AG 1998 04 20 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PROGRAM SUMMARY Statement of the Problem: In concise terminology, describe thejuvenile justtce problem the progrom intends to address. _ Cabarrus County had no emergency shelter for juveniles except foster homes. [n 1980 through a joint effort of DSS, Juvenile Court, Lutheran Family Services and the Lutheran churches of our county, the Temporary Shelter Program began. Because of the success rate of children not becoming further involved with the court and some children not being sent to training school because they are placed in this program, it is an alternative for the Juvenile Court. Single parent -- families, lack of parenting skills, lack of child supervisions because of work shifts, increased drug abuse by children, increased school difficulties by child, lack of community resources, rapid population growth, number of juvenile petitions and training school commitments create a need for an out-of-home placement for children in this county. Program Goal: State the effect that the program is designed to have on solving the problem described above. Main goal of this program is to reduce juvenile crime, reduce substance abuse, and provide a non-secure placement --alternative to children before the court for undisciplined/delinquent behavior or prevent the children coming to court for these reasons. This program will provide a structured out-of-home placement with behavior modification, counseling, and coordination of services and case planning for each child. The goal is to decrease any referrals back to the court system --for children in residence at this shelter by stabilizing acting-out behavior, decreasing substance abuse, improving self- esteem, providing intervention service to the parents including family counseling, to results in the delinquency/undisciplined juvenile rate being decreased. Target Population: Describe the target populat;'on and the steps that the program has taken to insure that the target population is served. Cabarrns County residents ages 10 through 17 who are presently before the juvenile court or experiencing behavior or problems during the past 12 months that make it likely the child will be before the court as high risk for petition being --filed. The Cabarrus County Department of Social Services and Juvenile Court Family counselors have the understanding that priority is given to any juvenile before the court on a petition for delinquency/undisciplined behavior. The intake counselor for Juvenile Court also may make referrals to the program if the petition is not to be filed. The program will ~adhere to Community Based Alternatives minimum standards. Measurable Objective(s): State in measurable terms the intended effect of the program on specific undisciplined and/or -delinquent behaviors. At a minimum, state anticipated reductions in court referrals, runaway behavior, and school suspensions and expulsions. Provide an emergency residence for 85% of all children determined appropriate for placement. Provide a licensed group home for five children supervised by Lutheran Family Services stalE. All youths will be in DSS custody. All youths will have medical examinations within ten days of placement. All youths will have psychological evaluation unless recent (within the last six months) prior to placement. All youths experiencing substance abuse will be referred to substance abuse screening and follow-up counseling when indicated. All youths will be enrolled in a school system and educational assessments will be done with the school to determine the most appropriate educational setting for the child. Sixty percent (60%) of all youths served by the program will be prepared for long-term placement within 90 days of the entry date (preparation is defined as stabilization of the child's behavior to a point where he is ready for placement and development ora long-term care plan). Of the children completing the 90-day program. 50% will achieve successful adjustment for six months following long-term placement. (Success shall be defined as: (l) The child does not come to the attention of the Juvenile Court; (2) The child, the social worker, and his legal guardian agree that placement was successful six months after it was made.)