JUVENILE PROBATION AND COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT-Program Innovations

JUVENILE PROBATION AND COURT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Program Innovations

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program	Violence Intervention/Prevention Program
Family Reunification Program	Street Dreams Employment Program
Juvenile Sex Offender Program	Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Program

Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program
This program offers treatment and rehabilitation to delinquent substance abusing minors ages 10 to 16 who have been charged with nonviolent, drug related offenses. Prosecution, supervision or probation is deferred pending successful participation in the program. Following an assessment, minors who are identified in need of intervention, treatment and supervision are offered the option of participating in the program. Through community-based treatment providers, minors receive substance abuse treatment, health care, group and individual counseling, educational and vocational training, and short-term residential treatment. Minors are tested for use of controlled substances or other addictive substances during the entire period of program participation. By focusing on intervention strategies that address both the potential risk to the community and individual treatment needs of minors and their families, the Juvenile Drug Treatment Court Program helps to reduce substance abuse and related crime.

Family Reunification Program
This program focuses on expediting the release of minors from the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center who have been designated by the court as R.U.R. (Release Upon Request) to a family member. If no adult comes forward to receive a minor back into the home, probation officers assigned to this program access community-based resources and services to provide early crisis intervention for the minor. Through interviews with the minor and family members, the probation officers work to identify and resolve the impediments to the minor's reunification with his or her family.

Juvenile Sex Offender Program
The purpose of the Juvenile Sex Offender Program is to rehabilitate minors between the ages of 10 and 17 who have been found delinquent of committing the following offenses: sexual abuse, criminal sexual abuse, sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Minors are referred to the program by a judge as a condition of probation or supervision. Staffed by highly skilled probation officers who are trained and experienced in working with sex offenders, the program provides a treatment process that focuses on accepting responsibility, breaking the sexual offense cycle, identifying and exercising internal and external control, and relapse prevention. Probation officers design specific treatment plans which combine individual and group therapy and in-depth contacts with the minor and his or her family each week. Probation officers provide the court with regular reports on each minor's compliance with all components of the probation order.

Violence Intervention/Prevention Program
This program consists of single presentation workshops for minors charged with delinquent acts who need to learn healthy responses to violence and aggression. Minors are referred to the program by probation officers, assistant state's attorneys or assistant public defenders. A judge also may order a minor to take the workshop. Conducted by probation officers, the program features a 30-minute video, Justice is Done, that was created by young victims of violence. The video presentation is followed by a discussion of positive alternatives to anger and violence and the consequences of returning to the court system. Minors' families are encouraged to accompany them to the workshop.

Street Dreams Employment Program
This program provides juvenile probationers between the ages of 16 and 18 with employment opportunities through public and private sector employers. The program's goal is to expose these minors to a productive work environment and to assist them in developing job readiness skills. Any court-ordered sanctions under which the probationer has been placed remain in full force following selective admittance to the program. Participants must be referred by their probation officers and be currently enrolled in vocational, adult alternative or regular high school while maintaining a grade point average of 2.0 or above; have no record of tardiness, cutting classes or suspension; adapt well within the family setting and the community; and have no gang affiliations, tattoos or earrings.

Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Program
This program is dedicated to supporting and protecting court-referred child sex abuse victims and their families through a system of therapeutic interventions. The goal of the program is to provide the guidance, care and understanding necessary for the recovery of child sex abuse victims. Program clients range in age from 3 to 21. Probation officers assigned to this program have graduate degrees in social work/counseling and extensive experience in family therapy. Services provided include specialized intensive casework, advocacy, counseling and treatment. Under the program, probation officers prepare children for trial, accompany them to court, help maintain sibling visits and relationships and assist in placing the child in a permanent setting.