Continuum of Services Committee

The goal of the Continuum of Services Committee is to advocate for a continuum of effective community-based services for youth that assures appropriate prevention, intervention and treatment services and eliminates inappropriate placement in secure detention or confinement

Background: 

The CT Juvenile Justice Alliance believes that development of a continuum of community-based prevention, intervention and treatment programs will promote better youth outcomes at demonstrably lower costs over time. The Alliance will take its guidance on these issues from several Connecticut initiatives, including the Governor’s Mental Health Policy Council, the Center for Effective Practice, the CETC Youth Committee, and the Spectrum Report on minority overrepresentation. Because of the cost and complexity of developing, operating and implementing a properly resourced community system, the CT Juvenile Justice Alliance will continue to act as catalyst for creation of a cross-agency, state-local, public-private regional juvenile justice pilot project in at least one area, Greater Bridgeport to test policy, practice, program and funding reforms designed to better serve youth at risk of or involved with the Connecticut juvenile justice sector.

Action Items:

The Continuum Committee will be working on the following items in 2005:

1. Advocating for an open, inclusive process to guide the development of Connecticut’s comprehensive juvenile justice plan;
2. Developing a publication for parents regarding the Family With Service Needs (FWSN) process;
3. Supporting legislation to decriminalize status offenses (FWSN);
4. Hosting a series of public forums to discuss community needs relative to an effective continuum of services.

How to get involved:

For information about upcoming meetings, please email Fernando J. Muñiz or call the CTJJA office at (203) 579-2727, ext. 307.