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Family-Driven Strategies to Improve Juvenile Justice

Family-Driven Strategies to Improve Juvenile Justice. Santa Cruz County 2008. JDAI results, including a significant drop in detention…. …a significant reduction in DMC…. ...along with a drop in placements and institutional commitments ….

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Family-Driven Strategies to Improve Juvenile Justice

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  1. Family-Driven Strategies to Improve Juvenile Justice Santa Cruz County 2008

  2. JDAI results, including a significant drop in detention…

  3. …a significant reduction in DMC…

  4. ...along with a drop in placements and institutional commitments …

  5. …could not be sustained without home-based and community solutions supported by family focused Juvenile Justice Practices.

  6. Premises of Juvenile JusticePractices that Support Youth and Family Centered Practice • The Justice System does not hold the wisdom of youth, families and communities • Youth problems do not develop in isolation, therefore solutions should be context focused not offender focused and retributive. • Reliance on authoritarian and confrontational approaches is unnecessary, unproductive and will produce resistance and mutual disrespect. • Partnerships with youth, families and communities produce better services, outcomes, promote public safety and are more cost effective.

  7. Why Include Families ? • Better and more sustainable outcomes are achieved when youth and families are involved in the planning • More informed decision making • Reinforces that caregivers should maintain the lead in raising their children • Transparency encourages trust in the JJ system • Can break destructive intergenerational cycles • Creates a cooperative partnership rather than an adversarial relationship • Meets best practice standards

  8. Go Beyond… Satisfaction Surveys

  9. Family Engagement Services Create a Family Friendly Culture • Family Conferencing • Court Video • Wraparound services • Family partners • Cara y Corazon curriculum • Placement Screening Committee • Facilitated crisis intervention • Victim – Offender mediation for domestic disputes • Family Resource Center Contracts • Youth Re-entry Team • Services to Children of Incarcerated Parents

  10. Require Contractors to Put Families and Youth First • Work with CBO’s who are in the same community as your clients and share your values • Provide training for CBO’s on EBP’s, strength based work, the court system, etc. • Be clear with CBO’s about expected outcomes. Examples from a Santa Cruz contract • “CAA will provide primary attention to youth in secure custody to expedite safe release to a less restrictive environment” • “CAA will provide services in a youth and family centered manner, in the primary language of the family”

  11. Youth Re-entry Team • Parents and youth self-refer to services • Four CBO’s • Specializing in gang related issues, career development, family stresses, school barriers, LGBT struggles, and physical and mental health linkages to the community • In conjunction with Children’s Mental Health

  12. Involve all Stakeholders in Critical Decisions

  13. Placement Screening Committee • Interdisciplinary team meets 2x’s per week • Team consists of: • Children’s Mental Health: • Detention Mental Health Clinician, • Supervising MH Clinicians for Wraparound and Family Preservation Programs • Probation: • Probation supervisors for residential placement and Wraparound and Family Pres Programs • Probation manager • Presenting Probation Officer • Community Based Organization – Youth Services • Parent partner • Parent’s or caregivers and possibly other family • Youth • Health Educator • Other support people – ex: Clergy, school personnel, neighbor

  14. What Cases are Screened ? • Any youth who might be escalated to the following dispositions in the system: • Wraparound or Family Preservation • Residential Placement • Ranch Camp • Intensive Mental Health Caseload and Evening Treatment Center

  15. SB 163 Wraparound Services • Target population are deeply entrenched interagency involved families – high criminality, dual diagnosis, high need • Key principles: • Family voice and choice • Culturally responsive and community based services • Team approach/collaboration • Involves natural supports • Individualized family plans • Outcome based – goals remain at forefront • Strength based and needs driven • Addresses all life domains

  16. Wraparound In Action : • Staff – Child and Family Team: • Child and Family Team Facilitator – coordinator of services • Parent Partner – focus on parent • Family Specialist – focus on youth • Probation Officer as team member • Natural Helpers and family members

  17. Lessons Learned • Families know more about themselves than we can ever hope to • Parents need to be supported so they have sufficient resources to care for their children • Don’t ever give up – recovery can be a long, grueling process • There is not a one-size-fits-all solution – responsivity needs to be tied to risk/need • Family centered work is also culturally competent and helps address DMC • Collaboration with other family and child serving agencies is key • It’s not just about family system change – formal system must undergo self examination and change

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