Connecticut Juvenile Justice Connecticut Juvenile Justice Strategic PlanStrategic Plan

Resource and Assessment Resource and Assessment Inventory SubcommitteeInventory Subcommittee

June 16, 2005June 16, 2005

Report to the Stakeholders Meeting of the Report to the Stakeholders Meeting of the Joint Juvenile Justice Strategic Planning Joint Juvenile Justice Strategic Planning

CommitteeCommittee

Resource and Assessment Resource and Assessment Subcommittee WorkgroupsSubcommittee Workgroups

I.I. Service and Programmatic ResourcesService and Programmatic Resources

II.II. Case Flow Process/Assessment Case Flow Process/Assessment InstrumentsInstruments

III.III. Current InitiativesCurrent Initiatives

IV.IV. Community/Family/Youth VoicesCommunity/Family/Youth Voices

I. Service and Programmatic I. Service and Programmatic Resources WorkgroupResources Workgroup

1.1. Inventory of existing services Inventory of existing services available to juveniles in CTavailable to juveniles in CT

2.2. Identification of initial findings based Identification of initial findings based upon inventoryupon inventory

3.3. Preliminary recommendations for Preliminary recommendations for services enhancementsservices enhancements

Services InventoryServices Inventory“Resource Rich -- System Scarce”“Resource Rich -- System Scarce”Initial Inventory:Initial Inventory:

Impressive initial list of resources and services (350+) Impressive initial list of resources and services (350+) offered across the state (more to come from InfoLine)offered across the state (more to come from InfoLine)

Needs:Needs:• more family-centered services during out-of-home more family-centered services during out-of-home

placementsplacements

• more step-down services resources more step-down services resources

• more truancy resources (prevention & services)more truancy resources (prevention & services)

Critical need:Critical need: Continuum-of-care to serve the needs of more court-Continuum-of-care to serve the needs of more court-involved childreninvolved children

Initial FindingsInitial Findings

Long waiting lists for services (e.g., MST, FT, S/A)Long waiting lists for services (e.g., MST, FT, S/A)

Lack of accessible treatment for special populations Lack of accessible treatment for special populations (e.g., Spanish-speaking, sex offenders, gender-(e.g., Spanish-speaking, sex offenders, gender-specific)specific)

Lack of funding for strengths-based, non-clinical Lack of funding for strengths-based, non-clinical programs (e.g., after school, weekends, life skills, programs (e.g., after school, weekends, life skills, mentors)mentors)

Lack of meaningful workforce development (for Lack of meaningful workforce development (for children and staff)children and staff)

Preliminary RecommendationsPreliminary Recommendations

Better access to continuum-of-care to serve more Better access to continuum-of-care to serve more court-involved childrencourt-involved children

Emergency, short-term and other placement options Emergency, short-term and other placement options for children with no home or other viable placement for children with no home or other viable placement options (smaller residentials, group homes)options (smaller residentials, group homes)

More bilingual/bicultural staffMore bilingual/bicultural staff

More trauma-informed servicesMore trauma-informed services

Earlier planning for transition from institutions to Earlier planning for transition from institutions to communitiescommunities

II. Case Flow Process/ II. Case Flow Process/ Assessment Instruments Assessment Instruments

WorkgroupWorkgroup1.1. Juvenile justice system flowchartsJuvenile justice system flowcharts

2.2. Identification of system collaboration Identification of system collaboration gaps and barriersgaps and barriers

3.3. Proposed collaboration solutions Proposed collaboration solutions

4.4. Inventory of screening and assessment Inventory of screening and assessment instrumentationinstrumentation

POLICE / SCHOOL ACTION

DIVERT FROM COURT (no record) REFER TO COURT

HANDLING DECISION

NON JUDICIAL JUDICIAL

DISMISS WITHWARNING

SUPERVISION

SUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL

DISCHARGE (auto erasure)

PLEA HEARING

ADMIT

DENY

PRETRIAL

NO AGREEMENT DISMISS (auto erasure)

NOT ADJUDICATED (auto erasure)

TRIAL

PREDISPOSITIONAL STUDY & REPORT DISPOSITION HEARING

SUSPENDED PROSECUTIONSCHOOL VIOLENCE

SUCCESSFUL UNSUCCESSFUL

DISCHARGE (no record)

DISMISS WITH WARNING SUPERVISION COMMITMENT TO DCF18 months (placement likely)

PROCESSING OF A FAMILY WITH SERVICE NEEDS CASE

ADJUDICATED

DCFFWSN

Protocol

DCFFWSN

Protocol

REFER TO DCFVOLUNTARY SERVICES DELINQUENCY

Identified GapsIdentified Gaps

• Insufficient communication between and within Insufficient communication between and within agencies including CSSD, DCF & DOC agencies including CSSD, DCF & DOC

• Unable to initiate new voluntary service cases Unable to initiate new voluntary service cases for delinquent childrenfor delinquent children

• Information sharing impeded by actual and Information sharing impeded by actual and perceived statutory and policy restrictionsperceived statutory and policy restrictions

• Inconsistent use of FWSN protocol among Inconsistent use of FWSN protocol among officesoffices

• Quality of legal counsel available for parents Quality of legal counsel available for parents and children lackingand children lacking

System BarriersSystem Barriers

• Lack of seamless transition to the adult system Lack of seamless transition to the adult system for children who age out of the juvenile systemfor children who age out of the juvenile system

• Roles between DCF, Probation and Court lack Roles between DCF, Probation and Court lack clarityclarity

• DCF becomes less involved once family enters DCF becomes less involved once family enters the court processthe court process

• DCF perceives its input as neither valued nor DCF perceives its input as neither valued nor welcomed by the courtwelcomed by the court

• Unrealistic expectations of DCF by Probation Unrealistic expectations of DCF by Probation and Courtand Court

Suggested SolutionsSuggested Solutions

• Periodically review and update DCF & CSSD programs Periodically review and update DCF & CSSD programs and policiesand policies

• Implement regular cross-training to include judgesImplement regular cross-training to include judges

• Clarify and, if necessary, change existing information- Clarify and, if necessary, change existing information- sharing statutes and policies to permit collaborationsharing statutes and policies to permit collaboration

• Establish a notice/information-sharing protocol for when Establish a notice/information-sharing protocol for when a probationer or committed person is arrested or a probationer or committed person is arrested or appears in the adult courtappears in the adult court

• Statutory changes needed to permit continued court Statutory changes needed to permit continued court supervision of FWSN and delinquent committed kidssupervision of FWSN and delinquent committed kids

• Develop a protocol similar to FWSN for use in Develop a protocol similar to FWSN for use in delinquency casesdelinquency cases

ASSESSMENT TARGET: WHO? TARGET: WHEN? DESCRIPTION RESULT

Initial Risk Assessment (IRS)*Assessment

All children/youth referred to the court for Family with Service Needs (FWSN) and/or Delinquency matters.

Non- Judicial and Judicial cases after a Statement of Responsibility (SOR) is signed, has been adjudicated and/or convicted.

Short form of a larger assessment that offers preliminary assessment of the level of risk to re-offend based on questions to determine risk/protective scores in multiple domains.

Outcomes inform the probation officer and assists with decision making in regards to prescribed contact requirements and the types of services the youth is eligible for.

Juvenile Assessment Generic (JAG)*Assessment

All children/youth who have scored a 5 or greater on the IRS

Non-Judicial cases- after a SOR has been obtained and IRS has been administered with outcome of 5 or greater.Judicial cases- after an SOR has been signed, an adjudication and/or conviction is entered and the youth scores a 5 or greater on the IRS

Full assessment with a validated tool to determine risk/protective factors in identified criminogenic areas, which includes criminal history, distress in family, substance abuse, personal values and peers. The information is collected by a probation officer conducting a thorough interview utilizing motivational interviewing, a review of record and collateral contacts.

Outcomes assist the probation officer in determining the type of services appropriate and the level of contact needed to reduce the likelihood the youth will re-offend.

Substance Use Survey (SUS)*Screening

Children who appeared in court for FWSN or criminal matters that are identified members of a longitudinal study.

Piloted in only four courts and member size varies by court location.

After jurisdiction is established by either the signing of an SOR, adjudication and/or conviction is entered.

Validated tool that presents questions aimed at assessing the emergent need for drug/ alcohol and/or mental health services.

Informs the probation officer decision of whether immediate service needs are required and/or whether addition assessment is needed.

CSSD Screening/Assessment InstrumentsCSSD Screening/Assessment Instruments

III. Current Initiatives WorkgroupIII. Current Initiatives Workgroup

1.1. Inventory of existing program and Inventory of existing program and funding initiatives for juveniles in CTfunding initiatives for juveniles in CT

2.2. Identification of jointly supported Identification of jointly supported initiatives (DCF, CSSD, Advocates)initiatives (DCF, CSSD, Advocates)

3.3. Recommendations for attention to Recommendations for attention to priority populations in needpriority populations in need

Current Initiatives InventoryCurrent Initiatives Inventory

Age of Jurisdiction (1)Age of Jurisdiction (1) Balanced and Restorative Justice (3)Balanced and Restorative Justice (3) Community Reintegration (2)Community Reintegration (2) Deinstitutionalization (1)Deinstitutionalization (1) Disproportionate Minority Contact (3)Disproportionate Minority Contact (3) Diverting Status Offenders (4)Diverting Status Offenders (4) Prevention (4)Prevention (4) Evidence-based Practice (4)Evidence-based Practice (4)

Inventory (cont.)Inventory (cont.)

Gender Specific Programming (Girls) (5)Gender Specific Programming (Girls) (5)

Medical and Mental Health (4)Medical and Mental Health (4)

Substance Use/Abuse (9)Substance Use/Abuse (9)

Prevention (5)Prevention (5)

Research (5)Research (5)

Trauma (1)Trauma (1)

Youth Employment (2)Youth Employment (2)

Common ThreadsCommon Threads

Evidence-Based PracticesEvidence-Based Practices

Gender Specific Programming (Girls)Gender Specific Programming (Girls)

Medical and Mental Health IssuesMedical and Mental Health Issues

PreventionPrevention

Research ProjectsResearch Projects

Trauma ResponsivityTrauma Responsivity

Special Populations in NeedSpecial Populations in Need

Court-involved & at-risk girlsCourt-involved & at-risk girls Status offenders (FWSN)Status offenders (FWSN) Minority youth (disparities)Minority youth (disparities) Adolescents with mental health issuesAdolescents with mental health issues High-risk adolescents, including youth High-risk adolescents, including youth

who sexually offend who sexually offend

IV. Community/Family/Youth Voices IV. Community/Family/Youth Voices WorkgroupWorkgroup

1.1. Series of community-based ‘listening Series of community-based ‘listening sessions’sessions’

2.2. Identification of community, family Identification of community, family and youth issuesand youth issues

3.3. Recommendations for attention to Recommendations for attention to locally identified needslocally identified needs

Overarching ThemesOverarching Themes

• Families need to be better informedFamilies need to be better informed

• Need greater emphasis on ‘front-end’ services Need greater emphasis on ‘front-end’ services (prevention, early intervention)(prevention, early intervention)

• Focus on job training, readiness and lifeskillsFocus on job training, readiness and lifeskills

• Schools, DCF & police need to coordinate to Schools, DCF & police need to coordinate to divert youth and identify mental health and divert youth and identify mental health and other needsother needs

• Need culturally competent approach, and Need culturally competent approach, and integration of traditional and non-traditional integration of traditional and non-traditional servicesservices

Systemic IssuesSystemic Issues

• SchoolsSchools: develop greater flexibility, : develop greater flexibility, creativity, graduated sanctions and staff creativity, graduated sanctions and staff trainingtraining

• JudgesJudges: increase awareness of available : increase awareness of available alternative interventions alternative interventions

• PolicePolice: increase parental involvement : increase parental involvement and coordinate better with DCFand coordinate better with DCF

More Systemic IssuesMore Systemic Issues

• Parents/CommunitiesParents/Communities: community needs to : community needs to band together; families need to be better band together; families need to be better informedinformed

• Mental HealthMental Health: major need for services from : major need for services from prevention, early intervention to treatment prevention, early intervention to treatment from birth-to-three through adolescencefrom birth-to-three through adolescence

• Reallocation of fundsReallocation of funds: reduce out-of-state : reduce out-of-state placements to fund community services, placements to fund community services, mentoring, after-school, preventionmentoring, after-school, prevention