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Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS)

Family Intervention and Restorative Services (FIRS) serves families with adolescents (ages 10-17) who are involved in domestic violence incidents towards their family members.  FIRS is a collaborative approach with community and court-based partners to reduce youth involvement in the criminal justice system by offering alternative solutions to juvenile detention. The program focuses on restorative justice practices and family-centered interventions to address the root causes of conflicts and behavioral challenges. Every family referred is assigned a social worker and a juvenile probation counselor.  Youth who have contact with police for family violence but are not arrested are also eligible for FIRS. 

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FIRS Program Goals:

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  • Prevent Recurrence of Violence: By providing immediate intervention, FIRS seeks to lower the chances of youth reoffending by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to their behavior.

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  • Promote Family Reconciliation: The program focuses on restoring relationships within the family unit through counseling and mediation, helping to resolve conflicts and build stronger family bonds.

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  • Provide Support and Resources: FIRS connects families with free services and resources, such as mental health counseling, substance use treatment, and the Step-Up Program to address the root causes of behavioral issues.

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  • Enhance Accountability: By encouraging youth to take responsibility for their actions in a supportive environment, FIRS helps them understand the impact of their behavior on themselves, their families, and their communities.

 

 

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About the FIRS Center:

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  • The FIRS Center is one component of the FIRS program, managed by Ryther as a participating community partner.

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  • The FIRS Center provides a safe space for youth to cool off from the incident that happened. Youth often move to the FIRS Center the same day they are brought to detention. 

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  • The FIRS team (FIRS Staff, Juvenile Probation Counselor, STEP or Ryther therapists) then engage the youth and family to create a restorative plan to meet their specific needs and the Program Goals.

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  • The restorative plan normally includes a safety plan, service referrals, and future meeting support.​​

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  • Contact the FIRS Team for details at:  206.263.9001​​

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