More than Service-Learning: What I Learned About Me, and You, and Them. Relationships Matter.

Abstract

Here I was, a 48-year-old, recently divorced woman, returning to school to finally finish a college degree. As part of my Ethics requirement for an undergraduate degree in Psychology, I enrolled in the course Self, Community, and Service: Thinking and Action for Ethical Being. I teamed up with a community partner, Marin YMCA Youth Court as a Case Manager. My role as Case Manager was to help troubled teens who had broken the law. The Marin County Youth Court is an innovative restorative justice alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system. It is an early intervention program for first-time misdemeanor offenders. The program is designed to give youth between the ages of ten and seventeen, who have broken the law and admitted their guilt, a second chance. If the offender completes his/her sanctions within three months, his/her juvenile record is cleared. The Case Manager’s responsibilities include attending the youth’s hearing and meeting with the youth and his/her family immediately following the hearing. The Case Manager helps the youth find a non-punitive community service opportunity, ensures the youth attends all sanctioned youth court meetings, and makes weekly contact with the youth (usually via telephone) until completion of the sanctions, including community service hours. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I assumed this would be just another hurdle to jump over in my efforts to finish my college degree. It turned out to be so much more.