Expansion of the Adolescent Delinquency Program

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.

Starr Commonwealth will expand its residential Adolescent Delinquency Program (ADP) to serve more at-risk youth in Ohio and specifically target those counties in the 5th Congressional District. This project will not only ease the financial burden on local governments and agencies in the target region, but will also provide child welfare organizations in these counties with increased program options to treat troubled youth, divert them from the juvenile justice system, and prepare them to successfully re-enter their home communities and schools. ADP serves delinquent and sexually reactive youth ages 12 to 17. Over half of these youth have been in juvenile detention centers prior to placement at Starr.

ADP emphasizes a strength-based philosophy that utilizes individual and peer group counseling, development of interpersonal problem-solving and cooperative learning skills, life skills training and service learning to help youth address their treatment issues. Family involvement is encouraged in each youth's treatment plan and goal-setting. Education, health and wellness are also integral components of ADP. Starr counselors use a variety of evidence-based assessment tools to measure students' progress, including Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale, Motivational Interviewing and Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment. NCA/NCF