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A Better Way: Social Responsibility Therapy (SRT)

Overview

A Better Way was designed to teach social responsibly skills and anger and conflict management strategies to youth 12 – 18 years of age who are involved in the juvenile justice system.  Recently, we have opened our doors to service the Diversion Program and several schools within the Philadelphia region. 

Youth who are referred, are assigned to small groups, divided by age. Most trainings are conducted after-school and delivered by instructors who have been trained and certified in effective anger and conflict management.   Trainers facilitate from an Evidence Based Curriculum called Social Responsibility Therapy (SRT.)  This Evidence Based Curriculum utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as the primary agent of change and utilizes class dynamics to create a positive peer culture that supports each student to develop positive behavior and character. Additionally, A Better Way utilizes the Sanctuary Model of Trauma-Informed Care to help youth with issues of chronic adversity, loss and trauma.  An important component of the Sanctuary Model is the problem-solving framework of S.E.L.F., which stands for the four categories;  Safety, Emotions, Loss and Future. Each participant receives, and is responsible for completing a workbook entitled Power Source, created by the Lionheart Foundation.  The workbook serves as a tangible document that can be shown to probation officers/or Family Court judges to confirm the participants’ competency.  Upon successful completion of the training program, a certificate of competency in Social Responsibility Therapy is issued to each participant. 

Through group learning principles, positive face-to-face interactions, trust building exercises, role-playing and group discussions, participants will develop skills to help implement alternative ways of dealing with conflict and violence.  Participants will also examine the role conflict plays in their lives and the purpose it serves for them.  A Better Way will challenge the concept of conflict as a vehicle for anger and present it as a resource for change. 

History

The A Better Way Program started in July of 1999. The original concept was designed to serve 100 students per year, teaching youth conflict management strategies after school hours. The A Better Way Program initially only served youth who had been arrested for minor charges and who had assigned probation officers. Typically, there are ten 1.5 hour long sessions held at various community sites, providing youth with anger and conflict management life skills. Today, the Program continues to serve students throughout the area and the programming has been extended to offer its services to non-probationary youth and community schools.

Program Requirements

  • Youth do not have to be involved in the Juvenile Justice System
  • Referrals can be made by probation officers, Family Court, social service providers, teachers, parents or administrators of programs who also serve this population
  • Female and male youth 12-18 years old

222 N. 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone (215) 854-7057


bkennedy@chs-adphila.org
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Program Highlights:

The typical training program is designed as ten, 1 ½ hour sessions delivered twice weekly. Topics, lessons, discussions and trainings include, but are not limited to:

  • Defining and Understanding Anger and Conflict
  • Conflict Cycle: Escalation to De-escalation
  • Examining Core Family Beliefs and Values
  • Examining the Stages of Grief and Loss 
  • Understanding Trauma and how it Effects the Brain
  • Examining the Effects of Drugs and Alcohol
  • Problem Solving Skills
  • Displaying Skills in Effectively Resolving Conflicts
  • Understanding the Cycle of Risk
  • Taking Responsibility for Offending Behaviors

After successfully completing A Better Way, participants will:

  • Understand the causes of conflict and gain fundamental skills to effectively manage the anger/aggression that may occur because of it, thereby becoming less likely to resort to violence as a solution to conflicts.
  • Gain effective techniques to promote critical thinking and sound decision-making skills.
  • Avoid potentially anti-social situations and associate with more pro-social peer groups. 
  • Understand the Sanctuary Commitments and S.E.L.F. Model