Upswing

The purpose of the Upswing Program is to provide youth and their families with an avenue for resolving problems they may be having before the situation reaches the state where court involvement would be necessary.

Upswing is a secondary prevention program designed to assist youth and their families in resolving problems which have gone beyond the families' capabilities of managing alone.

It is completely voluntary and, in order to be sucessful, must have the complete cooperation of both child and the family. This program is offered at no charge to the family.

• It provides families in need with access to community services
• It provides advocacy for at-risk youth and their families
• It provides assessment services to families and youth
• It provides short-term and support counseling
• It provides crisis intervention
• It provides alcohol and other drug education and assessment, as well as early intervention
• It provides families help in identifying and assessing the services most appropriate to their needs
• It provides a liaison between the family, the schools and involved support acencies
• It provides referral to long-term support agencies
• It teaches decision-making skills and communication skills to youth and families
• It provides an avenue for holding youth accountable for their behavior and empowering them to make changes in their own lives

This is a voluntary program. Referrals are accepted from the family, the school, the police or other community agences.

Upswing serves children ages 6-17.

The eligibility guidelines listed below are guidelines only; each case will be decided upon individually.

Criteria For Eligibility:

• Truancy
• Running away
• Not following the reasonable rules of parents
• Experiencing consistent problems in school (cutting class, not doing homework, talking back to staff)
• Early signs of alcohol and/or other drug use

Criteria for Ineligibility:

• Fire starting
• Involvement with weapons
• History of violent behavior
• Alcohol and other drug use that has resulted in severe social, family or legal problems
• Self-mutilation and other self-destructive behavior which are actively dangerous to self
• Court involvement:
• Juveniles with a current or past CHINS petition or for whom a CHINS petition has been filed and court action is pending
• Juveniles for whom a CHINS petition would be more appropriate
• Youths currently in Court Diversion
• Adjudicated youths with current or past delinquincy convictions
• Current or pending abuse and neglect

Once a referral is received, the family will go through an in-depth intake and assessment process. Information will be gathered from the youth, the family, the school and other involved agencies. Once it has been established that the Upswing Program Counselor to develop a list of goals and objectives. The Upswing Counselor will then work intensively with the family for a period of three months in order to reach these goals. At the end of that time, a re-evaluation process will occur and one of two things will happen. Either the family will be making progress, in which case the Upswing Counselor will begin to disengage, or the family will be making little or no progress, in which case more indepth measures will be recommended.

The purpose for which the Youth Services Bureau was established is to provide programs and services aimed at preventing juvenile delingquency and empowering youth. Programs and services will emphasize accountability, education, decision-making skills and self-esteem development in a positive, non-judgemental and confidential atmosphere. Programs and services will be cost-effective and focus on reducing or preventing court intervention and placements. The Youth Services Bureau will promote, maintain, and develop relationships with cities and towns within Belknap County and will work effectively and professionally with outside agencies and volunteers. The Youth Services Bureau is committed to being an advocate for today's youth and seeks to improve the quality of life of children and youth-at-risk in the Lakes Region.

• Youth Services Bureau (Main Page)
• Juvenile Court Diversion
• Challenge Course
• Out of School Suspension Program
• Teen Court