Program staff working in juvenile justice settings say their students now have a way to get help independently, privately, and when they need it, thanks to Ripple Effects' social learning software program, Ripple Effects for Teens. The result? Staff are able to reach more students, more effectively, and students are changing their behavior.

Staff at the Loudoun County Juvenile Detention Center, in Loudoun, Virginia, have been using Relate with teenage offenders for two years. Relate is an award-winning software program that presents strategies for improving behavior in an engaging, multimedia format that teens like and can identify with. Michelle Smith, a supervisor at the Center, feels that the independent nature of the software benefits both staff and students. "A student can jump on the computer and do the program virtually without assistance," explains Michelle, "so the learning is truly one they choose."

"It's easily geared for independent use," agrees Tom DeCaigny, Program Manager of the Robeson and Rivera Academy, an alternative school for first-time offenders based in San Francisco. Tom appreciates having an educational program that kids can work with on their own, since "it frees up staff to deal with multiple interventions at one time."

Working one-on-one with students, Loudoun County Transition Counselor Nina O'Connor feels Relate has a unique ability to reach kids on an intimate level. "Because it's private," explains Nina, "students are able to access guidance about sensitive issues without risking exposure in order to get information and help."

Nina also finds Relate a valuable resource for the staff of her Young Adults Program. "It gives information that we professionals may not know much about; issues that adolescents deal with on a regular basis. From that information, we are more knowledgeable about the kids' needs."

At Robeson and Rivera Academy, staff have made Relate a key part of in-school-suspension. "Students who had a lot of anger issues have used it in the ISS program. It initiates reflection and gets them thinking about what happened in a broader context. It also helps them to cool off after an incident," says Tom.

Nina's students use Relate during the last half hour of their school day. Students also seek it out on their own time. They work on accumulating points and mastering the seven keys--a systematic training program built into Relate that teaches seven key social-emotional skills, and includes trackable assessments that measure concept mastery of each skill component.

In addition to using it to respond to discipline problems, Robeson and Rivera staff are also using the program to complete a semester-long scope and sequence designed to increase prosocial behavior, and reduce aggressive behavior. During their weekly silent reading time, they work on it for 15-30 minutes with headphones. "The fact that everything is both written and read aloud lets students with low language skills access it and improve their skills," Tom DeCaigny explains.

Staff members at both sites appreciate having a new way to teach life skills to kids already involved in the criminal justice system. Relate supports them in their efforts to help young people get what they need to do better.