S.T.E.P. Center

Strengthening Teens, Empowering Parents

The ST.E.P. Center provides evidence based curriculum to at-risk, court diverted, and court ordered youth in Randolph County, ages 6 to 17.

The curriculums that are provided are:

  • Aggression Replacement Training
  • Botvin Life Skills
  • Botvin Transitions
  • Strengthening Families
  • Steps To Success
  • Substance Abuse Prevention and Intervention
  • Mentoring

All programs are broken down to teach classes with youth of similar age. Transportation is provided to and from the program at no cost to the families. All programs run on rotation, so there will be minimum wait time before a participant can get started in the program.

Aggression Replacement Training (ART)

Aggression Replacement Training (ART) is a research-based, proven effective approach for working with youth who experience anger control issues, impulsive behavior, poor social skills, and those who lack emotional awareness. ART features 3 coordinated and integrated components: Social Skills Training, Anger Control, and Moral Reasoning. Appropriate referrals are both male and female students ages 10 to 17. Referrals are accepted from DJJ, DSS, School Administration, SROs and parents, community members, with priority given to DJJ clients.

Botvin Life Skills

Botvin Life Skills has elementary, middle and high school level life skill classes. Botvin Life Skills are proven to reduce the risk of substance abuse, and violence by targeting factors that reduce the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors in youths ages 7 to 17. The classes focus on personal management skills, general social skills, and drug resistance skills. Referrals are accepted from DJJ, DSS, School Administration, SROs, Parents, and community partners with priority given to DJJ clients.

Botvin Transitions

The Botvin Transitions is a highly interactive, social skill building program that provides an evidence based curriculum. Promotes positive health, personal development, guides students to achieve competency in skills that have been found to reduce and prevent substance use and violence in youth ages 14 to 17. Youth also learn how to build resumes, engage in interviews, learn living skills like money management, goal setting, banking, and much more!

Strengthening Families

Strengthening Families is an internationally recognized parenting and family strengthening program for high-risk and regular families. In this evidence based course, the following objectives are met; Decreased use and intention to use tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs. Decreased children’s behavior problems. Increased children’s social and life skills. Increased family cohesion, communication and organization. Increased family cohesion, communication and organization. Lowering of risk factors and increases in resilience, assets, and protective factors. Serves youth ages 7 to 17.

Steps To Success Program

Steps To Success Program is a Tutoring/Academic Enhancement class. This program provides juveniles assistance with understanding and completing schoolwork and/or classes or who may benefit from academic enhancement in school trips designed to be an enrichment of or supplemental experience beyond the basic education curriculum. It is also available to youth who need assistance prepping for the GED. The target population are youth ages 9 to 17. The goal of the program is to improve academic performance in you who are at risk or court involved to reduce involvement with the juvenile justice system.

Substance Abuse Assessments and Classes

Youth who are at risk, vulnerable or court involved may attend this substance use prevention/education course. Using an evidence based curriculum, youth learn about the dangers of risk taking and substances along with long term effects, and consequences. Substance Abuse Assessments may be conducted on youth with current substance abuse issues as well as Substance Use Treatment. Randolph County Juvenile Day Reporting Center is a licensed out-patient treatment facility for youth. Our services are free of charge and we do not bill insurance.

Mentoring

We use a hybrid mentoring model for youth ages 11-17 to promote positive behavioral, emotional, and academic outcomes. We use positive peer influence to accomplish a sense of belonging. One on one mentoring is provided when needed. Mentoring will operate on a flexible schedule to ensure youth receive at least 4 hours a week, for a minimum of 26 weeks. Mentoring will occur outside the school day, and possibly on weekends. Mentoring can include one on one sessions during the week and at the participants school and outside in the community.

Youth will engage in sessions of; 

  • School-Based Preparatory Experiences- youth will assist in developing an academic plan for themselves, and learn how to advocate for themselves in school and in furthering their schooling desires for college by locating relevant preparation courses. 
  • Career Preparation and Work-Based Learning Experiences- building positive attitudes, skills, and behaviors necessary to meet job expectations, careers, and vocational opportunities in the area. To include financial literacy education. 
  • Youth Development and Leadership- goal setting, positive attitudes by maintaining optimal physical and emotional well-being. Physical activities, meal planning, conflict resolution, identifying positive role models, promoting youth leadership opportunities in the community, pen pals with younger youth in schools becoming mentors themselves. 
  • Community Projects- engaging in community activities, promoting positive peer groups, and volunteering opportunities. Creating a knowledge of key community resources.