Curtis* lives with his mom and two younger siblings in a neighborhood with few job opportunities or after-school activities. Curtis frequently skips school. When he attends, he often argues with teachers and fights with other students. In the last year, he’s been involved with the juvenile justice system for marijuana possession and, more recently, theft. That’s when Sacramento County Juvenile Probation Department put him in contact with Darrell*.

Darrell works with Stanford Sierra Youth & Families’ Juvenile Justice Intervention Services. At first, Curtis resisted working with Darrell, but Darrell was also involved with the juvenile justice system when he was younger. He told Curtis about some of his experiences, and the two developed a rapport that led to a trusting, collaborative relationship. 

With Darrell’s help, Curtis identified some skills he wanted to develop, among them were effective communication and anger management. Curtis often felt misunderstood, especially by those in authority. Sometimes this led to outbursts, which made matters worse. He wanted to learn how to convey his thoughts, feelings, and ideas effectively, to feel heard. As they worked toward achieving these goals, Curtis identified another goal. He wanted to repair his relationship with his mother. 

Darrell collaborated with his colleagues to provide family therapy to Curtis, his mother, and his two siblings. As the family experienced the benefits of their participation, they became more involved in the process, which made Curtis feel supported and encouraged him to continue working toward his own treatment goals.

Today Curtis no longer smokes marijuana, he’s no longer on probation, and he and his mother communicate more effectively. He wants to improve his grades and be a role model for his younger siblings. Challenges remain, but he’s on the path to a different future now, one that he and his family look forward to.

*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality.​