Enrollment in the Diversion Program includes the following steps:
-
Referral
Students are referred to the program by teachers, administrators, or counselors at the school. Guardians also have the option to submit referrals. Refer a student.
-
Sign-Up
Our front desk will reach out via email or phone to assist with enrolling the student, provide details about the program, and address any questions the referent may have.
-
Agreement
The student’s guardian must sign a participation agreement and review our policy handbook, outlining their commitment to the program’s requirements.
About the Program:
An alternative to traditional school suspension policies, SAFE’s own “Up in Smoke” is a diversion-based program that invites students to participate in three full-day, in-person, small group classes.
With trained staff working in-person with groups of five students at a time, this program is the only one of its kind in the region. Founded in 2022 with help from a grant from the Bingham Trust, the program has logged over seven hundred hours helping more than 130 teens develop recovery plans for the use of nicotine, marijuana, and other controlled substances.
“Up in Smoke” builds on the highly regarded “Why Try” and “Stanford Toolkit for Cannabis Use” curricula, guiding students in understanding how daily life informs their opportunities to seek freedom and self-respect. The program also addresses the impacts of substance use on the brain and body, and builds systems for stress management and fostering a sense of belonging. According to Kelley, the coursework is designed to “give students a chance to think critically about the reasons behind why they are using substances, and to build tools they can use to cope with difficult situations in their life.”
Participants in the program report that the course provides greater perspective and a sense of camaraderie. "I felt very safe here,” says one program graduate. “I loved my counselor and my group was amazing. I never feel comfortable sharing anything with my parents or therapists, but I really felt comfortable here."
“Up in Smoke” arrives at a critical moment in Massachusetts, where legislation passed in 2022 calls on public schools to use alternatives to suspension as a first-line response to rule violations. The measure specifically requires consequences that “re-engage the student in the learning process.” “Up in Smoke” deeply supports Law C.71’s emphasis on positive behavioral intervention and trauma-sensitive learning through a focus on four target areas: mediation, restorative justice, conflict resolution, and collaborative problem-solving.
Mikaela Weinstein
Diversion Clinician
mweinstein@safecoalitionma.org
Mikaela graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2022 with a B.A. in Social Work and double minor in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Right after completing her undergraduate studies, she worked for Youth Village’s LifeSet Program in Boston, MA, for just under a year before returning to school. Mikaela graduated with her Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Saint Anselm College in May of 2024. Since then, she has worked part-time as an adjunct professor at Saint Anselm College in the Criminal Justice Department, teaching courses in both Crisis Intervention and Theories of Crime. Additionally, she is a part-time intake worker for juvenile court diversion programs in both Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire.
Meet the Instructor
Upcoming Dates:
Program Supported by:
The Bingham Trust
