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Dane County Department of Human Services |
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Delinquency Services
Description | Signs and Symptoms | General Eligibility | How to Apply Description
The Dane County Department of Human Services offers an array of services both directly and through purchase of service agencies for youth who are delinquent or at risk for delinquency. Programming is founded in the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. This model calls for juveniles to be held accountable for their behaviors, agencies to assist juveniles in building desirable competencies, and communities to be assured protection.
Balanced and Restorative Justice - Dane County Balanced and Restorative Justice, as an intervention strategy, suggests that in response to crime we need to focus on three goals:
While developed initially as in intervention strategy, many of the principles of Balanced and Restorative Justice are consistent with the best research and practices in preventing delinquent behavior. Research has shown that prevention strategies work. And, more often than not these strategies depend on investments that rely less on public funds and more on the resources of the community (volunteers, faith community, neighborhood centers, civic organizations, etc.) Without going into semantics, Balanced and Restorative Justice prevention means creating or changing the conditions that impact on the lives and behavior of others before an actual incident occurs. We already know that kids who feel connected to their neighborhood and community, have others who value them and value others, and have support and encouragement are at a much lower risk to become engaged in a multitude of risky behaviors, including delinquency. We know what it takes for youth to become successful, but we too often are busy asking what went wrong rather than what went right.
Youth at risk for delinquency may exhibit some of these behaviors:
Questions to ask yourself include the following. Does your child:
Does your child's history include:
Services are geared to Dane County youth and their families. Specific eligibility criteria are listed for each service.
There is no application process for youth who have been referred to the Department of Human Services due to law enforcement involvement. Persons interested in non-court involved, early intervention, voluntary services should contact the agencies listed in the Services section directly to apply for services.
Services depend on whether:
Law Enforcement Involved/Court-Involved Youth Dane County Department of Human Services delinquency services staff serve juveniles whom Courts have adjudged delinquent and the families of those juveniles. Assistance includes supervision services, case management services (including oversight of out-of-home placement situations), and early intervention services. Services are provided by one manager, six social work supervisors, and 40+ social workers and other staff. Services are provided from five Department locations. Programming is founded in the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. This model calls for juveniles to be held accountable for their behaviors, agencies to assist juveniles in building desirable competencies, and communities to be assured protection. Delinquency Intake Services - Performs intake assessments on youth referred by the District Attorney's Office. The intake assessment gathers family data and history. The Social Worker will inquire as to alcohol/drug concerns, school progress, mental health concerns, and the overall behavior of the juvenile. The focus of the assessment is to determine what the community protection issues are, what would be appropriate ways to hold a juvenile accountable for their crime, and what competencies need to be enhanced to reduce their risk of re-offense. Delinquency Ongoing Services - Delinquency Ongoing Services are provided once a delinquency case is transferred from the Delinquency Intake Social Worker to a Delinquency Ongoing Social Worker. The goal of the ongoing Social Worker is to assist a young person and his/her family to successfully complete the conditions of the delinquency court order or Consent Decree. The level of involvement, frequency of contact, and types of services depend on the seriousness of the offense, the level of risk the youth presents to re-offend, what has been court ordered, and the needs of the juvenile and family. Intensive Community Supervision Services - Intensive Community Supervision Services are for delinquent youth ages 13-17 who have had significant interaction with law enforcement agencies and the Courts and who demand intensive daily supervision if they are to remain in the community. Services are provided through the Neighborhood Intervention Program and Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin Operation Fresh Start - Dane County Department of Human Services contracts with Operation Fresh Start to provide work related services - pre-employment training, job placement and support, and comprehensive employment and training - for youth ages 14-17 who have complex barriers to employment. The organization's chief training approach is to renovate or construct single family houses for sale to low and very-low income first-time homebuyers. The housing sites are the vehicles for employment training and are at the center of a comprehensive program of educational and support services. Instruction in basic skills and preparation for the high school equivalency examination, instruction in independent living skills, leadership development, counseling, pre-employment skills training, placement in a job or post-secondary education, and supportive follow-up are vital components of the program. For more information, contact Operation Fresh Start at (608) 244-4721. Non-Court Involved, Early Intervention, Voluntary Services CYF Mental Health Services - The Children Youth and Families Division offers a variety of mental health services for children and youth via a purchase of service system. Service areas include individual, group, and family counseling, day treatment, crisis services and risk assessment, advocacy and support services for parents, wraparound services and case management, and community support programming for teens with a severe and persistent mental illness. Dane County Youth Commission - The Dane County Youth Commission through its Youth Board, an active and energetic all-youth committee, helps plan countywide events that promote positive youth development, youth leadership and youth volunteerism. Projects include planning a fall Youth Leadership Conference and an all day Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Forum and Service Day. The Youth Board is also the co-sponsor of the Spring Youth Service Day that is held each Spring. Nehemiah Community Development Corporation - DCDHS contracts with Nehemiah Community Development Corporation to provide Youth Enrichment Services (YES). YES programming provides opportunities for youth to enhance social, employment, academic, and recreational competencies. The overall intent is to build youth self-esteem so as to interrupt the cycle of failure that many disadvantaged youth are experiencing in Dane County. Programming serves youth ages 5-18 (emphasis on ages 11-18). Programming utilizes an Afrocentric-approach with an emphasis on Black history and cultural awareness. For more information, contact Nehemiah at (608) 257-2453. Neighborhood Intervention Program - The Neighborhood Intervention Program (N.I.P.) is a unit of the Children, Youth, and Families Division of the Dane County Department of Human Services. It offers innovative Community Supervision Services and Early Intervention Services to boys and girls ages 10-17 who are delinquent or at risk for delinquency. N.I.P. programming is based on the principles of the Balanced and Restorative Justice Model. Programming seeks to redirect youth by simultaneously holding youth accountable for their behaviors, building youth competencies, and protecting the community. For more information, contact NIP at (608) 288-2400. Operation Fresh Start - Dane County Department of Human Services contracts with Operation Fresh Start to provide work related services - pre-employment training, job placement and support, and comprehensive employment and training - for youth ages 14-17 who have complex barriers to employment. The organization's chief training approach is to renovate or construct single family houses for sale to low and very-low income first-time homebuyers. The housing sites are the vehicles for employment training and are at the center of a comprehensive program of educational and support services. Instruction in basic skills and preparation for the high school equivalency examination, instruction in independent living skills, leadership development, counseling, pre-employment skills training, placement in a job or post-secondary education, and supportive follow-up are vital components of the program. For more information, contact Operation Fresh Start at (608) 244-4721. Project Bootstrap - DCDHS contracts with Project Bootstrap, Inc. to provide a prevention and early intervention after school education and alcohol and other drug abuse prevention program for middle and high school age youth. The primary goal is to help-at risk African-American and other ethnic students to acquire their full potential through personal and educational development. For more information, contact Bootstrap at (608) 257-1180. Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin - DCDHS contracts with Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin to provide crisis intervention and runaway services to teens and their families. Services include 24-hour crisis and referral service, face-to-face early intervention counseling, and emergency shelter alternatives. For more information, contact YSSW at (608) 251-6211.
There is no cost for the majority of the prevention and early intervention services provided by the Neighborhood Intervention Program. Costs may be charged based on the ability to pay for other delinquency services. There is a $25.00/per month fee for all youth placed under Human Services supervision. This fee is waived if the juvenile is placed outside the parental home. In these instances, however, a monthly fee is charged for the placement. Parents are sent information by Dane County fiscal representatives which help determine the amount of the fee.
Information on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse programs Dane County Youth Gang Prevention Task Force: Proposed Community Response Plan On Balance Newsletter - is a publication of Dane County's Department of Human Services and the Dane County Juvenile Court. It highlights issues related to juvenile delinquency and juvenile justice. Dane County Juvenile Court Program - The Juvenile Court Program provides number of services and programs in collaboration with other county agencies, law enforcement, and community based providers relating to juvenile delinquents in Dane County. The web site includes a Parents' Guide to the Juvenile Court. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention - This link provides information and statistics on topics such as courts, delinquency, offenders, victims, and more.
For more information, contact:
Stephen Blue, Delinquency Services Manager
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Copyright © 2006 Dane County Department of Human Services
