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Bridging the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems

NCJ Number
152155
Author(s)
Date Published
June 1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Four programs administered by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Administration on Children, Youth and Families -- Family Preservation and Support Services, State Court Improvement Program, Children's Justice Act, and Delinquency Prevention Incentive Grants -- present opportunities for collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
Abstract
Prevention programs include Family Preservation and Support Services. Under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the section on Family Preservation and Support Services carries nearly $1 billion in new Federal aid over 5 years to States and a limited number of Indian tribes for preventive services (family support services) and services to families at risk or in crisis (family preservation services). Participation in planning grant applications should be as broad as possible, including an array of public and private agencies and institutions, parents, consumers, and other individuals whose interests and responsibilities have an impact on service delivery. Title V of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended, establishes the Delinquency Prevention Incentive Grants program. The funding guideline emphasizes collaboration and coordination with other Federal, State, and local programs that use a similar planning process for prevention services. Court improvement programs are the State Court Improvement Program and Children's Justice Act. The Court Improvement Program provides State courts with the opportunity to collaborate with the other organizations and individuals responsible for promoting and protecting the well-being of children and families. Opportunities for collaboration under the four programs include understanding the respective programs and identifying ways in which the programs can build on one another; eliminating duplicative planning processes; including State child welfare directors, juvenile justice specialists, Children's Justice Act coordinators, and State court leaders on the planning teams; and participating in the training activities. Another opportunity for cooperation is to work closely during the implementation of the programs. 4 references

Date Published: June 1, 1995