Social Adjustment
for Juvenile Offenders

Introduction
California’s juvenile justice system is responsible for transitioning offenders back into communities when released from an institutional setting, which is when clients may encounter many challenges. According to the California Youth Authority (CYA, 2000); one of California’s largest rehabilitation service providers; “This is an area that requires a significant increase in attention and focus” (para 1 ). Some offenders are placed in drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities for a particular amount of time as a part of their Conditions of Rehabilitation or for having violated the already existing Conditions. The Tri-County Treatment Center (TCT) is a residential substance abuse facility that accepts Juvenile Court Commitments who are in need of these services. While clients are at Tri County Treatment, located in Oroville, CA, they are required to participate in and complete an intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program throughout their length of stay.

Statement of Need
The core focus of the juvenile rehabilitation system is to protect the public from criminal activity while providing treatment, training, and educational services to clients (CYA, 2000). Agencies work closely with drug, alcohol, and treatment facilities in an effort to rehabilitate individuals. Each client receives treatment plans suited to meet their specific needs while in the community and often is required to enroll in school or seek and maintain employment.

According to Hellriegel and Yates (1999), “Interagency Collaboration was defined as the degree to which two agencies united to assess the needs of residents and to provide programs and services needed.” (p. 60). While working together, agencies are usually trying to reach a common goal for the population utilizing the services that are provided. Hellriegel and Yates (1999) suggested that treatment programs such as “cognitive skills training followed by family counseling, anger management, substance abuse and education, and individual and group counseling” (p. 57) were a possibility because of collaboration between the juvenile justice and school systems.

Although the juvenile rehabilitation system is responsible for transitioning offenders back into community, it is the client’s responsibility to contact the proper organization(s) and utilize the services that it provides appropriately. This is an opportunity for the individual to maintain independence and some control over their own lives. There are also services provided specifically to client’s, such as intensive re-entry supervision and related services, regular re-entry supervision and related services, specialized caseloads, case management supervision, electronically enhanced supervision, subsistence and personal care services, and volunteers (CYA, 2000).

Tri-County Treatment Center receives referrals from the Department of Corrections, California Youth Authority, County Probation, and on an individual basis. Other agencies that work with the justice and rehabilitation systems are private and county offices that provide employment opportunities, group homes and halfway houses and some employers that are willing to have these clients on their payroll. However, in many cases these services are only available in certain counties and are based on the funding received by the state and federal governments. Grant money is also sometimes available. All of these services and more are needed in all counties to rehabilitate youth released from correctional facilities.

Intervention
Currently the juvenile rehabilitation system maintains jurisdiction over and provides services to approximately 3800 clients, each an individual in need of services that are suited to them. We spoke with approximately 30-40 clients bi-weekly on an individual as well as group basis at TCT; we discussed an array of goals with them, including employment, education and community services that are provided. Prior to being released from the residential treatment facility each parolee will be given a list of resources specific to their community and based on input provided by the individuals themselves. These services and more are needed in all counties to rehabilitate youth released from correctional facilities. Our intervention was to educate to decrease the recidivism rate of clients that are re-institutionalized by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to lead a positive, productive life.

Evaluation
Together we will compile all of our research gathered throughout this process in an effort to accurately track clients’ success after their graduation from TCT. This will be determined by continuing in rehabilitation programs, obtaining employment and/or enrolling in school. Data was retrieved via telephone interviews with clients and those that supervised them. Our project was done in an attempt to assist parolees in becoming prepared for their own independence, while integrating back into the communities from which they came.

Reflection
We began the semester with two separate community projects. Through many discussions we were able to combine our information to develop one community project. With a lot of hard work and determination we were able to establish a project that was beneficial to the population we served. The clients were very interested in trying to develop a foundation for themselves prior to their exit for TCT.

Limitations for this project included but were not limited to: Finding services for parolees that were transitioning to remote communities that lacked options and resources; lack of support from outside agencies; time; and inadequate accommodations for accessing the services. Being located in one county while trying to research the services provided in other counties throughout the state for parolees to utilize, was a challenge.

As a tool for parolees, we created a binder of compiled research and resources to leave at the residential treatment facility in addition to the folders we agreed to provide for each as individual.

References
California Youth Authority. (2000). About CYA. Retrieved September. 7, 2004, from http://www.cya.ca.gov.html
Hellriegel, K. L. & Yates, J. R., (1999). Collaboration between Correctional and School Systems Serving Juvenile Offenders: a case study. Education and Treatment of Children 1 (22), p. 55-84