In an effort to reduce school suspensions and juvenile crimes, Community Youth Services works in partnership with local schools in the Auburn and Lewiston communities to provide an opportunity for students who would normally be suspended from the school setting to instead attend the Suspension-Diversion Programs. 

​These programs are staffed by a Program Coordinator and an Ed Tech III who work together with students to address academic difficulties, social-emotional development, goal setting strategies, restorative justice opportunities, and community service projects. 

The Suspension-Diversion Program coordinates with the Career Pathways Initiative to provide students with instruction on employment skills/strategies, and financial literacy instruction.  It is our hope that this program allows students to reflect on their actions, and return to the school setting more prepared and in a better state to succeed emotionally, socially, and academically.

Traditional suspension takes students away from the academic setting and creates opportunities for the loss of academic progress and encourages isolation - the intent of the Suspension-Diversion Program is to provide a safe, supportive, and restorative environment to encourage students to maintain academic progress, develop a change in behavior action plan, assess their own social-emotional learning, and conduct community service projects as a consequence for the behavior that prompted a removal from the school setting.  

It is our hope that this program can contribute to reducing school suspensions, reduce recidivism, and provide students the tools and knowledge to succeed in their own lives and goals, and to foster a stronger sense of community in Auburn and Lewiston.