Freeport Pride, Juvenile Diversion Project

The goals of the project are to reduce juvenile delinquency and out of home placements for youth who are at high risk of further juvenile behavior and placement. The program will target 25 youth and their families who are under the supervision of the Nassau County Probation Department, Family Division. With this funding, most of these youth will be able to be maintained in the community by addressing issues such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, unemployment, learning problems and mental health either directly or by making appropriate referrals. In addition to families being kept together, there will also be substantial cost savings as residential placements and the results of criminal acts are quite costly. The Freeport Pride Diversion Project will work in tandem with probation to provide in home counseling and case management services with the probationers and their families. The project will provide services to 25 youth, on probation and at-risk of placement and their families. Progress will be measured by the number of youth successfully completing their probation/not being placed and the number of outcomes successfully completed on each probationer's counseling plan. To review overall progress, a system will be maintained to measure the number of youth served, types of services implemented and progress made toward meeting all objectives. NCA/NCF