	Juvenile Justice Case Management Services

Introduction

Administration and Management

Service Delivery Administration Standards

Service Standards

PA-JJCM 3: Service Planning

Youth participate in the development of service plans that are the basis for delivery of appropriate support, services, and supervision.

Interpretation: When the agency provides case management services to youth in residential placements, the agency should partner with personnel at the residential facility to develop an appropriate plan.

When services are provided as aftercare that follows another more intensive program, “service plans” may actually be “reentry plans” developed before youth were released from their previous placements. However, the agency is still expected to partner with personnel at those previous placements to facilitate effective planning and ensure that the standards are implemented.

PA-JJCM 3.01

A service plan is developed in a timely manner, and expedited service planning is available when needed.

Interpretation: Agencies providing aftercare services should strive to develop plans before youth are released from their previous placements, as referenced in the Interpretation to PA-JJCM 3.

PA-JJCM 3.02

Youth, their family members, and relevant personnel are involved in developing service plans.

Interpretation: Relevant personnel can include personnel from other organizations and agencies. For example, as referenced in the Interpretation to PA-JJCM 3, agencies providing case management to youth in residential placement should partner with personnel at the residential facility, and agencies providing aftercare services should partner with staff at the youth’s previous placement. Regardless of personnel involved, service planning should be conducted so that youth retain as much personal responsibility as possible and appropriate.

Although COA recognizes that engaging family members can be difficult, agencies should still strive to involve them to the extent possible and appropriate, and must follow any applicable laws or regulations requiring the involvement of parents or legal guardians. See PA-JJCM 3.04, 3.05, 5.07, and 6.04 for further information and guidance regarding the participation of parents or legal guardians and other family members.

PA-JJCM 3.03

During service planning the agency explains:

the range of services available;
how the agency can support the achievement of desired outcomes;
how youth and their progress will be monitored;
any special terms or conditions, including conditions ordered by the court;
benefits to be gained if the plan is fulfilled; and
possible consequences of noncompliance.

Interpretation: Relevant terms or conditions can include, but are not limited to: mandated curfews, school attendance, and drug testing.

PA-JJCM 3.04

The service plan is based on the assessment and includes:

desired goals and outcomes, and timeframes for achieving them;
services and supports to be provided, and by whom;
any unmet service and support needs;
the level of supervision needed, including the number and type of contacts required; and
the signature of the youth and a parent or legal guardian.

Interpretation: Like assessments, service plans should be responsive to the age, developmental level, gender, language, religion, race, ethnicity, cultural background, and sexual orientation of youth, as well as to the characteristics of, and resources available in, the communities in which they reside.

Note: See the Interpretation to PA-JJCM 3.02.

PA-JJCM 3.05

The agency encourages family involvement by:

including family members in scheduling decisions;
allowing participation through teleconferencing;
assisting with transportation and childcare, as needed and to the extent possible; and
helping personnel develop and maintain positive relationships with family members.

Interpretation: Personnel should demonstrate: (a) sensitivity to the willingness of the family to be engaged; (b) respect for family members’ autonomy and confidentiality; (c) a non-threatening manner; (d) flexibility; and (e) persistence.

Note: See the Interpretation to PA-JJCM 3.02.

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	PURPOSE: Juvenile Justice Case Management Services coordinate the services and supervision that can help youth address problems and develop the attitudes and skills needed to make responsible choices, avoid negative behaviors, and become productive, connected, and law-abiding members of their communities.

RELATED FILES


	CASE A general term used to designate clients (including individuals, families, and groups) served by an organization for purposes of monitoring the provision of services. A foster care case is generally based on the placement of an individual child, although casework for the child may include services to the child's family. A child protective services case is based on an entire family household if a family assessment model is used; otherwise a case is defined as a child.


	SERVICE One or more organization-operated programs or activities that have a common general objective and deploy the organization's material and human resources in a planned and systematic manner. An organization that publicly promotes or identifies itself in writing as offering a service, is licensed to deliver a service, assigns personnel and/or space to a service, or allocates financial resources to a service is considered to offer that service.


	SUPERVISION Assumption of responsibility for directly overseeing and evaluating the work or work products of personnel within an organization. Also includes inspecting the act or process of accomplishing a function or activity.


	CONNECTED The means by which individuals access services that may or may not be provided by the organization itself. These terms are used interchangeably when individuals are connected to services either directly or by referral. See also LINKED.


	SERVICE PLAN A written plan of action based on the assessment of consumer needs and strengths that identifies problems, sets goals, and describes a strategy for achieving those goals and engaging in joint problem solving with the consumer. Also known as a "treatment plan".


	PERSONNEL The body of employees and/or volunteers that carries out the organization's tasks under the organization's administration and/or supervision. This definition does not include foster parents who are specifically referenced in relevant standards


	AFTERCARE Additional services provided beyond the period of primary care that offer continuity and supportive follow-up.


	PROGRAM A system of services offered by an organization. For example, an organization providing a mental health service may offer several mental health programs to different populations, e.g., a mental health program for adolescent teens. The word "program" can be used interchangeably with the word "service" or to describe specific programs.


	PLANNING The process of specifying objectives, evaluating the means for their achievement, and exercising deliberate decision making about appropriate courses of action.


	FAMILY Two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. Child care and child socialization, income support, long-term care, and other caregiving are among the functions of family life. The definition of "family" will rest with an individual's indication of who plays a family member role, including current or former foster family, adoptive family, extended family members, fictive kin, or significant others. Organizations that believe family is the central constellation in a child's life, and that family attachments are of primary importance for human development, will strive to work with professional staff to develop a common understanding of "family."


	MANAGEMENT See ADMINISTRATION


	PARENTS Parents can include: birth, foster, kinship, and adoptive parents. Please see service standards for more specific information about use of this term.


	ETHNICITY An orientation toward and identification with a population group that shares national origin, religion, race, or language.


	CONFIDENTIALITY An ethical and practice principle that requires the protection of information shared within a professional-client relationship. An organization that upholds confidentiality prohibits personnel from disclosing information about persons served without their written consent.


	LEGAL GUARDIAN A person who has legal responsibility for the care and management of a person incapable of administering his/her own affairs. In the case of a minor child, the guardian is charged with the legal responsibility for the care and management of the child and of the minor child's estate.


	ASSESSMENT An evaluation, which utilizes professional expertise and skills in the collection and analysis of data to understand and describe the nature of service needs of an individual, family, or group. Assessment, as in needs assessment, is also used to determine priorities of program planning and service development for the organization as a whole. See also DIAGNOSIS.