Thresholds of Chester County
Helping Prison Inmates make better Decisions
Our Teaching
Thresholds uses a two-part teaching methodology. In a group session, the volunteer teacher presents to the class
the six step program to good decisions.
Between the group sessions, a volunteer will work one-on-one
with the client/inmate to clarify and make personal the elements in making decisions.
Client/inmates decide
on a goal that is important to them, and use the decisional process with their volunteer in reaching that goal.
The six steps in the Thresholds decision making process are :
- Define/Understand the situation you are in
- Set a goal for yourself in this situation
- Develop possibilities to reach your goal
- Evaluate the possibilities
- Decide on one of the possibilities
- Implement your decision
Each week one of the steps is presented in the group class. Using lecture, interactive activities
, question and answer, and role play, the Threshold teacher presents the details of the step for the class.
A Volunteer will meet with the student during the week discussing how the material applies
to the inmate and his/her situation. Over the course of the sessions, the student and volunteer discuss
the realistic ways to achieve the chosen goal. Through this small step approach, the student learns a
better, more thought-out way to handle and resolve situations in their lives