SEPTEMBER2002

Why is it important for System of Care leaders in each grant/cooperative agreement community to establish and maintain a relationship with juvenile probation and parole?

A lot of the work we do is accomplished through relationships with, and an understanding of the mandates for, the stakeholders we must do business with daily. Supervision of a youth who is court involved is usually entrusted to the probation officer (PO) or parole officer (PO). The job of supervising youth in the community is difficult and very challenging. These men and women are given the task of providing a level of supervision that will reduce or eliminate any further criminal behavior and increase involvement in positive youth activities.

The mental health needs of the youth we serve are not as well understood by their probation officers as they are by the clinicians and other behavioral specialists. It is the teaming that goes on between the PO and the clinical team from our projects that develops a plan to sustain the youth's progress and encourages that youth to flourish. It is the responsibility of each System of Care Community to provide cross-training to the PO, who usually comes to this work with a law enforcement orientation and background, and help him or her understand the various mental health disorders and the evidence-based interventions that can be employed to help seriously emotionally disturbed youth succeed in the community. It is equally as important to let the PO know what types of interventions do not work for these young people. The PO who knows which interventions are available and should be used to ensure success for his or her probationer or parolee is much better equipped to make the appropriate recommendation to the court. The PO is an invaluable member of the System of Care team and a critical link to sustaining this work.

Along with overseeing the activities of the youth on their caseloads, POs must ensure public safety, protect victims of the crimes these youth have committed, hold youth accountable for their actions, and even ensure payment of restitution. Their tasks, like those of System of Care workers and advocates, are daunting and require teamwork in which every member of the team considers the mandates and goals of all others on the team. The expertise the POs have developed is an essential component when the team is involved in planning efforts. When probation or parole goals, treatment goals, and community safety are desired outcomes for the team, the best possible plan for a youth can be crafted.

Our goal is to provide evidence-based interventions that improve the quality of life for the youth we serve; the goals of probation or parole are to keep the community safe, hold the youth accountable for criminal activities, and have the youth develop competencies that will ensure success and a positive place in the community. Therefore, a positive relationship with probation and parole can make our jobs in System of Care communities much easier and can improve program outcomes for the youth and families.