These youth have committed no crime and their behavior may be more indicative of harm they have or are suffering from. Most youth and their families will thrive successfully with community-based services, supports and opportunities.
Emphasis is placed on the use and delivery of services safely in the community to exhaust all diversion efforts prior to court intervention, to avoid all unnecessary out-of-home placement, and to safely and swiftly return youth back to their communities if placed. This includes exploring all natural resources for the youth and family, providing equitable access to community-based, trauma-informed, gender-responsive interventions, as well as opportunities for positive youth development supports.
By preserving important connections to a youth’s home community, family and culture, youth have the support to meet their needs in a manner that is individualized and thereby effective to the unique circumstances of each family.
For youth who do require out-of-home placement related to an Article 7 petition, the reform legislation limits the settings in which these can occur, and outlines mandated, time-limited placements requiring immediate and focused permanency planning. No youth can be placed out-of-home for truancy.
For more information call (315) 376-5400 and ask for a preventive services supervisor.