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Juvenile Community Based Services
- CMH Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Community Learning Program
- community service & resource program
- drug testing
- Education advocacy Program
- Electronic monitoring (tether)
- Equine therapy
- juvenile court orientation and prevention education
- Mentoring
- night in-home intervention
- night skills-building program
- Resource Liaison Inquiry Program
- Retail fraud class
- SURE Moms Group
- Victim Awareness Program
CMH Trauma-Informed Therapy Programs
Trauma-informed therapy is provided through a CMH therapist who utilizes evidence-based practices such as Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). The therapist collaborates with psychiatric services and assists with medication management.
Community Learning Program
Weekly learning series with Juvenile Division staff and interdisciplinary area agencies overseen by the Prevention and Education Unit. Agency representatives confer with Juvenile Division personnel to learn more about available resources, joint systems knowledge, and ways to make services more available and equitable for youth and families.
Community Service & Resource Program
This program facilitates opportunities for youth to be in service to the community through a restorative justice model. Projects include direct service opportunities with local nonprofit organizations and community restoration projects. Court staff seek out appropriate opportunities and facilitate each activity. In partnership with local organizations, court involved youth are able to build both life and employable skills while in service to the community.
Drug Testing
The Juvenile Division contracts with Community Corrections to conduct random drug screens as ordered by a judge or referee and referred by the probation officer. Staff use the information to recommend treatment, programs, and services to address substance use disorders with youth.
Education Advocacy Program
The Student Advocacy Center provides educational advocacy and representation for court-identified youth and families. Advocates assess and review educational records to create a case plan of needs and goals and provide representation for educational meetings, special education assessments, disciplinary hearings, behavior plan meetings and any additional school-based needs. The advocate provides educational support and advocacy in court hearings, wraparound sessions, and other community-based meetings.
Electronic Monitoring (Tether)
A community-based alternative for youth involved in the Court process. It allows youth to remain in their homes under strict terms and conditions instead of being placed outside of the home or remaining in the Youth Center. The GPS tether monitors youth in the community in a highly structured way and allows youth to remain in school and actively participate in after-hours programming.
Equine Therapy
Experiential therapeutic program to promote empathetic understanding, emotional regulation, and increased impulse control for court-involved youth. Youth work with rescued horses at Starry Skies Equine Sanctuary and provide direct care to the animals while guided through therapeutic exercises by a licensed clinical practitioner and former probation officer. Incorporating a restorative justice approach to each session, participants work to gain a better understanding of the behaviors that led to their court involvement.
Juvenile Court Orientation and Prevention Education (JCOPE)
Collaboration with the Office of Public Defender and the Prosecutor’s Office for court-involved youth and families. Assists with navigating court and probation process. Orientation includes information on the roles of defense counsel, prosecutor, and probation officer; victim rights and restoration; youth development, community safety, and preparing for the future.
Mentoring
Individual and group work from community mentors to provide additional support to youth and families. Mentors, with similar prior experience, maintain regular contact and serve as a bridge to community and experiential activities. They offer programming and resources that are available during non-traditional hours.
Night In-Home Intervention
After hours supervision and support to youth on house arrest and with curfews. Staff provide crisis intervention as needed and facilitate access to community skills building programming in the evening. Assigned In-Home Intervention Specialists see youth as frequently as daily.
Night Skills-Building Program
Experiential learning opportunities during after school and evening hours. Workshops and community-based activities aim to increase pro-social skills, family engagement, and reduce recidivism.
Resource Liaison Inquiry Program
Case management services, resources, and community connection available to parents, guardians, caregivers, and youth who contact the Juvenile Division seeking assistance.
Retail Fraud Class
Interactive monthly learning opportunity for all court-involved youth charged with Retail Fraud. In a roundtable discussion, participants are encouraged to identify their long-term goals and how short-term decision making could negatively impact them. Emphasis is on immediate contributing factors when they chose to take items they did not pay for and how to productively use this experience as an opportunity to reflect and identify effective coping mechanisms.
SURE Moms Group (Sisters United Resilient & Empowered)
Peer support group for mothers who have children within the juvenile justice system. Facilitated by Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) outreach worker and mental health professionals. Provides a space for mothers to seek counsel and encouragement and increase knowledge of community resources and supports.
Victim Awareness Program
Helps court-involved youth become aware of the impact their criminogenic behavior has on the victim(s) and the community at large. In an interactive course, youth have the opportunity to focus on how their choices and behaviors impacted those they harmed. They learn about direct victims and indirect victims, and ways to repair the harm through a balanced and restorative justice model.