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COMPONENT SUMMARY (Attach for each component) Statement of the Problem(s): in concise terminology, describe the juvenile justice problem(s) the program intends to address and how these services meet the needs identified in the JCPC Annual Plan. Adolescents, ages 10-17, are the most vulnerable part of our society today because of the negative influences often prevalent in their homes, schools, and communities, and their parents are reacting out of frustration and are feeling overwhelmed in seeking solutions to correct their child's behavior. Cabarrus County's Department of Juvenile Justice reports that with still three months before the end of this current fiscal year, over 300 petitions have been filed for undisciplined or delinquent behavior, with sbll an additional 100 requests for services or help regarding delinquent behavior. Without appropriate and timely intervention, socially unacceptable behaviors will escalate leading to more severe behaviors, as well as possible destruction of the family unit. Truancy, stealing, sexual promiscuity, physical and verbal aggression, lack of communication, and apathy are outcomes of children who are rebelling as a result of various risk factors. Their behaviors are placing them at high risk for further delinquent acts, and also involvement in the Juvenile Justice system. If proper intervention is not achieved, failure to thrive at home, school, and the community will be remain the outcome. With repeated deliquent acts, the child will face the possibility of placement in training school, group homes, foster care, or even a psychiatric hospital. By enlisting Home Based Services, appropriate intervention is sought not just for the child, but for the family. While many parents are wanting an immeditate fix in correcting the child's behavior, Juvenile Justice seeks alternatives to court intervention when clearly there are additional approaches that may not have been utilized in the home to correct or modify the child's behavior, or there may be underlying issues causing the child to act out. Home Based Services provides a valuable resource in addressing this need in that parents often need counseling to understand their role in influencing the child's behavior, and in making positive, effective changes with the adolescent and for themselves. They also need education in understanding the intricate dynamics of adolescents and the problems that adolescents are facing. Adolescents also need help in dealing with their actions and feelings more responsibly, and taking responsibility for their actions. Adolescents also benefit by working with Home Based Services in establishing better perspectives about themselves and their place in the family and in society. Home Based Services strives to keep children who are acting out behaviorally safe in the home by working with the entire family unit, providing support, counseling, and education in helping to seek solutions that will solidify and strengthen the family as well as offer behavior modification for the juvenile. Home Based Services, being a family-centered program, seeks to empower and build connections within the family, promoting more cohesiveness and respect, often offering hope when the family feels hopeless. Priority Risk Factor(s) Addressed: State how the program will address the priority risk factor(s) identified by the JCPC. The risk factors identified by the Cabarrus JCPC Community assessment include family management )robiems as well as community drug and alcohol use. Home Based Services has a significant impact on these issues. One of the primary objectives of Home Based is to help build structure and consistency within families. Chddren need to understand the expectations set forth by parents and believe that there will be consequences for noncompliance. The consequences that parents impose must be appropriate and meaningful. Parents must follow through and stand firm. At the same time, parents must give positive feedback to children and establish a close bond. Home Based counselors help parents set boundaries and improve discipline methods while resolving family conflicts in a positive way. Communication and anger management skills are enhanced. All of these actions help to create structure within the home, but they also help in the prevention of substance abuse. When parents pay attention to their children, they are more aware of activitie~ and associations. They are able to communicate in a way that helps improve awareness, and this helps prevent problems from occurring. In addition to this, the parenting skills that are taught in Home Based provide an understanding of the impact that parental behavior has on children. In other words, children learn more from a parent's example more than they do from words. If a parent has a substance abuse problem, then the children are more likely to use substances. Program 6oals: State the effect that the program is designed to have on solving the problem(s) described above. JCPC PROGRAM AGREEMENT, 2004-2005