Wayne County Juvenile Re-entry Program

The Wayne County Juvenile Re-entry Initiative ('Project Re-entry') will teach adjudicated youth to internalize and exhibit positive behaviors on a daily basis upon their return from residential placement to Highland Park, MI. Project Re-entry seeks to increase the support network for a minimum of 40 youth through an Offender Reintegration Panel, mentors, faith-based activities, after-school groups, school-based mental health services, parental support and identification of existing community services. The major goals of the program are to enhance accountability of all service providers for juveniles in community supervision and ensure public safety through the reduction of re-incarceration rates; development of a wraparound re-entry treatment team prior to residential program release will include faith-based and community-based organizations; development of an aftercare service plan to assess the strengths and needs of each youth and family to ensure a positive adjustment to the community; and utilization of progressive sanctions when youth experience difficulty with readjustment to the community (including electronic monitoring, three-day detention, and respite care up to 14 days) in an effort to ensure public safety and prevent recidivism and re-incarceration. The target population for this initiative is adjudicated youth between the ages of 14-21 who've been convicted for a serious crime and have had at least one out-of-home placement (not including detention). Progress will be tracked and measured by a reduction in recidivism and re-offense rates, as well as increased youth functioning in the community up to two years after completion of the program. NCA/NCF