|
PREVENTION PROGRAMS |
Prevention programs are crucial and proactive components of the current Juvenile Justice System. Besides reacting only to those youth who have entered the juvenile justice system for alleged illegal behavior, the continuum of juvenile justice services includes practical approaches to prevent children from straying toward antisocial behavior.
Prevention approaches are driven by science and research, but implemented by caring people. Prevention science calls upon our community to identify broad and unique factors in a child’s life that most likely make the difference between consistent pro-social and chronic anti-social behavior.
Kansas is a national leader in the adoption of the Prevention Model called the Communities That Care (CTC), developed by renowned social scientists. The CTC Model helps communities to identify and continually evaluate Risk Factors, things like truancy or substance use, which may lead to repeated anti-social behavior if left unaddressed. The model also helps communities identify and improve Protective Factors, things like school safety and attachment to adults, which provide youth with ample direction to develop into healthy, productive adults. More information about Communities That Care model may be found at: www.ctcdata.org.
Communities That Care (CTC) surveys are delivered to 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade students in many school districts throughout our judicial district. The data collected through the CTC surveys are used locally to evaluate trends in youth attitudes and behavior in order to devote resources and attention to areas of concern.
The First Judicial District Juvenile Delinquency Project carries out the implementation of the district’s Strategic Prevention Plan. Utilizing state block grant money, prevention programs in our communities are contracted to provide targeted, researched prevention services to address risk and protective indicators.
Refer to Resource Directory tab for a list of Prevention Provider partnerships.
Between FY05 and FY07, over 1,700 youth have participated in JJA-funded prevention activities, at a public cost of about $233 per youth. More information about our local delinquency prevention progress may be reviewed in document: Nov 7 07 Summary of First Judicial District Juvenile Justice Reform Progress Report.
The Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board routinely assists the Board of Leavenworth County Commission in evaluating our data and programs, updating our district strategic plan, and recommending changes that would improve the positive impact of local prevention services.