Community & Family Resource Center

(CFRC) CFRC is dedicated to strengthening families and communities by providing information, education and support. The Center is a collaborative effort of city and state agencies, the community, volunteers, and community based organizations.

Community & Family Resource Center Led by the East Baltimore Community Corporation, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and the Family League of Baltimore City; the community Advisory Board of the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center (BCJJC) proposed the creation of a family resource center to meet the needs of children and families connecting with the Juvenile Justice system. Later, a partnership was formed among community members, government agencies, local organizations, and universities to bring the center to life. The Community and Family Resource Center is funded by the Family League of Baltimore City and the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services. The Resource Center is operated by the East Baltimore Community Corporation, in partnership with all the user agencies in the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center. The Community and Family Resource Center located within the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center opened its doors on Sept 12, HISTORY

Community & Family Resource Center 1. To assist families of youth detained at the Juvenile Justice Center to access community resources that will make their child’s re-entry to the community more successful. Provide short-term family support activities and services. Provide long-term referral and family support services. Reduce the number of youth held in detention due to parental refusal or unavailability. To conduct follow-up on referrals made to community based services. OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES:

Community & Family Resource Center OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVES: 2. To prevent further delinquency, detention or confinement of Baltimore City Youth by: Providing educational, referral and support services. Strengthening the capacity of families to advocate for their child. Referring families to community based services.

GOALS 1.Reduce the number of youth in detention because of parental refusal or unavailability. 2.Utilize existing community based resources to connect families and youth to services. Community & Family Resource Center

CATEGORIES OF REFERRALS: Community & Family Resource Center Housing Mentoring Parenting Classes Employment Mediation Community Services Anger Management Supportive Services Education Legal – Child Custody Health Care Parenting Issues Job Training/ Employment Court Advocacy Support Groups Volunteerism Clothing Job Placement Recreation Counseling Drug Treatment Mental Health Services

PARTNERS Department of Juvenile Justice The Family League of Baltimore City Maryland Public Defenders Office State’s Attorneys Office for Baltimore City Baltimore City Police Department Baltimore City Department of Social Services Baltimore City Public School System Baltimore City Court System within the Juvenile Justice Center Maryland Department of Resources Non-traditional Community Based Programs Baltimore City Health Department Legal Aid Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Johns Hopkins Center for the Prevention of Adolescent Violence Community & Family Resource Center

DJS Intake (Parent unavailable, Parent refusal, Parent delayed) Parent UnavailableParent Refusal CFRC Three (3) Hours: CFRC will continually call parents / guardians Will regularly maintain contact with DJS with updates OVERNIGHT: Continue to contact NEXT DAY: CFRC will continue to call parents / guardians through end of court day If no parent or guardian is contacted or available to come by end of court day then case is assigned by the DJS Court Liaisons to the JDAI Expeditors CRRC will learn of the youth status from special list update from Court Liaison Four (4) Hours: CFRC will attempt to have parents / guardians pick-up youth by: Calling and offering services & support Providing transportation assistance Arranging and holding family conferences Providing resources consultation Other support as needed After (4) Hours: Youth goes to shelter OVERNIGHT: CFRC Staff will Continue to call parents / guardians to come to court the next day Inform DJS Court Liaison of overnight developments NEXT DAY: CFRC will continue to call parents / guardians through end of court day If no parent / guardian is contacted or available to come by the end of the court day, then the DJS Court Liaisons will assign the case to the JDAI Expeditors CFRC will follow-up with update from Court Liaison PROTOCOL

CURRENT OUTCOMES Community & Family Resource Center DJS Intake Referrals July 1, 2006 – March 31, 2009 CategoryReferred to CFRCReconnected to ParentConnected to Resources Parent Refusals / Unavailability Walk - Ins2092N /A1429 GRAND TOTAL

Community & Family Resource Center YOUTH CONNECTED TO SERVICES MONTHDJS Referrals Parent Refusal Parent Unavailability Youth Returned Home Youth Connected to Resources Family Conferences Transportati on Letters Mailed Out Jul. – Aug. – Sept. – Oct. – Nov. – Dec. – Jan – Feb. – Mar. – TOTAL

 100% of DJS referred families were contacted and offered services.  80% of the DJS referred parents/caregivers contacted agreed to take custody of their child..  77% of the referred families received a Family Conference session and were offered community services.  75% of the families received Resource assessment and referrals. Theses families were immediately referred to community services such as family counseling, educational advocacy, after school programs, dropout prevention, mentorship programs, drug and alcohol, and more.  58% of the families that were referred to community resources were connected to the resources and received services.  104 families were transported to and or from court to take custody of their youth. Performance Measurements July 1, 2008 – March 31, 2009 Community & Family Resource Center

Statistical Report Period: April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009 DJS / Juvenile Court Referrals: From April 1, 2009 through April 30, 2009, the DJS Intake Unit made 104 referrals to CFRC because a parent/guardian was unwilling or unable to pick up their “release-eligible” child from Intake. Of these referrals, 104 families were contacted by CFRC staff, were offered supportive services/community based resources. Out of 104 referrals, 91 parents/guardians agreed to take custody of their child. As a result, 91 of these youth were prevented from having to spend a night, or an additional night, in secure detention or shelter, which is the primary objective of this program component. DAY Reporting Period TOTALEVENINGGRAND TOTAL INTAKE REFERRALS TYPE OF REFERRAL Parent Refusal28129 Parent Unavailability73275 Total Referrals YOUTH STATUS Youth Returned Home86591 Youth Placed In Shelter Care213 Youth AWOL505 Youth Detained505 TOTAL TRANSPORATION TYPE Staff0 Sedan Service0 Tokens Distributed130 SERVICES PROVIDED TOTAL FAMILY CONFENCING LETTERS SENT OUT 280 RESOUCES PROVIDED YOUTH CONNECT TO RESOURCES pending

DEMOGAPHICS AGE OF PARTICIPANTS Statistical Report Period: April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009

DEMOGAPHICS GENDER OF PARTICIPANTS Statistical Report Period: April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009

DEMOGAPHICS RACE OF PARTICIPANTS Statistical Report Period: April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009

DEMOGAPHICS ZIP CODES OF PARTICIPANTS

WALK – INS April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009 Family Conferencing7 Agency Referrals7 General Information40 Total Walk-Ins47 Community & Family Resource Center

CUSTOMER FEEDBACK “Thanks to CFRC staff for all of your help, your support was greatly appreciated. I could not have made it without your help.” M. Watts “CFRC is Heaven sent!” H. Whitfield “Thanks for everything; CFRC saved my family’s life. You helped me to navigate through this process.” C. Berger