Key principles of the program include:

Accountability. At the time of release, the participant is presented with a youth service plan that details all program requirements: school enrollment and attendance, participation in assigned Boys and Girls Club activities, compliance with all service referrals, compliance with curfew, attendance at weekly case management meetings, and attendance at biweekly court hearings. These plans ensure that both the youth and parent have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and of the consequences of non-compliance, which can include electronic monitoring, extended curfews, community service, and—ultimately—mandated returns to state placement.

Judicial Monitoring: The program features an administrative court to monitor juveniles’ compliance with their release conditions and service mandates. Juveniles appear before a hearing officer every two weeks for a case conference that all partner agencies attend. Participants discuss the youth’s progress and encourage positive behavior. The seriousness and authority of a court setting reinforce the importance of the program—and its success.

Team Approach: The participation of several partner agencies in the program ensures that the juveniles receive a full and balanced array of services. An Office of Children and Family Servicescase manager reviews the juvenile’s progress at case conferences and attends all hearings. Boys and Girls Clubstaff provide weekly updates of participants’ attendance and activities and work with participants to provide support as needed. A counselor from the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Serviceshelps re-enroll participants in school. Many families work with a family therapist from the Children’s Aid Society; and all participants using drugs or at risk of substance abuse are referred to Phoenix House, a local treatment provider.

Family Involvement: A strong family support system is seen as crucial to a juvenile’s successful reintegration and rehabilitation. To prepare parents for upcoming challenges, court staff and parents meet during the weeks leading up to the young person’s release to create a family-strengthening plan that includes identified family support systems, skill-building opportunities, and referrals for resources, both at the Center and with the network of affiliated partners and providers. A home visit further determines the family’s preparedness to receive the returning youth. The strengthening plan is later incorporated in a Parent Contract, a document outlining the parent’s agreement to supervise the youth, participate in services and attend hearings. For those families identified as requiring intensive therapeutic intervention, the Children’s Aid Societyhas been contracted to provide a designated family therapist.

Better Information: The Juvenile Intervention Network internet application allows the Justice Center and partner agencies to log onto any computer with internet access and manage the youth’s and family’s participation in the program. The system is password-protected so that information is kept strictly confidential. With the use of the Juvenile Intervention Network, all partners and service providers can make informed decisions based on the latest, most complete data relating to compliance and achievement of mandates.