State-By-State New Approaches to Juvenile Substance Abuse

State-by-State New Approaches to Juvenile Substance Abuse

States have always been considered the laboratories for developing innovative programs addressing emerging problems. The following links provide information on state and local programs addressing juvenile substance abuse.

Alaska

Fairbanks Juvenile Treatment Court

From: Alaska Court System

• What is the FJTC?

The FJTC is a voluntary, therapeutic court which targets the juvenile offender whose mental illness likely contributed to the commission of their offense. The FJTC court operates on the belief that children who are challenged with mental illness and substance abuse issues that receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment early in their juvenile justice experience have a far greater chance of avoiding further criminal activities.

• What is the purpose of the FJTC?

The mission of the FJTC is to promote public safety while moving children from the standard juvenile justice system into a mental health/substance abuse treatment system that can sustain health and non-criminal behavior. Additionally, the FJTC acts to:
Reduce inappropriate incarceration of mentally disabled children and promote their well-being;
Relieve the burden on the Division of Juvenile Justice presented by children with mental
disabilities; and
Reduce repeated criminal activity among mentally disabled offenders.

• What are the benefits?

In addition to the positive outcomes listed above, the FJTC is a diversion program in which charges are held in abeyance during participation in the program. Successful completion means that the charges will not become part of the child’s permanent record.

Fairbanks Juvenile Treatment Court – An Evaluation Plan

From: Alaska Judicial Council

In mid-2008, the Fairbanks Juvenile Treatment Court began diverting its first few juveniles

from adjudication in the regular juvenile justice system. The new project built on an informal set of procedures that had been in place in the Fairbanks court for several years. A team of professionals – judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, juvenile probation officer, and treatment professional - carefully screened each youth for eligibility. Did the youth qualify as a beneficiary of Alaska’s Mental Health Trust Authority, with an Axis I diagnosis in specific categories? Did the youth have an offense other than a violent or sexual offense? Was he or she between the ages of 12 and 18? Would the FJTC program provide both appropriate services for the juvenile and protection for the public?

Juneau Alcohol Safety Action Program (JASAP)

From: National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Juneau Affiliate

The Juneau Alcohol Safety Action Program is part of a statewide system that operates much like an alcohol- or drug-related misdemeanor probation system. The goal of the program is to reverse the progression of clients’ substance abuse, and to prevent more serious criminal activity. JASAP is designed as a prevention-intervention process. The system has been adopted by a number of states and allows for the interstate coordination and tracking of clients. Court referrals are screened and evaluated, and then referred to an appropriate level of education or treatment. JASAP has been a part of NCADD Juneau since 1980.

All clients are monitored through progress reports from the agency of referral. Progress is reported by JASAP staff to courts. Non-compliance with court-ordered JASAP treatment or education can result in an issuance of a court summons or warrant for arrest.

Juveniles

JASAP provides alcohol and other drug assessment, referral services, and compliance monitoring for adolescents. Assessment and referral is provided for the general public, school referrals, and juvenile probation.

Arizona

Drug Prevention and Youth Safety Resources

From: Smith Initiatives for Prevention and Education, the University of Arizona

You've come to the right place to obtain timely tools and information to assist you in effective prevention and intervention strategies for youth.

Tools provided include:

• Drug Information
• Community Service for Suspended Students
• School Tools
• Prevention and Treatment
• Teacher Talk

California

Repeat Offender Prevention Program

From: Healthy Communities Institute and Affiliates

California’s Repeat Offender Prevention Program (ROPP) is a multimodal early intervention program targeting young offenders at high risk of becoming chronic delinquents. Originally developed by the Orange County (CA) Probation Department in the early 1990s, the program features a combination of intensive supervision and wraparound services. (It is also sometimes referred to as the 8% Solution, because of its emphasis on the small percentage of youth most likely to become serious repeat offenders.) To qualify for ROPP, juveniles must be first-time offenders, no older than 15½, and exhibit at least three of the following risk factors:

• School behavior and performance problems (attendance, suspension/expulsion, failure of two or more classes);
• Family problems (poor supervision/control, history of domestic violence, child abuse/neglect, family members with criminal backgrounds);
• Substance abuse problems (regular use of alcohol or drugs); and
• High-risk behaviors (stealing, chronic runaway, gang membership)

Goal/Mission

The goal of the program is to prevent young offenders from becoming chronic delinquents.

California

Juvenile Drug Court

From: Superior Court of California, County of Nevada

The Nevada County Juvenile Drug Court was implemented in 2001 to promote public safety and contribute to a reduction in substance abuse and recidivism among nonviolent juvenile offenders. The Drug Court is an intensive treatment program designed to evaluate, treat and monitor participants that come within the provisions of Sections 601 and 602 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. The Court actively supports recovery through coordinated, comprehensive and appropriate substance abuse treatment services, as well as ancillary services to the participants and their families. Drug Court affords youth an opportunity to exit the revolving door of the justice system as healthy and law-abiding members of the community. Successful completion of the Juvenile Drug Court Program may result in dismissal of the juvenile's charges, early termination of wardship or probation and a recommendation that the juvenile's file be sealed when he or she turns 18.

Topics include:

• Juvenile Drug Court
• Information Sheet and Eligibility Criteria
• Referral Procedure
• Individual Recovery Plans
• Judicial Sanctions
• Admission and Advancement Policy
• Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy
• Progressing Through Treatment

California

San Diego county Breaking the Cycle

From: Healthy Communities Institute

The prevention component targets youths who are not yet involved in the juvenile justice system but who exhibit problem behavior such as disobeying their parents, violating curfew, repeated truancy, running away from home, or experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Youths can also self-refer if they experience parental neglect or abuse or they have other problems at home. Community Assessment Teams (CATs)—consisting of a coordinator, case managers, probation officers, and other experts—assess the needs of the youth and his or her family and then provide direct services or referrals to resources in the community to reduce the high-risk behaviors. CATs speak many different languages to communicate directly with their clients. Whenever possible, services are brought directly to the client and family.

Connecticut

Great Body Shop

From: Healthy Communities Institute

The Great Body Shop (GBS), developed by the Children’s Health Market, is a comprehensive substance abuse and violence prevention and health curriculum for schools serving prekindergarten through middle school. The GBS curriculum contains a teachers guide and parent bulletins that support 10 monthly themes, which are taught through 40 lessons. A supplemental Coordinated School Health Kit links the eight components of school health with institutions involved in promoting public health among those who educate youth.
The monthly thematic units of GBS are developed from one grade level to the next according to State and national guidelines. Health topics addressed include injury prevention, personal safety, bullying, functions of the body, nutrition, community health and safety, character education, violence prevention, self-worth, growth and development, the cycle of family life, substance abuse prevention, HIV/AIDS and illness prevention, environmental health, consumer health, and physical fitness. Each grade level of the program from preschool through middle school is structured so that knowledge, values, life skills, and critical thinking skills are introduced through age-appropriate, familiar concepts. Weekly lessons, taught by classroom teachers, last from 10 to 15 minutes for preschool, 20 to 35 minutes at the primary level, and 45 to 60 minutes at the middle school level.

Connecticut

What is the Connecticut Prevention Network?

From: The Connecticut Prevention Network

• What is the Connecticut Prevention Network?

The Connecticut Prevention Network (CPN) is a network of the state's 14 community partnership Regional Action Councils (RACs) that work to provide your community with education, training, and advocacy for substance abuse prevention.

• What is Prevention?
  Prevention is a proactive process that empowers individuals and systems to meet the challenges
  of life events and transitions by creating and reinforcing conditions that promote healthy behaviors
  and lifestyles. The goal of substance abuse prevention is the fostering of a climate in which...
  (a) alcohol use is acceptable only for those of legal age and only when the risk of adverse
  consequences is minimal;

(b) prescription and over-the-counter drugs are used only for the purposes for which they are
intended;

(c) other substances (e.g., aerosols) are used only for their intended purposes; and

(d): illegal drugs and tobacco are not used at all.

Delaware

Delaware Juvenile Drug Court Diversion Program

From: Healthy Communities Institute

The Delaware Juvenile Drug Court Diversion Program helps first-time juvenile misdemeanor drug offenders develop the skills and maturity necessary to prevent further criminal behavior. All juveniles in the program receive case management services from a private agency that provides outpatient drug abuse prevention, intervention, and treatment services to teens. The services the program provides to juveniles include regular urine screenings, court reporting, and accompaniment for monthly court reporting. The program asks that juveniles maintain sobriety, attend all scheduled treatment sessions, and refrain from criminal activity. Owing to the treatment nature of the program, noncompliance does not result in termination. However, to graduate from the program, the juvenile must complete all of his or her treatment goals and be in compliance with the program for a significant period. Graduation results in the dismissal of charges.

Mission:

The goal of this program is to prevent further criminal behavior among first-time juvenile misdemeanor drug offenders.

Florida - Gainsville

Project Back-on-Track

From: Healthy Communities Institute

The Back on Track program is an after-school diversion program. The program includes youth as well as their parents. While this program is not limited to drug and substance abuse, the program does work with drug offenders.

Florida

Orange County Juvenile Substance Abuse Treatment Court

From: Healthy Communities Institute

This is an informational link to the Orange County Juvenile Substance Abuse Court. This is court allows for an individualized treatment of juveniles that have entered the juvenile justice system. Cooperation with the court and the treatment plan results in lowered or dismissed charges.

Florida

Civil Citation Program

From: The Florida Legislature

This is a Florida statute authorizing the use of civil citations for certain adolescent offenses. It provides an analysis of that provision, explaining that this program separates children who make mistakes or have an error in judgment from those that are committing more serious offenses.

Florida

Civil Citation Program, Hillsborough County

From: HillsboroughCounty

Common school misbehaviors in the 21st Century result in dramatically different consequences. Getting into a fight where no one is injured, or stealing a library book, previously resulted in a trip to the principal’s office. In the 21st Century, the student often gets arrested.

Since the Civil Citation Initiative, a student who makes a mistake or who is involved in common school misbehavior is offered the option of a civil citation. The student must take responsibility for the mistake and admit wrongdoing. The student is required to complete community service hours. The student may be required to make restitution to the victim.

Florida

Civil Citation Program, Miami-Dade County

From: Miami-Dade County Juvenile Services Department

Representing a systemic change in how juvenile justice is delivered, for the first time troubled children in Miami-DadeCounty who commit a minor offense will have the opportunity to attain complete and targeted treatment services without the baggage of an arrest.

In Partnership with Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police and the Office of the State Attorney, Civil Citation is an unprecedented benchmark initiative that reforms the protocol on how police and the community address juvenile first-time misdemeanor offenders. Rather than issuing an arrest, officers will refer all eligible children to attain the same level of evidence-based, customized, and proven services available to arrested youth.

Hawaii

Youth – Risk/Protective Factor, Prevention

From: Center on the Family, University of Hawaii at Mānoa

The University of Hawaii at Manoa through their Center on the Family offers a search engine that locates different types of preventative services offered within the state. The Community Prevention Resource Assessment component of the Hawaii Prevention Needs Assessment: Family of Studies identified and compiled data on a broad range of funding, personnel, and other prevention resources in Hawai‘i. It helps to define the nature of the programs, services, and populations served, as well as the availability and geographic distribution of prevention programs. The searchable directory of programs and services provided here is only a small part of the full report, which can be found in its entirety at designated Hawaii libraries. Programs and services can be searched using program focus, funding sources, training opportunities provided, or location of services. An alphabetical list of all programs is also provided.

Idaho

Schools and Parent Education

From: DrugFree Idaho

DrugFree Idaho Inc.'s overall focus is on creating a community-wide culture that is free of drug and alcohol abuse. We believe that this is in large part achieved through the education of the community as a whole. Therefore, DrugFree Idaho Inc. provides numerous opportunities for members of the community to get involved in drug and alcohol abuse awareness and prevention classes.

There are four components to DrugFree Idaho Inc's classes:

a) PAYADA
b) Parenting Challenge
c) The Parent Project
d) Project Alert

Illinois

Statewide Collaborative for Prevention Advocacy

From: Prevention First

Prevention First has joined with other Illinois agencies to advocate for the positive impact that prevention programs bring to Illinois. As a collaborative we believe that programs that address juvenile delinquency, teen pregnancy, youth substance abuse, child abuse and after-school programs through Teen REACH, go a long way to addressing the needs of children and youth in Illinois.

Illinois

Intensive Supervision Juvenile Probation Program

From: Healthy Communities Institute

The Intensive Supervision Juvenile Probation Program is a four-phase intensive supervision juvenile probation program that targets juvenile offenders placed on probation for known gang-related behavior or substance abuse offenses. All program participants have extensive criminal histories or are at risk of incarceration or residential placement. The program addresses juvenile probationer treatment needs while controlling behaviors through surveillance and intensive supervision. It consists of many essential elements for probation, including small caseloads, distinct graduated phases to structure movement through the program, substance abuse assessments, and behavioral controls, such as electronic monitoring, curfews, home confinement, and random drug testing.

Indiana

Indiana Resources for Prevention

From: IndianaPreventionResourcesCenter – IndianaUniversityBloomington

The IndianaPreventionResourceCenter offers a directory of all the available preventative programs in the state.

Indiana

Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana – Drug Prevention Program

From: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

Afternoons R.O.C.K in Indiana is an exciting after school drug prevention program for youth, ages 10-14. This developmental period has been identified as a "window of increased vulnerability" when youth are more likely to begin using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Purpose: The acronym "R.O.C.K." represents the mission of the Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana program to provide Recreation, Object lessons, Culture and values and Knowledge via active and entertaining focused and supportive prevention activities designed to teach youth about social and media influences, conflict resolution and refusal/resistance skills, gang and violence prevention, and the structuring of leisure time to be free of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

Need: Recognizing thatyouth between the ages of 10 and 14 require constructive, supervised activities during the after school hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., Afternoons R.O.C.K. in Indiana provides youth with a prescribed strategy of structured and unstructured activities that promote positive social relationships and skills during these "three critical hours" of unsupervised time during which today's youth often find themselves tempted to engage in risky behaviors such as experimentation with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; as well as vandalism, gang activity, and sexual experimentation. Each year, over 14,000 youth attend 80% of the days that the program is offered and they complete 100% of the "focused" prevention hours.

Kansas

Shawnee Regional Prevention Center