Juvenile Justice Building Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) will implement the Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success project. The purpose is to assist the state in planning and assessing promising and evidence-based prevention and intervention services to inform development of a community-based continuum of care for youth at risk of becoming or already involved in the juvenile justice system is crucial for Michigan to move forward with reform efforts.

Project activities include establishing a Juvenile Justice Planning Council that will elevate ongoing reform efforts to develop a continuum of care designed to reduce the number of youth placed in detention or secure residential placements through effective prevention, intervention, diversion, and reentry services for youth so that youth may receive appropriate treatments and services. Project activities will include identifying evidence-based, promising practices, and culturally appropriate strategies that advance long term well-being and success of youth and their families; develop strategies to evaluate economic impact that result in cost savings and identify how those cost savings can be reinvested into the larger continuum of care; establish a sustainable framework that supports the decarceration of youth and the diversion of children identified as being at risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system through a coordinated, collaborative strategy that also promotes safe communities.

The expected outcome is that MDHHS will develop a plan that focuses on specific data-driven evidence-based approaches for prevention and intervention services for youth at risk of involvement or already involved in the juvenile justice system. The identification, development, and sustainability of evidence-based and promising strategies for children require a planning approach that is condensed, collaborative, and cost-saving. State of Michigan youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system are the intended beneficiaries of this project. The sub recipient activities include data collection, and collaborative efforts through the Council.