Albany County Youth Empowerment (ACYEP) and Support (YSIP) Programs

The Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program builds the capacity of states, state and local courts, units of local government, and federally recognized tribal governments to enhance existing drug courts or implement new juvenile drug treatment courts (JDTCs) for individuals with substance abuse problems or co-occurring mental health disorders, including histories of trauma. Under Category 2, Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Enhancement grants are available to jurisdictions with a fully operational (for at least 1 year) juvenile drug treatment court to enhance the operation of the court. The Albany County Youth Empowerment Program is part of the Continuum of the Positive Youth Justice Objective Criteria used to guide evidenced-based youth justice processes in Albany County. This Program is designed to ensure that low to moderate risk youth with substance use treatment needs receive individualized, enhanced support when their needs cannot be fully met in the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Diversion program. To help youth achieve long-term success, the Program strives to use only evidence-based interventions that will meet the evolving and unique needs of each young person and those who support them. The Albany County Youth Support and Integration Program (YSIP) is part of the Continuum of the Positive Youth Justice Objective Criteria used to guide evidenced-based youth justice processes in Albany County. This program is designed to support youth and their families in situations where such youth have been placed outside of the home, and/or outside of the community, and will be returning. The goal of the program is to support youth with moderate to high risk indicators, who have attendant substance use and/or mental health concerns, which may make long-term success upon reentering home and/or the community challenging. This program strives to use evidence-based interventions that will meet the evolving and unique needs of each juvenile and those who support them.