The Council

The Council is designed in the evidence-based principles of Motivational Interviewing and Strengths-Based approaches that target resiliency and protective factors, in addition to stimulating critical thinking and moral reasoning through experiential activities and guided discussions. The Strengths-Based approach is recognized for its effectiveness in engaging school-aged youth. The Council focuses on being responsive to adolescent male development from a holistic perspective which takes into consideration the effects of trauma and violence, and on a boy’s culture and environment by establishing a safe group experience that fosters social-emotional development and empathy (being a primary and essential social skill) while holding youth accountable and responsible for their behavior and choices. The program's client-centered and male responsive approach is highly structured and challenges young men’s thinking and behavior. Additionally, it stimulates emotion management in a supportive way that establishes healthy and caring relationships with peers and adults and re-connects them to society in a pro-social capacity with the primary goal being a successful community re-entry from correctional settings.

Accepted to the Portfolio: August 2015