Optimizing FFPSA Coordination in Colorado Juvenile Justice System

Family First Prevention and Services Act Juvenile Justice Crosswalk Colorado has an unique opportunity to coordinate the efforts of the Family First Prevention and Services Act (FFPSA) throughout the juvenile justice system, including: Prior Cases Municipal Cases Arrests Diversion Programs Pre-Trial Programs Probation Commitment Parole

FFPSA Juvenile Justice Crosswalk Youth who were open or are currently open with local county department. OPPORTUNITY: Local county departments can continue to focus on post permanency supports for youth who have experienced the system in the past; especially as families reach out for help with a youth who has been reunified, placed with kin or adopted. This could help prevent future involvement in the juvenile justice and child welfare system. PRIOR OR CURRENT CASES Youth who pick up municipal level charges. OPPORTUNITY: Local county departments, Collaborative Management Programs (CMP) and Juvenile Services Planning Committees (JSPC) can discuss the possible development of a plan that identifies these youth and their family and offer supports and services to help prevent further penetration in the juvenile justice/child welfare system; including out of home placement. This could be done through braiding and blending of funds at the local level. MUNICIPAL Youth at risk of being arrested or who have been arrested. OPPORTUNITY: For those jurisdictions who have a Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) or through the required law enforcement agreements with the local county department, CMP or JSPC how can a process be developed to refer family s for resources and supports through the prevention program instead of an arrest. Or if an arrest occurs how to engage partners in supporting the youth and family, as early identification can prevent further penetration of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. ARREST

FFPSA Juvenile Justice Crosswalk Youth who are charged but offered division OPPORTUNITY: Engaging a youth and family while on Diversion to provide services and supports may help to increase their success on Diversion and truly divert them from the juvenile justice and child welfare system and out of home placement. DIVERSION Youth who have sex offense related charges OPPORTUNITY: Youth have committed or are alleged to have committed a sexual related offense are often some of the most difficult cases to handle both in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. The prevention services and supports through Families First may provide an opportunity to prevent further penetration into the juvenile justice/child welfare system. ADDITONALLY: Youth with sex offenses are often some of the toughest to place and sometimes linger in the highest level of care, this is a population that we need to be very mindful with placements; especially in QRTPs. SEX OFFENSES Youth who are charged with a delinquent act and need PRE-TRIAL or detention management services OPPORTUNITY: youth who are on pre-trial release or receiving services are most often at the beginning of their delinquency case and if early services and supports can be provided to the family or even kin, it may help to prevent further penetration into the juvenile justice and child welfare system. PRE-TRIAL

FFPSA Juvenile Justice Crosswalk Youth who are adjudicated and need additional services or possible placement out of the home or have been sentenced out of the home OPPORTUNITY: youth who are on probation are all at risk of out of home placement, this area may be one of the biggest opportunities to provide prevention services to the family or kin, if youth is placed with kin. Local counties often feel they are brought into a case when things are not going well and are not given the opportunity to work with the family and provide supports in a different way that does not always require an out of home placement. PROBATION Youth who have been committed to the Division of Youth Services. OPPORTUNITY: If youth are placed in a QRTP, they will also follow some of the QRTP related processes. COMMITTMENT Youth who are placed on parole OPPORTUNITY: when a youth is placed on parole they are at risk of coming back into the system and possible the child welfare system. There may be some particular prevention services or supports that can be provided to the youth, family or kin to support the parole plan and stabilize the placement, therefore preventing further out of home placements. PAROLE

Family First Prevention and Services Act Juvenile Justice Crosswalk Relationship to SB 108 Juvenile Justice Reform -Assessments -Kin identification -Services