In 1988, the
Department of Juvenile Justice created eight
local prevention councils to serve the
following counties:
-
Daviess/Henderson
-
Boone/Kenton /Campbell
-
Fayette
- Hardin
-
Jefferson
-
McCracken
- Warren
Each of the
councils is responsible for developing a
comprehensive local juvenile justice plan
and conducting an assessment of needs and
resources in the community. The plan is to
be used to increase community awareness and
participation in juvenile justice issues, to
initiate local activities and programs to
reduce and prevent juvenile crime, and to
facilitate in the sharing of necessary
information. Funding is available for
programs that address issues identified in
the local plans.
Members are
appointed by the Commissioner of the
Department of Juvenile Justice and must
include representation from the following
groups: 1) local law enforcement agencies,
including the sheriff and local police
chief; 2) local school system, including
administrators, teachers, school counselors
and parents; 3) Community Based Services; 4)
Court of Justice, including he district
court judge, the circuit court judge, the
public defender, and the clerk of the
circuit court; 5) the Commonwealth Attorney;
6) the County Attorney; 7) Juvenile
Detention Facility; 6) Department of Public
Advocacy; and 7) additional representation
may include juvenile justice agencies,
churches, youth, local government, mental
health agencies, businesses and interested
citizens.
Examples of
programs funded by the councils that have an
impact on schools include:
COLLABORATIVE STOP at Winburn
Middle School in Fayette County--This
program seeks to reduce chronic absences and
discipline referrals by: 1) providing case
management services including assessments
and interventions, involving parents in case
plans and offering parent education; 2)
offer tutorial services and use college
students and community volunteers as reading
coaches; and 3) offer experimental learning
modules, such as service learning, art and
music workshops, job shadowing, life skills,
and leadership skills
St.
Boniface Neighborhood After-School Outreach
Program in Louisville--This program
provides after school care for neighborhood
children, including a meal, tutoring,
supervised play, and specialized social
services for the child and family. It can
serve 25 to 30 children ages 6 to 14.
Expression Through the Arts in
Radcliff--This programs provides youth ages
12 to 18 with an alternative ways of
expressing emotions associated with negative
life experiences. It serves 10 to 15 youth
per each nine-week period and the youth
spends the time composing an art form. At
the end of the nine-week session, there is a
community arts presentation in which the
youth publicly presents their dance, poetry,
music, or other art form to other youth and
their parents.
For
additional information about the Prevention
Councils, contact the Department of Juvenile
Justice (502) 573-2738 |