In school suspension programs are provided to students who are actively truant or have discipline issues. Students remain in school and have the ability to complete schoolwork to receive credit. Components include academic enrichment, mentoring, life/social skills, and conflict resolution. The program increases overall school performance and building students academic achievement while decreasing school expulsions and dropout rates. In addition, specialized needs such as substance abuse, human sexuality, social development issues, problem solving and special interest areas are addressed.
Individuals have the opportunity to learn soft skills employability skills to develop job skills while provided with hands-on experience participating in workshops and field trips. Participants will learn resume writing, communication skills, money management and entrepreneurship skills.
Individuals participate in community service projects that include working with area block clubs, local government, recreation facilities, police precincts, and non-profit organizations. These projects stress leadership community building, and support.
Participants are assisted to successfully meet Common Core expectations. Sessions are held either in school or after school. Small class sizes increase participants opportunity to improve reading, writing, and math skills, improve test taking skills, and raise student achievement.
DCS implements this cost-effective, Best Practice curriculum in three main components—Structured Learning Training, which teaches social skills, Anger Control Training, which teaches youth a variety of ways to manage their anger, and Moral Education, which helps youth develop a higher level of moral reasoning. ART helps youth address and develop appropriate skills to deal with their aggression and develop age-appropriate skills. Individuals learn how to resolve conflict using without the use of violence and aggression.
DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES
Individuals are provided with opportunities to participate in a variety coordinated recreational and cultural activities. Activities include indoor & outdoor sports, martial arts, hip-hop and African dance, photography and media production, field trips and outdoor education explorations.
Life Skills teaches personal self-development, drug prevention, and prevention of violence and high-risk behaviors. The Botvin Life Skills Training program, a Best Practice Intervention, is used to conduct the sessions. This comprehensive and exciting program provides youth with the confidence and skills necessary to successfully handle challenging situations.
Individuals participating in a group or one-on-one mentoring sessions that emphasize positive development and enhance leadership skills. Our mentoring component adheres to research-based standards established by “Mentor Michigan” and the “4H-Mentoring National Council”. Sessions include building self-esteem, team building skills, critical thinking, conflict resolution, cultural awareness, and delinquency prevention. Individuals also have the opportunity to participate in community service projects.