(TJJD) Office of Inspector General - Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Topic 3: Establishing a Continuum of Youth Services‣ Main Issues/Problems:o Ineffective collaboration, communication and relationships among the continuum of local counties,juvenile boards, community partners and TJJD.o Lack of effective transition, re-entry and aftercare programming, services and family involvement dueto inadequate funding, lack of effective communication/team approach and the need forimprovements to parole system.o Lack of individual programming to fit needs of unique kid, compartmentalized thinking regardingyouth.‣ Key Recommendations:o Build better relationships and effective communication/collaboration between the continuumconsisting of local juvenile boards, JPDs, CRCGs, schools, community partners and TJJD thougheducation, joint training, sharing of resources where possible.o Focus on individual needs of youth and increase vocational options for youth who are not collegebound.o Provide adequate funding for critical programs such as sex offender treatment, mental healthtreatment, vocational programming, transition/reentry/aftercare services and effective paroleprograms.o Improve parole functions, transition/reentry/aftercare services, and family participation andinvolvement throughout the continuum.2 | P age April 24, 2012