Learning Objectives

1. Partnering Successfully with Juvenile Probation: Lessons from Reclaiming Futures Juvenile Justice Leaders Kecia D. Barnes, Chief Court Counselor, NC Dept. of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Rowan County, North CarolinaJohn M. Berry, Jr., Chief Court Counselor, NC Dept. of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Forsyth County, North CarolinaEric Shafer, Director, Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation, Montgomery, Ohio

2. Learning Objectives • Demystifying the Juvenile Justice system and its vocabulary • How to share data, coordinate case management across sectors, and problem solve as a team • How to develop cross-training opportunities for probation officers and treatment providers

3. The Key To The Juvenile Justice Puzzle • Rehabilitation, not punishment Brain development, puberty, ability to rehabilitate • Adjudication, not a guilty verdict Legal effect of adjudication • Disposition, not a sentence Effecting the “whole” child • Youth Development/Treatment Center, not prison Skills for coping outside the fence • Post-Release Supervision, not parole Setting a child up for success

4. The Key To The Juvenile Justice Puzzle • At each decision point, the “entire child” is taken into account. School, home, family, community, strengths, weaknesses, risk of future offending, coping skills • Government or system control/influence towards internal and community control/influence • It takes everyone working together to reclaim futures.

5. The Way We Were…. • Different Vocabulary • Data tracking systems that don’t talk to each other • Struggles for control • No funds available • Judges ordering specific types of treatment • Confidentiality Issues • People that won’t talk with each other • Children falling through the cracks • Does anyone actually complete treatment? • That’s your kid not our kid

6. We’re Better Together … • All juveniles are tracked from initial screening to completion of treatment, and beyond. • We have joint data that we use to access grant funding, make our processes stronger. • We have compressed time between screening and assessment, assessment and engagement in treatment. • We work together to address problems and overcome challenges. • The community sees what we are doing is good, and they want to be a part of it. • Courts support Evidenced Based Practices.

7. The Reclaiming Futures Initiative… Proven approach for teens caught in cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime Began as $21-million, five-year initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Now in 10th year and 29th community with new investments by OJJDP, CSAT, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and RWJF Vision: Communities reclaim kids in juvenile justice through appropriate, comprehensive and individualized responses to substance abuse and delinquency

8. Reclaiming Futures Model

9. Working Together-How did we get started? • Breaking the Ice • Cross-Training • Share vocabulary • Shared vision, shared goals, find common ground • Share challenges, limitations and barriers • Share your frustrations with each other • Teach each other how to ask for what you really need

10. Identify Process Problems • Explore data collection TOGETHER • Start small • Establish “data collectors” • “The Next 10 Juveniles” • Use unique identifiers to protect confidentiality • Use rapid cycle tests at “decision points”

11. SO THAT’S THE PROBLEM! HOW DO WE FIX IT? • Jointly DEFINE the problem • Determine the reasons for the problem • Everybody give a little • Jointly DEFINE the “attempted” solution • Test the solution using your data collection • Start the process over to fix the next problem • Respect each others “rules”

12. Coordination - Working Smart • Everyone at the table • Universal forms • If it works keep it, if it doesn’t, dump it and try again • Remember that the biggest part of process change is CHANGE • Dream a little • If this was MY CHILD, would this be GOOD ENOUGH?

13. The Model at Work in Montgomery County, Ohio • Initial Screening • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Intervention Center • Craft – AOD Questionnaire • Behavioral Health Screen Initial • Assessment • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Partner agency Crisis Care • Solutions for Ohio's Quality Improvement and Compliance (SOQIC) • Diagnosis and Recommendation

14. The Model At Work In Montgomery County, Ohio • Service Coordination • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation Department / Crisis Care • Circle of Care/Natural Helpers • Initial Appointment • Provider Selection • 4 Community providers/Multiple private providers

15. The Model At Work In Montgomery County, Ohio • Initiation • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation/Provider/Natural Helper • Reminder Phone Calls • Transportation • Engagement • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation/Provider/Natural Helper • Transportation • Visits • FFT – CBT - FSN • Pro-Social Activities

16. The Model At Work In Montgomery County, Ohio • Completion • Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation/Provider/Natural Helper • Urinalysis • FFT – CBT - FSN • Graduation/Rewards

17. The Model At Work In Forsyth County, North Carolina • Initial Screening Complaints referred to Intake Process GAIN-SS administered in our Intake Evaluation Process GAIN-SS scored and referred to Court Liaison • Initial Assessment JJ/SA/MHP Court Liaison administers GAIN Q and/or GAIN-I Recommendations submitted to Juvenile Court Counselors

18. The Model At Work In Forsyth County, North Carolina • Service Coordination • NCDJJDP (Forsyth County) & JJ/SA/MHP Court Liaison • Child and Family Teams conducted to determine recommendations to the Court and creation of Person Centered Plan. • Provider Selection • 10 Community providers • Initial Appointment set by Court Liaison/Court Counselor

19. The Model At Work In Forsyth County, North Carolina • Initiation Diversion Plans/Conditions of Probation established Individual Assessments conducted by Court Liaison Service Provider Identified • Engagement NCDJJDP/Court Liaison Monitor service delivery Weekly Feedback on Participation documented with client tracking form • Completion Discharge Summary completed by Court Liaison/Service Provider Termination of Probation/Closure of Diversion Plan/Contract Continuation of Services offered

20. The Model At Work In Rowan County, North Carolina • Initial Screening • GAIN Short Screener for all youth • Treatment Expeditor • Increase in Medicaid utilization

21. The Model At Work In Rowan County, North Carolina • Initial Assessment • Treatment Expeditor determines insurance/Medicaid eligibility, schedules appointments with treatment providers, arranges transportation, gives reminder calls • Standing appointments with eight different providers • Time compressed between screening and assessment • Quicker turnaround time for assessment • Treatment provider subcommittee • Less no shows

22. The Model At Work In Rowan County, North Carolina • Service Coordination • Child and Family Teams • Person centered plan is developed/reviewed • Planning group with local management entity • Initiation Weekly/bi-weekly communication between mental health and court counselors/probation officers Drug screens conducted by court counselors

23. The Model At Work In Rowan County, North Carolina • Engagement Continued drug screens and continued communication between providers/expeditor/court counselors/juvenile Pro-social activities/Natural Helpers/Family support Monthly child and family teams drive the person centered plan-probationary control gradually lessens as community influence/control increases

24. The Model At Work In Rowan County, North Carolina • Completion Court supervision ends Treatment may continue or end successfully Natural helpers/pro-social activities/ family supports continues (Rowan County is presently working on the implementation of the “Completion” stage at this time)

25. Summary/Question and Answer Session

26. Contact Information Kecia. D. Barnes, Chief Court Counselor District 19C – Rowan County P.O. Box 4215 Salisbury, North Carolina 28145 Phone: 704.639.7515 ext. 228 Fax: 704.639.7747 John M. Berry, Jr., Chief Court Counselor District 21 – Forsyth County P.O. Box 20443 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101 Phone: 336.761.2265 ext 4313 Fax: 336.761.2467 Eric J. Shafer, Director Montgomery County Juvenile Court Probation Services 3501 Merrimac Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45405 Phone: 937.225.5019 Fax: 937.496.7779 Visit the Reclaiming Futures Website: www.reclaimingfutures.org