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

continuum of effective strength-based family services. The number of PINS youth
placed on probation after Family Court hearing increased from 2003 to 2004 and then
decreased from 2004 to 2005. The total number of PINS complaints received and referral
to Family Keys completed continued to increase from 2003 through 2005. From 2003
through 2005, more PINS complaints were opened as diversion cases and fewer went
immediately to court.” 27
The FWSN Advisory Board utilized the community-based, multifaceted service models
from the Family Keys and Community Connections Program and additional reform
efforts in the State of New York to craft a community based, gender-specific model for
diverting children from probation and providing responsive intervention designed to meet
the needs of individual children and families in an expedited fashion and to avoid out-of
–home placements whenever possible. (For a full description of additional programs in
New York see Appendix V)
C. Reform Efforts in Florida
Mary “Dee” Richter, Executive Director for the Florida Network of Youth and Family
Services (FNYFS) was invited to Connecticut by the FWSN Advisory Board to present
information about the system for handling status offenders used in Florida. Ms. Richter
first gave an overview of how Florida defines status offenders. She than gave a detailed
description of the “Florida Network.” In Florida, there are two designations for status
offenders. They are defined as a Family in Need of Services or “FINS” (nonadjudicated)
and a Child In Need of Services or “CINS” (adjudicated). (See
http://www.djj.state.fl.us/Prevention/CINSFINS.html)
According to Ms. Richter, between 17,000 and 20,000 children receive services under
“FINS” each year and only 5% have petitions for “CINS” filed.
The FWSN Advisory Board also invited a speaker from the Practical Academic Cultural
Education (PACE) Center for Girls. The PACE Center is a gender-responsive, schoolbased
program, established in 1985 as an alternative to incarceration or
institutionalization of at-risk adolescent girls in Florida. (See Appendix V for a more
detailed description of the PACE Center)
D. National Truancy Models
The FWSN Advisory Board Truancy Subcommittee examined models for truancy
prevention nationally and those currently used in Connecticut. Additionally, the Truancy
Subcommittee looked at national research and program assessments.
One such study and examination of “best practice” models was conducted by the US
Department of Education, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the
27 “Orange County Community Profile Needs Assessment”, Orange County, New York ,
October 2006. 60-61.
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