Policy Lunch: Innovative Juvenile Specialty Courts

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Policy Lunch Innovative Juvenile Specialty
Courts

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Dallas County Juvenile Mental Health Court Judge
Robert Herrera Associate Judge 304th District
Court
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QUESTIONS?
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Dallas County ESTEEM Court Judge Cheryl
Shannon District Judge 305th District Court
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E.S.T.E.E.M. Court

• Experiencing Success Through Empowerment,
  Encouragement and Mentoring
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  Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon

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Mission Statement

• To provide positive experiences for referred
  female youth that will foster success and
  empowerment and thereby prevent further
  involvement in the legal system.

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TARGET POPULATION

• High Risk Victims (HRV) who have committed CINS
  offense or have had misdemeanor charges deferred
  by the District Attorney and have one of the
  following criteria
• At least 4 runaways in 12 month period, or at
  least one residential stay at Letot
• - A victim of child exploitation

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GOALS

• -Facilitate successful completion by providing
  continuity of Judge, Probation Officer and
  service provider.
• - Address the needs of the target population by
  providing wraparound services.
• - Utilize available community-based resources and
  Department services as needed.
• - Increase family involvement by providing
  services for the family as well as the child.

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Goals cont

• - Provide and exit plan for success after
  diversion
• - Decrease further entry into the juvenile
  system, reducing Department expenses, and
  improving outcomes for the families.

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IMPLEMENTATION

• - Conduct an Intake Staffing with the family to
  explain the program (determine if admission
  criteria is met and their willingness to
  participate)
• - Administer Assessment to determine the needs of
  the child and family.
• - Develop and implement a clear and concise case
  plan
• - Provide referrals to the family that meet the
  identified needs

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Implementation cont

• - Girls group session after Court to debrief,
  promote comraderie and build positive
  relationships.
• - Parent Group session after Court to debrief,
  provide group support and introduce new parenting
  strategies.
• - Treatment Group, HOPE, specifically designed
  for this population by Letots clinical staff

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Implementation cont

• - Provide the family with a directory of
  community services for their personal use.
• - Assign girls 15 hours of CSR

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Court Process

• - Court meets weekly
• - Court Team staffs cases weekly
• - Judge gives overview of the program to child
  and family
• - Review Hearings
• - Groups following Court

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

• Big Brothers/Big Sisters
• AIM Truancy

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The Pathway to Success

• Level 1 Sapphire
• - Level 2 Emerald
• Level 3 Ruby
• - Level 4 - Diamond

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OUR SUCCESSES

• Graduates

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QUESTIONS?
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Contact Information
Jaime Hanks Meyers North Texas Managing
Director jmeyers_at_childrenatrisk.org Suma
Ananthaswamy North Texas Staff Attorney sananthasw
amy_at_childrenatrisk.org
3625 N. Hall Street, Suite 760, Dallas, Texas
75219 www.childrenatrisk.org