Programs

Informal Supervision

Informal supervision is a collaborative program in which the juvenile, juvenile’s parents, and assigned Juvenile Officer work together to address the juvenile’s safety and behaviors. The assigned Juvenile Officer will work with the juvenile, family, school personnel, and community agencies to ensure the juvenile is safe and stable, both in the family home and the community. The intention of informal supervision is to prevent Juvenile Court involvement. The most common behaviors monitored through informal supervision are: behaviors injurious, run away, habitually absent from home, truancy, and misdemeanor offenses.

Formal Supervision

Formal supervision requires a petition be filed with the Juvenile Court and the juvenile is adjudicated for criminal and/or unsafe behaviors. The assigned Juvenile Officer will work with the juvenile, family, school personnel, and community agencies to ensure the juvenile is safe and stable within the home and community. The most common behaviors monitored through formal supervision are offenses that would be criminal if committed by an adult.

Community Service

Community Service is community based program, managed by the Juvenile Office, in which juveniles give back to the community by working at local agencies. Juveniles are assigned Community Service by their assigned Juvenile Officer or by Order of the Court.

Life Skills

Life Skills is an eight week community based curriculum, held weekly, that covers life topics including; education, employment, involvement with law enforcement, personal finance and credit, motor vehicle registration and driver’s license information, insurance, and community resources. Juveniles are assigned to Life Skills by their assigned Juvenile Officer or by Order of the Court.

Tutoring

The tutoring program is for any juvenile, grades 6 -12, under informal or formal supervision, that have low scores in reading and/or math. Each qualifying juvenile will receive up to two hours of tutoring per week.

Intensive In-home Supervision

A Juvenile Office appointed individual (tracker) meets with the juvenile and family to complete a risk and needs assessment, which will determine how often the tracker meets with the juvenile and family; ranging in frequency from 1 -3 times per week. The tracker will meet with both the juvenile and the juvenile’s family to ensure juvenile and community safety, family stability, and that the juvenile is adhering to the conditions of their probation. A tracker can be assigned by the assigned Juvenile Officer or by Order of the Court.

Parenting Classes

The Parenting Class is a six week curriculum, held weekly, that covers parenting topics including; effective parenting strategies, communication, discipline, and parental support. Parenting class referrals are typically submitted by community agencies, however parents can independently enroll themselves, or the Court can Order parental participation.

Electronic Monitoring

Electronic Monitoring (GPS) is an alternative to detention program that allows a juvenile to be released from secure detention, into the community, with family, vice remaining in a secure detention facility. GPS is by Order of the Court only.

Residential Assessment Program

The Residential Assessment Program (RAP) is a temporary, 60 day residential program, in which our treatment team works with the juvenile, the juvenile’s family, and community agencies, to determine whether or not a juvenile would be safer, more stable, and better served within their home or in a residential setting. During the residential assessment a juvenile will have a psychological evaluation, as well as any other assessments &/or testing the family support team deems necessary. Involvement in the Residential Assessment Program is established by Order of the Court only.

Truancy Court

Truancy Court is a voluntary diversion program for juveniles referred by the Jefferson City Public School District for excessive absences. Truancy Court is held every two weeks at the Cole County Court House and is facilitated by Judge Cotton Walker and monitored by the Juvenile Court Administrator.

Juvenile Drug Court

The Juvenile Drug Court Program is held bi-monthly, the duration is determined by how well the juvenile participates in treatment & maintains their sobriety. Involvement in the Juvenile Drug Court Program is established by Order of the Court.

Supervised Visitation Program

Parent(s) who are ordered supervised contact with their children, via the Court, can contact the Prenger Family Center, and request participation in the supervised visitation program. Professional staff supervise, monitor, and ensure the safety of children as they interact with their parents in a safe and stable environment. Participation in this program is by Order of the Court.