Family Advocate Program Services

The Vendor is required to provide staff a family advocate to serve as a conduit between the families of court-involved youth and local resources/services.
- Services include:
•    Building the collaboration and leadership required for the challenging work of system reform
•    Relying on data to inform justice system policy and program development
•    Implementing effective, objective detention admissions policies and practices
•    Enhancing available alternatives to secure detention
•    Reducing unnecessary delays in case processing and the corresponding length of stay (LOS) in detention
•    Focusing on challenges presented by “special populations,” including youth detained for violations of probation and warrants, and youth awaiting dispositional placement
•    Identifying strategies to reduce racial disparities in the detention system,
•    Ensuring detention facilities present conditions of confinement that meet basic constitutional, statutory, and professional standards, and striving to meet best-practice standards. 
- Family Advocate: 
•    This staff member will utilize court conference rooms on designated juvenile court days to serve as an advocate for families. 
•    Responsibilities will include connecting youth and families to community-based supports, coaching families on self-advocacy, assisting families with transportation issues, and providing follow-up to families. 
•    In a secondary capacity, the Family Advocate will collect data through developing surveys and planning focus groups, as well as conduct informational training for families and other youth justice stakeholders. 
•    Lastly, the staff member will work with local schools to provide diversion services in place of an impending suspension or to avoid an additional suspension from occurring.

- Contract Period/Term: 1 year