Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program (MYDP)
We are proud to offer the Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program (MYDP) in Suffolk County - a pre-arraignment diversion pathway operated in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS). Through screening and assessment, MYDP connects young people to the right services, reduces the risk of re-offending, promotes youth development and equity, and provides accountability without creating a juvenile record.
MYDP serves 12-17 year-olds charged with delinquency for matters that are legally-allowed for diversion. Referrals come from juvenile judges, clerk magistrates, district attorneys, police officers, and school resource officers pre-arraignment.
MYDP is a mandated diversion program, available only to young people referred directly from within the legal system. Youth participate in lieu of prosecution or deeper court involvement. This means completing the program can result in charges being dismissed or avoided.
Our Diversion Coordinators provide intensive support, including accompanying youth to scheduled court dates, participating in school visits, providing employment assistance, and facilitating enrichment and recreational activities.
Program Objectives
Reduce deeper juvenile justice involvement by offering court-involved youth an effective alternative to prosecution that keeps them out of the formal system.
Support positive youth development through individualized assessments, tailored service plans, and coordinated access to mental health, education, and community-based sources.
Promote accountability and skill-building by helping youth take responsibility for their actions while providing the guidance and tools they need to succeed in school, at home, and in their community.
Strengthen equity and fairness in the juvenile system by ensuring all youth - especially those disproportionately impacted - receive meaningful opportunities to avoid detention and build healthier paths forward.
Program Objectives
Our Approach
Increasing Success
At RFK Community Alliance, our MYDP approach is rooted in an evidence‑informed model. We advocate for youth at critical moments in their court process and develop individualized plans that support their personal, social, educational, and wellness needs. Our goal is to ensure that every young person receives trauma‑informed, focused case management that leads to stronger outcomes and reduces disparities within the juvenile justice system.
Using a Positive Youth Development framework, we help youth stay engaged, supported, and connected. By strengthening their ties to pro‑social, future‑focused opportunities in their own communities, we work to reduce failures to appear in court, lower the risk of incarceration, and reinforce the stability every young person needs to succeed.
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