The History
In 2001, Rebound was founded to help repeat juvenile offenders improve their personal lives and become contributing members of society.
Judge Joseph Field of the West Bath District Court reported that the juveniles who appeared in front of him lacked the skills necessary to make appropriate decisions. In addition, he saw that many of these young adults were in need of a positive role model and mentor with whom they could discuss meaningful issues.
Juveniles sentenced to the program are some of the most at risk youth, but these young people presently have the fewest options available to them. Rebound provides a chance for juveniles with more than a minor involvement with the criminal justice system to turn their lives around.
Parole Officers and Judge Field continue to sentence approximately 40 repeat juvenile offenders to the Rebound program each year.
The Mission
Rebound assists repeat juvenile offenders in improving their personal lives and becoming contributing members of society, by fostering self-esteem, moral character, and self reliance.
The Curriculum
Rebound is a 12 week program that pairs teenaged participants with adults from the community for an hour and a half session each week. Each week there is a planned activity or discussion to address anger management, decision-making, effective communication, dispute resolution, and team building. Most weeks, the class is co-facilitated by a different presenter who has expertise in the particular subject area.
Guest facilitators have included:
A recovering drug addict and alcoholic to talk about making choices.
An artist to facilitate an activity in art therapy.
A family counselor to lead the group in “family sculpting”.
Planned Parenthood to talk about sexual choices, birth control and STD’s.
Forms: