Community Supervision of Youth

Participants in Orion's PASS program (Positive Accountability, Supervision and Support) are typically not thrilled about participating in this program but have been directed to do so by the court and the county human services system. Regardless of the attitudes, our intention is to engage the youth in a constructive and respectful relationship. We hope that the participant and their family will be open to the possibility that this program may be beneficial to them, and that they may need to consider making some changes in their lives.

Expectations

The issue of supervision is taken very seriously and it is expected that the participant will be accountable for efforts aimed at addressing difficulty issues, becoming involved in constructive activities, and making choices that reflect a desire to maintain positive relationships with others and staying out of trouble. A plan that identifies key rules and activities that will help provide a framework for making progress will be developed with the participant. The role of the staff member is often looked at as a combination of those of a police officer, an advisor, and a helper. Like a police officer, staff will hold the participant accountable for doing the right thing. As an advisor, staff provides recommendations of things to do and ways to go about doing them. Finally, staff will act as a helper by assisting in any way feasible to ensure the success of the participant.

Confidentiality

Orion staff work closely with County Human Services staff to establish the overall plan of supervision; however, information provided will remain confidential unless it has direct bearing on the need for supervision or relates to a situation that may result in harm to the participant or another person. If a staff member believes personal information disclosed to them should be brought to the attention of County staff, the issue will be discussed with the participant first.

Completion of Program

Goals and expectations are reviewed frequently with the participant. Upon completion of the program, the participant should be able to identify strategies that will allow him/her to continue working towards self-improvement. Another goal of the program is that the participant will be able to go about their business without outside supervision.

Independent Living Skills for Adolescents

The Independent Living Skills program provided by Orion Family Services is designed to teach and enhance a variety of living skills. The ultimate goal is to help an adolescent become self-sufficient. The program emphasizes interdependence, the ability to live harmoniously with others. Interdependence is a higher skill because it requires cooperation, compromise, assertiveness, confrontations, negotiations, and sharing.

Independent living skills can range from the obvious skills of opening and maintaining and a checking account, apartment hunting, and doing laundry, to the more complex skills of problem solving, career development, and personal relationships. We believe that the best way to learn is through doing. As much of the skill training as possible takes place in the community. If you want to learn about banking, talk to someone at the bank. If you want to learn about finding an apartment and signing a lease, talk to a landlord. We try to create learning situations that are the "real thing".

Each participant completes a short survey that helps identify their independent living needs and a plan of action. In addition, each adolescent identifies areas of living that are important to them, such as finding employment or pursuing higher education. Staff will meet with participants weekly, or more often if necessary. This is a voluntary program and will succeed only if the participant is interested in gaining additional skills and receiving assistance to meet their goals.

The staff at Orion will work closely with County social workers to inform them of a participant's level of involvement or to help secure resources that might be helpful in achieving goals. Personal details disclosed during the course of this program are kept confidential, unless the participant grants permission for the sharing of information. Questions regarding confidentiality can be addressed with staff at any time.