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	Juvenile Justice Initiative
	Ohio Afterschool Network
	Youth Development Initiative Project

Youth Development

Ohio’s system of juvenile justice can preserve public safety while promoting effective rehabilitative treatment for all youth involved in unruly and delinquency proceedings. In order to achieve this, Ohio’s system must focus on three broad priorities:

• Address the unique developmental needs of children before the courts,
• Use of effective community-based programs instead of large, institutional/prison-like institutions, and
• Encourage and increase opportunities for youth, family and community participation.

Ohio Must Expand the Range of Proven and Effective Community-Based Programs for Youth, Thus Reducing Reliance on Institutional Settings

■ Redirect institutional and placement resources in order to increase access to evidence-based, effective community-based programs.

■ Expand system of community-based alternative placements that focus on rehabilitation and treatment, and ensure adequate transition services when placement out of the home is absolutely necessary.

■ Create community-based programs that allow youth to be an active and productive part of the community while receiving quality treatment and necessary supports.

■ Coordinate rehabilitation and treatment plans for youth involved in multiple systems such as the child welfare, juvenile justice, special education and behavioral health systems.

■ Bring to scale effective community-based interventions and programming that meet the individualized needs of youth and actively engage family and kinship resources.

Ohio Should Maximize Youth, Family and Community Participation

■ Involve family and kin in treatment while children are incarcerated in Department of Youth Services (DYS) facilities.

■ Develop a network of family and youth advocates in Ohio who can help promote systemic and legislative reform, educate families on their rights within the system, and build support in the home and community.

■ Secure general revenue funding for effective and proven successful reentry and aftercare programming for youth transitioning out of detention and DYS facilities.

■ Coordinate services through local family and children first councils to respond to the multi-faceted systemic needs of high risk offenders returning to the community.