Every Child Matters - Ohio Department of Youth Services

This program promotes and expands services in detention and correctional facilities to incarcerated individuals who have children younger than age 18, and provides states and localities with funding to implement positive family engagement strategies and activities that address the needs of incarcerated parents with minor children. This program is authorized under the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-141.

The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) will use funding to introduce comprehensive assessments which include physicals, mental health and substance screens, and cognitive and educational assessments to gauge criminogenic risk, needs and responsivity. This information is used to inform the development of an individual treatment plan, and subsequently, a reentry plan. Each parent and their child will participate in services designed to improve their relationship, promote public safety, prevent and reduce delinquent behavior, and address juvenile crime and victimization. DYS will assign a full-time grant manager to coordinate program activities, collect, interpret and report youth and program outcomes, and coordinate sustainability efforts. CA/NCF