CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM

The City of San Diego seeks to keep kids in school, improve youth decision making, reduce youth contact with law enforcement and subsequent entrance into the juvenile justice system through an innovative school/law enforcement diversion project. Working with San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Police Department, this project will provide diversion/intervention services to students identified as being at risk for dropping out and/or entering the justice system. One hundred and fifty at-risk students in a one-year period will be identified at the school site through criteria developed by the partner agencies. Targeted students will exhibit poor attendance and problematic behaviors. A Juvenile Diversion specialist will develop individualized case plans and will monitor behavior and progress through school attendance and arrest reports, objective assessment tools and family report. Interventions will include intensive case management, mentoring, social skills training, problem solving, and referrals to other resources as needed. Outcomes will be monitored monthly and long-term effects will be assessed at six and twelve months following discharge. Performance measures will include student attendance and rates of youth involvement with violence and crime. NCA/NCF