A groundbreaking blend of cognitive behavioral therapy and intensive mentorship is producing significant reductions in youth violence and arrests in Chicago, suggesting a model with broad potential for communities, including those in Thailand, facing similar challenges. The program, Choose to Change, is making headlines for its nuanced method of reaching at-risk teens—particularly those disengaged from traditional support systems—and its approach could offer essential lessons for Thai educators, mental health professionals, and policymakers grappling with rising concerns about youth well-being (The Marshall Project).
Across Chicago’s neighborhoods, young people living with the constant threat of overdose, gun violence, and other traumas are statistically more likely to develop mental health conditions, struggle with addiction, or be drawn into cycles of violence and incarceration. Choose to Change intervenes with a combination of group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and hands-on mentorship, pairing teenagers with trained adult advocates, many with deep community roots. Over a 16-week period, participants attend weekly therapy sessions designed to retrain harmful thought patterns and practice problem-solving skills while also building meaningful relationships with their mentors outside the therapy room. These advocates, or ‘caring, capable adults with cultural credibility,’ act as bridges between the theory of therapy and the teens’ daily reality.
For Thai readers, the significance of this model lies in its robust scientific validation. Decades of research have established CBT as an effective method for reducing recidivism among incarcerated adults (APA). Now, studies focusing on adolescents outside the criminal justice system, like Chicago’s program, show not only a reduction in arrests—31% overall and 39% for violent offenses—but that these effects persist for several years after participation. These findings, backed by rigorous randomized controlled trials from researchers at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, mark some of the strongest evidence globally for violence prevention interventions targeting high-risk youth before they come into conflict with the law (University of Chicago Crime Lab).
Choose to Change’s success stems from its ability to engage students who are traditionally the hardest to reach—those severely truant from school, some with prior arrests, and many skeptical of formal interventions. Specially trained advocates play an essential role, not only keeping teens engaged week after week but also practicing coping strategies with them in varied settings: from informal outings like meals and sports events to supporting life-skills like job applications and banking. The theory is that continued emotional support and the modeling of ’thinking brain’ strategies—techniques designed to de-escalate and reflect on triggering events—translates into new habits that stick far beyond the classroom or counseling office.
One of the participants described in the report is a top-performing student who struggled with anger and had a history of school fights. Despite experiencing devastating personal loss when his cousin died of an overdose, this young man drew on the program’s lessons during a difficult stint in juvenile detention. He credits Choose to Change with helping him develop self-awareness, set positive goals, and, crucially, maintain a trusting relationship with his advocate long after official program activities ended. Each milestone, from getting a job to ranking near the top of his class, became both a personal victory and a testament to the program’s lasting impact.
Experts and program leaders believe the key to long-term behavioral change is this continuous wrap-around support. Unlike standalone therapy, mentors attend group sessions and can reinforce learning in everyday life. “Because the mentors are attending the group CBT sessions, they’re learning those same tools,” said a University of Chicago study co-lead, “so they can practice them with the kids outside in the community.”
While the model is spreading to other US cities—Tennessee, California, Iowa, Texas, and New Jersey—financial sustainability remains a challenge. Each student’s participation currently costs about $8,500 per year, with program expenses offset by estimates of $20,000 saved in long-term policing, judicial, and incarceration costs per person. Even with strong evidence and philanthropic support, continuing such comprehensive programs requires creative new funding partnerships and sustained government support (Chicago Public Schools budget crisis).
For Thailand, where rapid urbanization, economic disparities, and school disengagement increasingly put youth at risk of violence and crime, this mixed-therapy approach invites reflection on homegrown solutions. Thai schools and government agencies have piloted various counseling and life skills programs, but student absenteeism, mental health stigma, and a shortage of culturally informed mentors hamper outreach (Thai Ministry of Public Health and Unicef Thailand). Choose to Change’s success demonstrates the value of ‘meeting teens where they are,’ employing mentors from local communities, and integrating mental health interventions with wider social support—from emotional coaching to job readiness.
Cultural context is a crucial consideration. In Thai society, notions of family obligation, kreng jai (deference to others), and community reputation shape teen behavior and responses to authority. Delivering therapy in a way that aligns with these values, perhaps through respected community figures and inclusion of family where possible, could mirror the success seen in Chicago’s culturally rooted mentorship. Furthermore, the Buddhist tradition of mindfulness dovetails with CBT strategies for managing emotional responses, suggesting a fruitful area for adaptation.
Controversies remain, particularly around scaling such intensive models and maintaining fidelity to proven methods in diverse communities. International experts caution that independent peer review of these studies is necessary before widespread adoption. They also point out that, while cost savings are promising, not all communities will be able to marshal philanthropic or government support on the same scale as Chicago. Nevertheless, programs like Choose to Change stand out in a landscape where many youth violence prevention initiatives lack robust evidence—offering hope, hard data, and practical guidance.
Future developments to watch include ongoing research partnerships in other US states and the adaptation of mentorship strategies to different cultural milieus. For Thai policymakers, education officials, and NGOs, exploring partnerships with universities, businesses, and international organizations could open the door for funding innovative pilot programs based on these findings.
For Thai readers interested in safer, more supportive environments for youth, the clear takeaway is that early, comprehensive interventions—combining proven therapeutic techniques with long-term mentoring—can transform lives. Schools, temples, and community groups might consider how to train and integrate respected adults as mentors, while government agencies could prioritize subsidizing hybrid therapy-mentorship initiatives, measuring both immediate and long-term outcomes.
Anyone interested in championing or benefiting from such interventions—whether students, parents, teachers, or policymakers—should advocate for mental health programs that go beyond the clinic and classroom, building enduring relationships and practical skills that last a lifetime.
Sources:
- The Marshall Project, “This Mix of Therapies Is Helping to Stop Youth Violence in Chicago”
- University of Chicago Crime Lab: Choose to Change Impact Report
- American Psychological Association: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Reduces Recidivism
- Chicago Tribune: Chicago School Funding Shortfall
- Unicef Thailand: Mental Health Support for Youth
- Thai Ministry of Public Health: Mental Health Policy