Juvenile Justice Alternatives

Program Description

Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) provides a community-based alternative to placement for Juvenile Probation Departments. Our strength-based, family-focused program serves adjudicated juvenile offenders whose behavior and social circumstances put them at risk of placement in residential facilities. Eligible youth are those deemed by the courts to be in need of residential care. The program follows an innovative advocacy/wraparound model that includes a comprehensive mix of highly individualized services for youth and their families. Our program goals are to:

• Decrease the occurrence of juvenile crime and enhance community safety;
  • Increase opportunities for success and improve quality of life for youth and families; and
  • Facilitate community empowerment.

Throughout its service area, YAP's juvenile justice programs are helping to alleviate overcrowding in juvenile detention and correctional facilities. One example is the Tarrant County Advocate Program (TCAP), established in Fort Worth, Texas in 1992. TCAP has worked with youth gangs, including the notorious Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings, and has achieved success rates as high as 97% in diverting youth from correctional placement. As a result of TCAP's success in Fort Worth, the program today serves all of Tarrant County. Similar Advocate Programs are operating in Travis, Dallas, Harris, and Fort Bend Counties.

A large percentage of youth served by the Advocate Programs are at the "deep end" of the juvenile justice system. YAP operates under an inclusive intake policy--referrals will be accepted regardless of client characteristics or case histories. Acceptance into the program will carry with it a commitment to unconditional care, meaning that YAP will not unilaterally terminate a youth or family. While the proposed program will not provide behavioral health treatment services for the conditions listed below, YAP is willing to provide paraprofessional services for youth in these categories. Agency experience has been that the intervention of a caring, supportive advocate greatly enhances the effectiveness of professional mental health treatment and services of other providers who may be providing services based on diagnostic specialization. In such situations, YAP is willing to work in concert with the providers to help ensure that treatment plans are followed. As appropriate to need, YAP advocates will help families access appropriate services, make and keep appointments, work in concert with school personnel to promote the youth's success, and provide other services to help improve youth and family functioning.

YAP today provides programs for high-risk youth and their families in Texas, Florida, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Louisiana, and the District of Columbia. Based on its success with juvenile justice programs in the United States, YAP was invited to work in England and Ireland to assist with reform of the juvenile justice system and to develop Advocate Programs. The average program lasts four to six months.

Community Linkages

A major function of wraparound service planning is to help families develop community-based support networks that will remain in place after program involvement has ended. This is accomplished by working in conjunction with community service providers and other organizations to coordinate service delivery to families. Linkages to appropriate community providers and resources will be included in each youth/family ISP. Advocates will facilitate referrals and linkages to these providers. Linkages will include both traditional and non-traditional supports. In addition to family and peer relationships, linkages may include public schools, extra-curricular activities, and alternative educational programs. Other linkages may include local Y.M.C.A.'s, Y.W.C.A.'s, scouting, church groups, or other community activities. As appropriate, advocates assist with referral to mental health/mental retardation programs, counseling services, medical resources, parent support groups, drug and alcohol services, legal services, and others as needed. The program budget includes provision for clinical services by appropriate providers. These linkages to community resources and support systems aid in sustaining community adjustment after program involvement has ended. An important program service is enabling families to negotiate the various systems and access resources independently.

Supported Work Program and Vocational Assistance

Young, unskilled and often poorly educated, the typical juvenile offender has few marketable skills to offer potential employers. The Supported Work Program is a form of subsidized employment to be used after the youth has been stabilized in the community. While participation in the program with an advocate continues, the youth also works at a supported work site. The employment site is visited by the program staff prior to employment to ensure that it provides a safe and productive environment for the youth. Advocates monitor the site for the duration of the youth's employment and are available to "job coach" and help resolve problems with the youth on the job site should there be a need. Supported Work employers are encouraged to hire the client upon successful completion of the employment training period. Supported Work contracts normally operate for a two- to three-month period. Job placement may also be accomplished through unsubsidized employment in the private sector.

How to reach us

To contact YAP about our Juvenile Justice Services, please e-mail givory@yapinc.org or dnewman@yapinc.org.