HISTORY

OPTIONS  was established in 1994 to serve local juvenile offenders of a serious and chronic nature. In 2007, OPTIONS began services to reduce the risk of youth getting into trouble at home, with the legal system, in school or with the use of illegal substances, and to encourage them to become productive, respectful, and responsible members of the community. Initially, a risk needs assessment is administered to youth referred to OPTIONS.

Youth Assessment & screening Instrument-YASI

Identifies risk and protective factors in 10 domains of a youth's life: family, school, community/peer, alcohol/drugs, mental health, aggression, violence, attitude, skills, employment/free time. The protective factors or strengths are characteristics likely to help reduce the impact of risk factors. Youth with moderate to high risk levels can be referred to programs at OPTIONS or another local agency for services designed to reduce identified risk levels.

Programs

The programs at OPTIONS are evidence-based and use evidence-based practices that are proven to be effective in producing positive results. Pre-post evaluations are administered to ensure youth involved in the various programs are gaining skills that will help lower their risk levels. All services at OPTIONS are offered at no charge to residents of Culpeper county. currently, OPTIONS offers:

• THINKING FOR a CHANGE (T4C)
  A program that attempts to increase a youth's social awareness and problem solving abilities. It encourages youth to take control of their life by taking control of their thinking.


• VOICES
  Program is designed to encourage girls to seek and celebrate their “true selves” by providing safe space, encouragement, structure, and the support they need to embrace their journeys of self-discovery.


• PRE-TRUANCY
  Program is designed to increase attendance, increase academic success, increase parental accountability, and to enhance a positive attitude towards school.


• SUBSTANCE ABUSE Program
  
    * MARIJUANA BRIEF INTERVENTION #1 – 1-2 session format designed for 1st time low level users. The program incorporates motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral methods that assist them in making a well informed choice not to use again.
  
    * MARIJUANA BRIEF INTERVENTION #2 – 6-8 substance abuse group sessions that provides information to help people manage, reduce, or stop their marijuana use. It assists young marijuana users in changing their patterns of use so that they are able to stop.


• LOVE & LOGIC PARENTING Program is designed to teach parents how to raise children that are self-confident, motivated, and ready for the real world. It will teach skills parents can immediately utilize, provide encouragement and determination to challenge their children in solving their own problems.

Community Service Program

Work that is performed for the benefit of the community through a non-profit organization(s) that help teach youth social skills, problem solving skills, labor skills, and how to give back to the community in a voluntarily or unpaid effort. Options Staff supervises youth (directly or through worksite supervisors) who have been required to complete it by the local referral source or by parents, especially during the time their child may be suspended from school. community service work is completed during non-school hours, weekend, and summer hours. Some of the activities OPTIONS supervises for community service are:

• Candle Light Vigil
• Century Cycle
• Culpeper Air Fest
• Culpeper Farm Tour
• Culpeper Fest
• Frisbee Golf Course
• Culpeper Little League
• Senior (Elderly) Prom
• Soap Box Derby
• Therapeutic Garden