FSAWV High Risk Youth Re-Entry Project: A Community of Opportunity

The Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley (FSAWV) is a non-profit organization that works with children, individuals, families and the communities. The Luzerne County Courts, Luzerne County Office of Human Services, Luzerne County Children & Youth Services, Children's Service Center, Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol Services, and Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley are the collaborating organizations for this proposal. The target population is approximately 400 youth, ages 10 to 18 years that come to the attention of the Luzerne County Juvenile Court and and whose dispositions are to residential placement and/or juvenile probation for supervision annually. Particular emphasis will be placed on those youth who have had mental health and/or drug & alcohol service and/or where they and their family have had contact with the Luzerne County Children & Youth Services child protective and/or child dependency services. This project will support the development of a replicable practice approach to support high-risk youth offenders returning to the community from confinement in a juvenile residential facility. This model is based on a targeted case management model, characterized by frequent face to face and telephone communication with the youth, and regular conferencing with involved family and support service providers. This model will provide a continuity of service and supervision across the boundary of juvenile corrections and community service providers and resources, to include schools, mental health providers, drug & alcohol providers, family, employers and employment training programs. The goals will be to identify existing best practices in community services that address the targeted youths' substance abuse, mental health, education and occupational issues, and work with the community and juvenile justice service providers to adapt 'evidence-based' and 'best practices' treatment and service approaches to meet the needs within the community. CA/NCF