Overcoming Communication Barriers of At-Risk Youth & Families

The OJJDP FY 10 Earmarks Program furthers the Department's mission by providing grants, cooperative agreements, and other assistance authorized by the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, to organizations identified in the Conference Report to accompany the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), H.R. Conf. Rep. No. 111-366 at 702-714.

With an OJJDP award of $150,000, AIDB will implement an intervention program, Overcoming Communication Barriers, targeting at least 30 high-risk youth, ages 14-22, with sensory/multiple disabilities at-risk of dropping out of AIDB or their local education agency (LEA). The program works with the families and educators using multisystemic therapy/wraparound case management methodologies. Complementing OJJDP's mission to improve systems/programs to address juvenile delinquency, objectives include decreasing participant and overall school incidence reports and referrals to social services agencies for negative behavior; decreasing participant and overall student suspensions, expulsions and dropouts and increasing participants' academic performance. A contracted rehabilitation specialist will provide at least 30 students with individualized counseling and case management services with a team of individuals and governmental/state/municipal/ private/faith-based agencies. Outcomes include numbers served, and services provided. Conclusions/suggested therapies will be included in students' Individualized Education Plans (IEP). NCA/NCF