice & Consequences Class: A two hour long class that focuses on decision making for teens. Activities in class are aimed at teaching teens how to reframe problems to help lead them to better solutions and more positive outcomes. Youth also learn how to break down their potential solutions so they are more easily able to pick the best one. Identifying how our choices affect others is also part of the class as well as strengthening assets and goal setting. A parent/guardian is required to attend. $80 fee.

    • Tobacco/Nicotine Class: A one and a half hour long class that is a small group discussion where a facilitator helps teens look at their reasons for using nicotine products and then challenges those reasons while exploring the benefits of not using nicotine. $60 fee

Our Juvenile Justice Staff

  • Mike Walton

    Mike brings more than 20 years of experience in human services, including justice system services, case management, and facilitating anger management groups. Having worked with both youth and adults, he understands the importance of strong relationships in helping people move forward. At Lakes Center, Mike supports young people in taking responsibility, building skills, and working toward positive change while partnering with families throughout the process. He is also a proud father of three children.