Topics: Juvenile/Adult Justice System

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Description : Diversion programs are programs aimed at diverting low-risk youth with minor law violations from the juvenile system who would otherwise have charges filed or be adjudicated. The county attorney grants diversion for youth after considering the youth’s age, the nature of the offense, the youth’s history and future risk, and the recommendation of the referring agency. When a youth is granted diversion, the diversion officer should tailor a program for the youth based on the youth’s specific needs and areas he/she needs to focus on. If diversion is completed successfully, the youth’s charges are either dismissed or not filed in court.

Topics: Juvenile/Adult Justice System

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Description : Family Support Programs are community-based services that help to promote the well-being of children and families as well as increase the strength and stability of families. The services can be for youth and/or parents, and can occur within the home or at community locations. There are 4 sub-types of family support programs: Parenting Class, Advocacy, Social Workers, and Family Support. Parenting classes are a chance for parents to actively acquire parenting skills through sessions that focus on improving parenting of and communication with their children. Parents are taught how to engage in skill building, problem solving, and how to model types of mechanisms in an effort to reduce adverse childhood outcomes. Advocacy Programs help guide youth and/or their families through the juvenile justice system, explaining the process and importance of each hearing, outcome, or decision. Advocates may meet with youth and families at their home prior to court appearances to discuss the purpose of the hearing or what the consequences of not appearing in court may be. Advocates can also accompany youth and families to the proceedings. Social Workers assist youth with increasing their capacity for problem solving and coping, and help them obtain needed resources as well as facilitate interactions between youth and their environment. They seek to improve the youth’s quality of wellbeing through research directed therapeutic methods. The sub-type for Family Support covers the programs that are in the community helping families with a variety of needs that may not fit into the other 3 categories. Family Support workers can help families work out communication issues, resolve school attendance problems, locate resources within the community to help the families meet the needs of all family members, or many other services that can be individualized for the youth and/or family’s needs.