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 …

…with a corresponding drop in crime…

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

Premises of Juvenile Justice Practices that Support Youth and Family Centered Practice The Justice System does not hold the wisdom of youth, families and communitiesThe 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.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.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.Partnerships with youth, families and communities produce better services, outcomes, promote public safety and are more cost effective.

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

Go Beyond… Satisfaction Surveys

Family Engagement Services Create a Family Friendly Culture Family ConferencingFamily Conferencing Court VideoCourt Video Wraparound servicesWraparound services Family partnersFamily partners Cara y Corazon curriculumCara y Corazon curriculum Placement Screening CommitteePlacement Screening Committee Facilitated crisis interventionFacilitated crisis intervention Victim – Offender mediation for domestic disputesVictim – Offender mediation for domestic disputes Family Resource Center ContractsFamily Resource Center Contracts Youth Re-entry TeamYouth Re-entry Team Services to Children of Incarcerated ParentsServices to Children of Incarcerated Parents

Require Contractors to Put Families and Youth First Work with CBO’s who are in the same community as your clients and share your valuesWork 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.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 contractBe 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”

Youth Re-entry Team Parents and youth self-refer to servicesParents 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

Involve all Stakeholders in Critical Decisions

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

What Cases are Screened ? Any youth who might be escalated to the following dispositions in the system: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

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

Wraparound In Action : Staff – Child and Family Team: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

Families know more about themselves than we can ever hope toFamilies know more about themselves than we can ever hope to Parents need to be supported so they have sufficient resources to care for their childrenParents 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 processDon’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/needThere 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 DMCFamily centered work is also culturally competent and helps address DMC Collaboration with other family and child serving agencies is keyCollaboration with other family and child serving agencies is key It’s not just about family system changeIt’s not just about family system change – formal system must undergo self examination – formal system must undergo self examination and change and change Lessons Learned