FWSN-advisorybd-repo.. - The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance

anger/irritability (514 out of 1784 children assessed) and somatic (500 out of 1784
children) complaints on the scale. This data is consistent with research that shows that
these children were at high risk of escalating aggressive behavior and psychological
distress. (See Appendix IV for more detailed information about outcomes for each
assessment tool.)
III.
Accomplishments and Gaps in Services
A. Current Status Offender Process and Services
P.A. Act 07-4 shifted the emphasis from court involvement to a community-based
approach for serving children and families in FWSN cases. There are numerous benefits
to diverting these children and their families in these cases from court to communitybased
services. First and foremost, the family may be served in its own community,
where services are more accessible and consistent with the child’s needs. Second, the
family can avoid the often negative implications of court involvement. Third, the
resources are concentrated on prevention efforts rather than delinquent behaviors in a
juvenile delinquency context.
The overarching goal of the FWSN Advisory Board and its subcommittees has been to
create a system that provides effective services in the community and reduces the
likelihood for future court involvement.
B. Prevention and Pre-Court Diversion
When children are identified as at risk by parents, the police or schools, the first best
alternative is for the child and family to engage in services within their own community.
The obvious benefits are that the community network is often less complicated for
families to access, less costly, more familiar with its own community’s needs, and
prevention/intervention-oriented.
C. Services Currently Available in the Community
Services vary from community to community. “… .Connecticut is a ‘resource rich’ state;
however, significant gaps in services exist, not only in the types of services available, but
also in access to services based on geography or a child’s and family’s status with DCF
or the court. Wait lists for services present a formidable challenge for many families.” 9
Examples of five major initiatives that are directly tied to children of families with
service needs are described below. However, it should be noted that there is no
coordination or overarching agency or structure that coordinates these into a
comprehensive prevention plan.
9 The Connecticut Juvenile Justice Strategic Plan: Building Toward a Better Future, A Strategic Planning
Process Facilitated by the Child Welfare League of America for the Department of Children and Families-
Bureau of Juvenile Services and the Connecticut Judicial Branch-Court Support Services Division in
Collaboration with many Public and Private Stakeholders, (Connecticut: 2006), 10
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