How Can I Get My Teen to Go to Step-Up

Many teens don’t want to go to counseling. If your teen refuses to go to counseling, there are two ways to have your teen court ordered to counseling:

1. Call the police when there is violent behavior. See Should I Call 911? You can call the police if your teen is violent to any person or property, or threatens to become violent or hurt you in any way. If there is an arrest or a police report is filed, your teen will likely be court ordered to do counseling. You can ask if he or she can attend Step-Up for their mandated counseling.
   
2. Get an At-Risk-Youth Petition (ARY) (see At-Risk-Youth Petition link), which is a way to get court support and mandated counseling without calling the police or filing charges.

Ways to encourage your teen to go to Step-Up:

1. Tell your teen about the ARY Petition, and give the option of not filing one if he or she participates in the Step-Up program.
   
2. Ask your teen to “try it out” by coming to 2 or 3 sessions to see how it is. Often teens find out that it is helpful and want to continue.
   
3. Let your teen know that going to Step-Up will help prevent a call to the police (if he or she is not violent). For teens who are concerned about police intervention, this can be a motivation to attend.

Call Step-Up at 296-7841 to discuss any of the above, or for more ideas and support.