NCJ Number
194226
Date Published
2000
Length
550 pages
Annotation
This manuel provides information on the Community Systemwide Response Planning Process (CSRPP)and is designed to help communities combat youth substance abuse and impaired driving.
Abstract
Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges is piloting a program that provides training and technical assistance to teams of juvenile court judges and extension agents. These teams lead their communities through a series of meetings to examine risk factors of youth and families. Focus is placed on alcohol and other drug abuse and impaired driving. The outcome of these meetings is the prioritization and implementation of an action plan to reduce specific risk factors and to develop and strengthen protective barriers for youth, families, and communities. The objectives of the program are to: (1) mobilize juvenile court judges and extension professionals to serve as catalysts, trainers, and technical advisors for forming community and State level collaborations to address high-risk youth issues related to alcohol and other drug abuse, as well as juvenile impaired driving; (2) identify and analyze specific problems in the community in the area of youth and family risk factors; (3) assess existing public policy as it relates to the identified problem and determine alternatives in the policy to effect positive change; (4) assess existing resources related to the identified problem that may be used to develop solutions; (5) pinpoint required enhancements to existing services; and 6) develop an action plan, which this workbook reviews, with concrete objectives, tasks, responsibilities, time lines, and monitoring. The reason for including the team of judges and extension agents in the Community System Response is that juvenile court judges are the most likely ones to see a community as a whole. Judges also have the authority to implement programs in juvenile court and can obtain information that no other agency can get. Community System Response can reinvigorate members of the community and help the community understand its role in the raising and nurturing of children.