NCJ Number
195727
Date Published
1998
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper summarizes and assesses San Diego County's Comprehensive Strategy for Youth, Family, and Community, which is an unprecedented collaborative effort to prevent juvenile delinquency and promote positive development of youth.
Abstract
The Comprehensive Strategy is predicated on a philosophy of shared responsibility and coordinated action to prevent juvenile delinquency and promote positive development of youth. In San Diego, this strategy has become a region-wide effort to develop healthy, responsible youth through prevention, intervention, and appropriate sanctions. The guiding principles are to strengthen families, support core social institutions, promote delinquency prevention, immediate and appropriate intervention when delinquent behavior occurs, and the identification and sanctioning of the most chronic and serious juvenile offenders. Strategies focus on prevention, intervention, graduated sanctions, collaboration, and data sharing. Throughout the planning process, a comprehensive assessment of existing resources, infrastructure, program, and strategies was conducted. Four categories of "gaps" identified where resources were lacking: program, geographic, support services, and infrastructure. Highlights are presented for the "gaps" in each of these categories. Recommendations are presented to address identified gaps in the continuum of services for youth and their families. They pertain to community mobilization, community risk and resource assessment, substance abuse efforts, community norms, and risk and treatment needs instruments. Recommendations are also offered for implementation, management, and evaluation. These recommendations encompass a balanced approach to funding, public outreach strategy, cross-systems training, interagency agreements, case management and process control, management information system, and evaluation. A summary of progress to date focuses on the efforts of five programs.