NCJ Number
241414
Date Published
January 2013
Length
44 pages
Annotation
This report on the Texas At-Risk Youth Services Project (ARYSP) - which provides legislative recommendations to improve the delivery of services to at-risk youth in Texas - is a follow-up on the most significant issues examined in a 2011 report that provided a broad overview of at-risk services in Texas.
Abstract
Based on focus groups with staff from five primary participating entities, site visits, and meetings with stakeholders, two recommendations are proposed. The first recommendation is to consolidate juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention funding at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. This would transfer certain funding for services to at-risk youth, community youth development and state-wide Youth Services Network programs from the Department of Family and Protective Services to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department Prevention and Intervention Division. This recommendation provides policy considerations regarding the format of delinquency prevention and intervention at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). The second recommendation is to increase General Revenue funds allocated to Communities in Schools from the appropriations to the Texas Education Agency. This recommendation expands an existing and proven program with the ability to leverage outside funds, thus reaching more at-risk students. This recommendation also provides additional services in school settings agreed upon by research participants to have substantial positive effects on preventing at-risk youth from entering the juvenile justice system. In addition, the recommendation provides policy considerations regarding the format of expanded Communities in Schools services, emphasizing the expansion of services at the elementary and middle school levels. A project description and methodology are included.