Project New Start Rules: Participant Status & Consequences

This program is to support you in the positive choices you’ve made for yourself by providing free laser treatments in exchange for 50 hours of community service and a commitment to meet with your Sponsor regularly, among other requirements. That’s why we also have requirements about getting your high school diploma or GED or being employed.

Below is what is expected, our policies and what the consequences are for not meeting them. Most people do their hours on time and go through their treatments and have contact with their Sponsor regularly and don’t have to worry about anything. If you have some problems in an area, like getting 10 volunteer hours done before each treatment, we’ll call you about it. If you think you may be having problems in an area, feel free to call us and discuss it. Our number is 792-4964 ext. 195.

Definitions

1. Eligible: Participant has been screened and interviewed and meets all criteria for the program. Eligible participants may be receiving treatments or on the waiting list to receive treatments.

• Participant is up-to-date on their paperwork and Sponsor paperwork
• Participant community service hours are up-to-date or complete
• Sponsor Reports have been received and other requirements are met

2. Active: Participant is eligible (see above) for treatments and is receiving treatments.

3. Inactive: Participant has been interviewed and is eligible for treatment, but won’t receive one or more treatments due to specific, temporary reasons. Youth may have had treatments before the issue arose.

Policy: Youth will be eligible for treatments again as soon as the issue is resolved. Participant can still collect volunteer hours and meet with Sponsor before next treatment.

Examples:

• Participant is pregnant and will be eligible when not pregnant.
• Minor is out of town with parents on day of clinic and let us know ahead of time.
• Participant is sick or family emergency on day of clinic.
• Minor temporarily moved out of the area and will be eligible again when back in the area.

4. Warned: Already interviewed & eligible for treatment (has sponsor and community service set up), but not receiving treatments. Youth may have received treatments before the issue arose. Either

1) the participant will be eligible for treatments* as soon as issue is resolved or

2) the participant will not be scheduled for the next scheduled clinic. Participant can still collect hours and meet with Sponsor.

• Reasons for being in this category:
• Didn't get enough community service hours once (eligible for next clinic if hours completed).
• Sponsor Report not received before clinic (verbal report from Sponsor acceptable)
• Poor Sponsor Report received twice
• Failed to meet community service requirements AFTER being on 6 month suspension.
• Missed 1 clinic without calling to cancel
• Not meeting the school or work requirement

5. Suspended Definition: Participant already screened and eligible for program, but restricted from going to clinic for specific reasons. Will be eligible for clinics after consequences are met and other standard requirements met. Participant can accrue hours and meet with Sponsor during suspension period. There are two levels of consequences depending upon what the participant has done:

Consequence 1: Participant cannot attend clinics for 6 months

• Missed 2 clinics without calling to cancel.
• Failed to meet community service minimums (10 hours before each clinic) for 2 clinics.
• Poor sponsor report for 3rd time.
• Participant admits to being active drug user. During this 6 month period the participant is expected to enter treatment or end use.
• Participant admits to being an active gang member after being accepted into program. During this 6 month period the participant is expected to end affiliation.

Consequence 2: Participant cannot attend clinic for 1 year

• Missed 3rd clinic without calling in (participant would need new interview).
• Failed to meet community service minimums for fourth clinic they are eligible for.

6. Terminated Definition: Participant is no longer eligible for treatment by own choice or having broken major rules.

• Youth moved out of county permanently.
• Participant chose not to continue the program.
• No contact with participant after several tries (implied quitting of program)
• Youth got new tattoos while in program.
• Youth was convicted of a crime after being accepted into the program.
• Youth falsified (or caused to be falsified) sponsor or community service reports.
• Participant broke confidentiality with bad results.
• Participant falsified, or caused to be falsified, application form and doesn't meet basic criteria. Examples include: living out of county, outside of age range, etc.
• Participant comes to the interview, clinic or other PNS activities appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

*Note: Not everyone who is eligible for a treatment clinic is scheduled for clinic. The following shows the scheduling priority for clinics when there are more people eligible than treatment slots:

1.Eligible active participants who have been receiving treatments.

2.Previously inactive, warned or suspended participants who have received treatments in the past and have cleared their problems.

3.New eligible participants who have not received any treatments.

NOTE: Inactive, warned and suspended participants are NOT scheduled for treatments until they clear their problems.