Georgia 2018 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative

The OJJDP FY 2018 Opioid Affected Youth Initiative will fund sites to develop a data-driven coordinated response to identify and address challenges resulting from opioid abuse that are impacting youth and community safety. Category 1: Implementing Data-Driven Strategies and Programs Through Strategic Partnerships will support states, units of local government, and/or tribal governments to (1) develop a multidisciplinary task force with working groups to identify specific areas of concern; (2) collect and interpret data that will assist the task force in developing strategies and programming that will be used to better coordinate response efforts and resources; and (3) implement services that will address public safety concerns, intervention, prevention, and diversion services for children, youth, and families directly impacted by opioid abuse.

The Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) will use funding to establish a statewide panel of experts to identify the greatest areas of concern to address the opioid epidemic and its impact on youth who come into contact with the juvenile justice system; hire a Project Coordinator and appoint the Georgia Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group to the Georgia Statewide Opioid Task Force; integrate and analyze data from stakeholder groups to understand the risk factors for opioid abuse and related crime for juvenile offenders; develop a strategic plan to coordinate interventions and evaluate effectiveness of strategies; conduct a comprehensive gap analysis; and implement and increase the use of evidence-based programming and assessment tools for youth and families receiving services. CA/NCF