News & Events
There’s No ‘Placement’ Like Home for Some Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
Families can be a powerful force for helping court-involved youth redirect their lives. That's why Leake & Watts is expanding its Juvenile Justice Services to include the Juvenile Justice Initiative Alternative to Placement (JJI), in which Family Court can assign youth to stay at home with our support.
"Our goal is to empower the family to support the child," says Lisa Crook, director of Leake & Watts' Juvenile Justice Program.
JJI draws on Leake & Watts' successful Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model, in which therapists visit families in the home. "We make sure all family members are present to work through issues that have negatively affected the child," Ms. Crook says.
Other supports include advocating for juveniles in school and connecting them to pro-social activities, as well as connecting families to community resources.
"Families gain the tools to help youth redirect their lives," Ms. Crook says. "They learn that change is possible.
Click here to learn more about our numerous Juvenile Justice Services.