The SOURCE Juvenile Justice Initiative

According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), it isestimated that two thirds of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have a

diagnosable mental health condition. To address this, The SOURCE, the Elkhart CountyProsecutor, and other juvenile justice partners worked together to redesign the juvenile

intake process. Building on the existing services of the juvenile court, the processincludes mental health assessments, connections to mental health supports, and

referrals to services to meet the immediate needs of youth and their families.

Juvenile Court Assessment TeamThe Juvenile Court Assessment Team (JCAT) is composed of community partners

whose goal is to create a process that identifies youth with mental health challengesfrom the juvenile justice system and connects them to community-based services and

programs.

Mental Health Intake Process

Bashor Children's Home

Elkhart Community Schools

Fairfield Community Schools

Goshen Community Schools

Mental Health Counselors

Oaklawn Psychiatric Center

The SOURCE

Community PartnersCourt Services

Elkhart County

Juvenile Probation

Prosecutor

Public Defender

Sheriff's Office

Juvenile DetentionAlternatives Initiative (JDAI)

Police referyouth to the

juvenile justicesystem

Youth participatein intakeprocess,

including mentalhealth

screenings, withJuvenile intake

staff

Youth and theirfamilies arereferred to

community-based servicesand supports

Youth and theirfamilies are given

continuedsupport by TheSOURCE staff

Goal: To connectyouth and their

families withneeded servicesto prevent furtherinteraction with

the legal system

If mental healthconcerns are

identified, youthare given mental

health assessmentby The SOURCE

staff

Youth strengthsand needs arediscussed by

JCAT

Who is being served by The SOURCE?

190Youth have received Mental Health Assessments through The SOURCE.

Out of those who have received assessments:

Youth and their families are referred to:

Adult& Family

Counseling

GriefSupport

SubstanceUse

DisorderTreatment

EducationalSupports &Services

ChildCounseling

Additionally, The SOURCE staff connects youth and their families to services andsupports to meet their specific needs:

Vocationaleducation & employment

Basichousehold

needs

Connecting with insurance

Schoolextracurricular

activites

Family-focusedactivities

Identify asMale

65%Identify as

White

68%Identify as

Black

21%Identify asHispanic

20%Qualify forMedicaid

68%

Youth self-reportedexperiencing

trauma prior toarrest

85%Youth identified as

having MajorDepressive

Disorder or PTSD31%

Innovative Collaborations

Youth & Caregiver Survey ResultsBoth youth who are assessed by The SOURCE andtheir caregivers are surveyed about how the youth isfunctioning in life, at school, and with friends/family.The following questions showed a positive increasewith more caregivers and youth answering "Agree"or "Strongly Agree" from baseline to reassessment:

September 2020

"The SOURCE staffer answered my questionsand helped me with services. She was very

attentive and responsive."

"The SOURCE staffer made me feel I alwayshad someone to talk to and always did herbest to help me with everything she could. I

appreciate all her help."

Caregivers:In the past 30 days,my child is able tocope when things

go wrong.

64%37%

In the past 30 days,my child is doing

well in schooland/or work.

74%48%

In the past 30 days,I am satisfied withour family life right

now.

69%46%

Youth:In the past 30 days,I am able to copewhen things go

wrong.

85%64%

In the past 30 days,I am satisfied withour family life right

now.

92%76%

Youth and caregivers shared:

A collaborative effort with Juvenile CourtServices where youth were given the prompt "What does a worldat peace look like?" They were given sidewalk chalk to createtheir art. Community leaders served as curators who went toyouth's homes and discussed what their art said and what itmeant to them.

Sidewalk Chalk Art:

A collaboration with Elkhart County Juvenile Probationwhere youth on probation were given the opportunity to participate in a virtual group that explored anger andalternative ways of responding to anger without aggression. The program was structured as four 1 hourvirtual sessions co-hosted by a mental health professional and a probation officer. The group served dualpurposes: increasing direct contact between probation and youth and helping youth learn new ways ofexpressing their anger.

Virtual Aggression Reduction Group: