A Youth Anger Management Program

Smart Choices is a research-based program provided in cooperation with The Family Institute at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Participants are taught the skills to resolve conflict, manage anger, and develop alternatives to a potentially vicious cycle of violent behavior.

The program is family centered, with an approach requiring a strong commitment from the school, the family and the student.  Smart Choices is not limited to school based referrals and welcomes the opportunity to work with youth showing early signs of anger management problems or the potential for violent behavior.

What is Smart Choices

Smart Choices is a four session workshop facilitated by qualified counselors designed for middle school and high school-aged students.  It covers:

• Understanding the nature of conflict
• Examining one's emotions and anger response patterns
• Learning the elements of effective communication
• Tools for successful conflict resolution

How it Works

When a student has exhibited acts of aggression against other students, or has been suspended from school for an act of physical violence, the parents and school staff meet to discuss the incident and its consequences.

At that time the family is offered the opportunity to reduce the student's suspension by enrolling in the Smart Choices program.  If they accept this alternative and complete the program, the student will be allowed to return to the school after serving the reduced suspension.  If the family fails to complete the program, the balance of the suspension must be served.

Program Details

Each of the four sessions is 1.5 hours.  Dates and times are scheduled upon request to quickly meet the needs of your family.  The cost per family for the four-session program is $200.00, and scholarships are available for those families unable to budget for this service.

Comments from recent Customer Surveys:

This is a program that several parents have agreed has been helpful in meeting their families' needs, and they have stated that they would recommend this program to other families.