Men Engaging in Leadership and Opportunity Works (M.E.L.O.W.)

MELOW is a pre-adjudicatory program designed to serve as an alternative to secure detention, intervention/prevention course of action, and mentoring program for teen male status offenders and post adjudication probation teen males.  The mission of the MELOW Program is to provide additional support to at-risk youth who are involved in delinquent and/or high-risk behaviors. 

The overall goal of the MELOW Program is to provide a safe and structured environment for youth after school and until bed time hours, which is normally the peak hours in which youth participate in delinquent activities.  The MELOW Program has a strong belief that individuals have the ability to control their own actions and behaviors.  It is also the belief of the MELOW Program that with some guidance from the MELOW Counselors, youth will learn to make more positive and rational decisions through the use of the skills learned while participating in MELOW.

The MELOW program will provide an educational, inspirational and supervised environment for low to medium risk teen men currently involved with the Orleans Parish Juvenile court.  The program serves as an alternative to detention, intervention/prevention course of action, and mentoring program for pre-adjudicated teen men, status offenders and post adjudication probation girls.  These youth otherwise may be detained, or removed from the home because of their supervisory needs. 

The program is designed to keep low to medium risk youth from re-offense or failure to appear to court hearing.  The program may also serve as a post adjudication condition of probation.  MELOW provides youth with supervision in a safe, structured setting and is intended to address the specific needs of young men involved in the juvenile justice system and divert them from delinquent activity during times known for peak delinquent activity.  The program provides a structured, supervised, environment during out of school hours, from the end of the school day. 

The MELOW program includes pre and post assessment, homework assistance, tailored life skills sessions featuring guest speakers.  The program provides and incorporates the most effective methods for monitoring male youth involved in the juvenile justice system, while holding them accountable as they continue to be engaged with school and relationships with their families and communities. 

The Program will also provide weekly group counseling.  Within 30 days of enrollment into the MELOW Program, each participant will receive a minimum of 2 individual counseling sessions with a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). 

Eligibility Determination


Youth who commit school base offenses.

  • Days/Hours of Operation:  Mondays and Wednesdays:  4pm – 6:00 p.m.
  • MELOW Coordinator:  Michael B. Raymond, D.D 
  • Office: (504) 658-9554
  • Cell: (504) 669-1413
  • Email: Michael.Raymond@nola.gov