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Juvenile Crime Intervention & Prevention Services are community-based programs that assist parents, schools and the court in their efforts to rehabilitate youthful offenders. Services include comprehensive assessments, intensive supervision for youth on parole or probation and mental health treatment for behavioral issues such as substance abuse, family conflicts or anti-social behavior.
Youth Links
Youth Links is an innovative new program for Douglas and Sarpy youth in crisis. The program offers services for youth age 10-18 years who have been found to be delinquent or who are status offenders. The program is designed as a “triage center” that combines evaluation, crisis stabilization and linkage to community services to help youth successfully return to home, school and community. Residential and partial day services are provided, as well as outreach and supportive services to the youths’ families. Referrals are made through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Douglas and Sarpy County juvenile courts. Heartland Family Service is the lead agency in a partnership with Boys Town to develop and provide this program. Read more in the Youth Links media release.
Community Based Evaluation
Heartland Family Service professional therapists assist juvenile court judges by evaluating youth who have committed juvenile crimes and providing recommendations regarding treatment and rehabilitation services. Our therapists interview the youth, his or her family and confer with the individuals and institutions that have become involved with the youth. The youth receives medical, psychological and substance abuse evaluations. A multi-disciplinary report is assembled that includes recommendations from all disciplines. The therapist then recommends to the judge appropriate community resources available to the child and his or her family. Community Based Evaluations continue to have a positive impact in the community because the parents, the youth and the therapist all work together as a team to come up with the best solution for each individual family. Referrals are made through the juvenile court.
Minor in Possession (MIP) Class
This education class for young adults, age 12-19 years, supports drug awareness and addiction prevention. Classes are conducted by two licensed CADAC counselors. The interactive format incorporates two respected programs – the Hazeldon “Alternate Roots” program and the “Prime For Life” program of the Prevention Research Institute. Guest speakers include young adults who have been though an MIP program and have effectively moved forward with their lives. Youth from Douglas, Sarpy and outlying counties who have been cited with an MIP are eligible. Referrals are accepted from parents, educational institutions, private physicians, etc. One 8-hour session on Saturdays is offered once monthly at either the Heartland Family Service West Office or Central Office. Tuition is $50 per participant. A limited number of sliding-fee slots are available.
Tracker Services
This Tracker program monitors youth on probation or parole and assists them in following through with the recommendations of the court. The staff monitors the youth's compliance with school attendance, curfew, employment, counseling and drug and alcohol restrictions in order to reduce the need for detention. This intensive supervision allows the youth to stay at home and at school, where influential people can help him or her learn more socially acceptable behaviors. In addition, staff also serve as an advocate to help youth reduce risks to themselves and others, and to help them develop a more positive lifestyle through healthy activities including community service. Services and procedures are slightly different in Iowa and Nebraska. Referrals are through the Office of Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Court.
YouthNet
YouthNet is a collaborative project of Family Service and the YMCA to provide a comprehensive program of outreach, counseling and structured activities for junior high school-age youth. The program's goal is to provide free prevention and intervention services to youth who may be at risk of gang involvement, substance abuse and other negative influences. The program also helps families counteract the influence of siblings who are already involved in gangs. Heartland Family Service conducts the professional family counseling component of YouthNet. Our professional counselors offer mental health assessment and treatment, assist with the enhancement of family relationships, intervene and/or prevent negative behavior, consolidate existing individual and family strengths, and assist clients to learn new ways to meet self-chosen goals.
Tri-County Partnership for Youth Development
The Tri-County Patnership for Youth Development is funded by Workforce Development through the city. Goodwill, Heartland Family Service and Boys and Girls Club are partners in this effort. The program is designed to help older youth prepare for a career-oriented position. The youth is assigned a case manager and attends 50 hours of training focused on leadership development, career exploration, job shadowing, internet research and resume writing. Once the youth completes the training, Goodwill helps them find employment. The case manager continues to work with the youth for up to a year providing coaching and support through communication with the youth, school and employer.
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