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How
does the
JAC
work?
The
mission of the Weld County Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) is
to provide a coordinated, multi-agency, single-entry site
that contributes to the safety of youth, families and the
community through...
Prevention
Intervention
Comprehensive
Assessment
Improved Access to
Services |
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Goals |
The goals
of the Weld County Juvenile Assessment Center are as follows...
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Identify youth with needs in our community.
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Maximize community partnerships and collaborative efforts
designed to serve youth.
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Enhance public safety and well-being.
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Provide a cost-effective and efficient method for dealing
with at-risk juveniles.
- Save
police officer time by providing a safe drop-off site for
juveniles.
- Serve
as a resource for the community regarding youth-related
issues and concerns.
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Referrals |
Juveniles
are referred to the JAC by the community, including...
- Law
enforcement officers can bring juveniles to the JAC because
they have committed a crime, run away, or are beyond the
control of their parents.
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Schools can refer students who have been suspended or
expelled
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Families, friends and neighbors can use the JAC to help them
with kids in conflict.
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Assessment |
| Once at
the JAC, the juvenile will be assessed for drug and alcohol
usage, mental health issues, educational needs and family
problems. This assessment will help determine which services
are most appropriate for each, individual person.
During the
assessment, JAC staff will meet with the parents(s) or
guardian(s) and the youth to discuss the issues that brought
them in. After a brief discussion, a JAC staff member will
conduct the assessment with the youth in private. The
youth is able to speak freely to the staff member without the
parent(s) or guardian(s) overhearing. Another staff member
remains with the parents(s) or guardian(s) to get a clearer
picture of the situation at home and what can be done to correct
it.
After the
assessment is completed and the youth and staff have discussed
the issues at hand, everyone reconvenes to discuss the results
of the assessment and which resources may be helpful. JAC
staff attempts to put a plan in place with every family
regarding conduct. Staff also recommends a variety of
resources available in the community that may be able to help
the family.
JAC staff
follows up with the family in one to two weeks after the
appointment and up to 90 days thereafter. |
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Services |
| Once the
assessment is complete, the juvenile and his or her family will
be referred to agencies whose services will best meet their
needs. These services might include the Weld County Juvenile
Diversion program, restorative justice, mediation, case
management, drug and alcohol counseling, mental health
treatment, life skills training and parenting classes.
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Benefits |
Juvenile
Assessment Centers have a proven track record and provide
several benefits to the community
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Efficiency - By utilizing a multi-agency, single-site
location, in which experienced evaluators can obtain
comprehensive information about a young person, the referral
process is streamlined and duplication of efforts is
minimized.
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Safety - By determining early in the process which
juveniles are likely to be bound for a lifetime of trouble,
intelligent decisions can be made and strict guidelines
imposed.
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Outreach - By
identifying issues within a family unit, the JAC can provide
relevant resources to all its members.
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Collaborative System |
The
following groups of agencies in Weld County are all working
collaboratively
with the JAC. |
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