2007 Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program Grantee

Jurisdiction Type: Urban

Grant Category: Implementation and Expansion

Adult/Juvenile: Juvenile

Criminal Justice Entity: Tarrant County Juvenile Services

Mental Health Entity: Santa Fe Adolescent Services

Description:
Tarrant County Juvenile Services will increase public safety by facilitating collaboration among juvenile justice, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems to expand intervention services through the court-based early intervention program, Deferred Prosecution Probation (DPP). Utilizing an evidence-based intervention, Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), the goal is to increase successful completion of 100 DPP youth by diverting juveniles with mental health needs into community-based treatment programs and preventing deeper penetration of these youth into the juvenile justice system. This will be accomplished by meeting these objectives: 1) implementing an evidence-based approach that addresses obstacles and barriers that prevent youth from completing services; 2) encouraging family participation; 3) expediting intervention services to DPP youth with mental health needs; and 4) improving linkages and working relationships of cross-system groups.