Jan 1 Strategic Plan - Office of Juvenile Justice - Louisiana

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Field ServicesOJJ provides supervision services to over4000 youth annually. This includesprobation and parole services.OJJ Regional offices are located in NewOrleans (1), Baton Rouge (2), Hammond(3), Thibodaux (4), Lafayette (5), LakeCharles (6), Alexandria (7), Shreveport(8A), Natchitoches (8B), Monroe (9A),and Tallulah (9B).Probation and parole staff function underthe service coordination model. Thismodel promotes a seamless continuum of care in each Regional Service Area. The modelstreamlines the manner in which youth receive probation and parole services. Throughpartnerships with community providers, youth receive quality resources based on theiridentified needs. Service delivery to youth in their own region promotes family involvement,minimizes removal from the home, and increases the likelihood of successful reintegrationwhen removal is necessary.Probation and parole officers typically have caseload sizes aligned with the national averageof 25-35 youth. These smaller caseloads allow officers to provide individualized services toyouth and families. Social service personnel and education specialists act as a resource to theregional offices to assist probation and parole officers in making appropriate referrals, hostingparenting education classes, and assisting families to connect with services. The staff in theregional offices act as a team to ensure that youth and families achieve success as they movethrough the juvenile justice system.In some regions across the state, a complete continuum of care is not available. When a youthhas a need that cannot be met in their home region, he will be referred to the nearestappropriate service. When this occurs, OJJ works with the youth and family to fosterrehabilitation and reintegration. OJJ continues to strive for a regionalized approach toproviding services.Page 13
System ChallengesAs OJJ continues to implement and refine programs that contribute to an effective juvenile justicemodel, the agency must overcome challenges that are common to reform efforts.RegionalizationOJJ recognizes that providing services to youth in theleast restrictive environment closest to home leads tobetter outcomes. The agency has developed three serviceregions shown to the right: Northern, Southwestern, andSoutheastern.OJJ continues to work with local partners and providers toassist in building a continuum of services in each region.When data for the statewide assessment tool are available,the agency will analyze youth risks and needs to identifywhat type of services are needed. This type of analysiswill lead to a more complete continuum of services in theregions.Female facility in southern regionFemales in the custody of OJJ face a unique set of challenges. Historically, females have been housedat the male facilities and, in later years, at detention centers. In alignment with implementing thetherapeutic model, the agency determined that in order to provide programming specifically designedfor females, OJJ projected the need for two 24 bed regional facilities - one located in the north and onein the south of Louisiana. The addition of female specific facilities is a significant step forward inrecognizing the unique needs of the female population by providing a safe environment and qualitygender-specific programming. For the northern region, OJJ partnered with Ware Youth Center inCoushatta, in which funding was appropriated for that facility in 2006. OJJ continues to identifyopportunities for a facility in the southern region contingent upon funding.Coordinated System of CareThe child welfare and juvenile justice systems have historically operated separately, driven bydivergent statutory mandates, funding appropriations, mission statements and service plans thatdissuade collaboration, coordination and integration. Children within both systems often havecomplex behavioral needs. Currently, Louisiana provides for the needs of these children through afragmented service delivery model that is not well coordinated. OJJ is working with DSS and DHH todevelop a coordinated system of care for these youth to ensure timely provision of services andmaximizing resources to keep youth out of the juvenile justice system.Page 14
Page 1 and 2: Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justic
Page 3 and 4: Table of ContentsMessage from Deput
Page 5 and 6: Louisiana’s Juvenile Justice Syst
Page 7 and 8: Reform ProgressThe chart below demo
Page 9 and 10: State of the State—Demographics a
Page 11 and 12: State of the State—Secure Residen
Page 13: State of the State— Female Secure
Page 17 and 18: System InitiativesInitiative One: S
Page 19 and 20: System InitiativesInitiative Three:
Page 21 and 22: System InitiativesInitiative Five:
Page 23 and 24: Treatment InterventionsRates have f
Page 25: Timeline and BenchmarksBelow is a w

Jan 1 Strategic Plan - Office of Juvenile Justice - Louisiana

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