The Anger Management Program is a 4 week series designed to impact youth involved with Juvenile Services as a result of being charged with assault, domestic violence, malicious destruction of property and disorderly conduct. Youth will learn skills involving appropriate use of personal power, anger signals, and strategies for getting out of tough situations. Youth will also develop a personal action plan. Parents are expected to participate in all of the sessions.

Four (4) weekly classes
Parents and child attend all classes
All classes are mandatory

CASA of Ottawa County

The goal of the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program is to enhance advocacy for the best interests of children. CASA is committed to providing all children a voice in the court process through the use of trained volunteers appointed by the court. CASA also provides a rewarding and empowering volunteer opportunity to those who wish to be the difference in a child’s life.

CASA of Ottawa County recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to advocate for children that are in the court system due to abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge and empowered to gather information, write reports, and make recommendations to the court in the child’s best interest. For more information, please visit CASA of Ottawa County.

Substance Abuse Series (Focus Group)

The FOCUS group is a psycho-educational group which meets for five weeks, one time a week for 1 ½ hours. The class is designed for youth who have been charged with the possession or use of illegal substances and are at high risk of being chemically dependent. The class provides youth and their parents with the knowledge of substances, symptoms, patterns of use and the legal, physical and social consequences of continued use. Instructors teach the class through the use of videos, group discussion, use of experiential learning activities and homework assignments.

Five weekly classes
Parents must attend the first class
All classes are mandatory
Substance abuse assessment and referral as appropriate

Self Directed Community Service

The Self Directed Community Service Program was developed to enable youth who have committed an offense to be able to give back to their community in a positive manner. It is a concrete way for the youth to express their regret for the expense and trouble caused to the victim and/or their community. Youth are ordered , or have agreed, to perform a specific number of community service hours. Youth are given a list of possible work sites available in their community. Churches, non-profit agencies, nursing homes, and libraries are a few common places youth chose to perform their work hours. It is the responsibility of the youth to schedule their own work experience and report back to the caseworker with documented proof of community service completion.

Minor's responsibility to arrange
Learning experience
Performed for non-profit organizations

Mentoring Program (Journey)

The goal of the Journey Program is to reduce the frequency and severity of offenses committed by youth referred to Family Court – Juvenile Services. The program is a partnership between Ottawa County Family Court – Juvenile Services and Michigan State University Extension Ottawa County. Community adult volunteers are trained for a minimum of nine hours prior to being given an assignment. There are several opportunities from which volunteers are able to choose.

Matches volunteers as mentors
Minimum of 1 year involvement with mandatory training
Volunteers are considered to be non-paid staff of M.S.U. Extension office

Youth Mentor: Volunteers are matched one to one with a youth, engaging in mutually enjoyable activities. Weekly contact is maintained for at least two hours a week for a minimum of one year with the youth.

Youth Visitor: Volunteers have weekly contact with youth lodged in the Detention Center. Their focus is interacting with youth who do not have family visiting. This is not a one to one relationship. The requirement is a minimum of one hour weekly for six months.

Youth Instructor: Volunteers share a hobby or skill with any youth who are interested in learning. This may be done in groups or individually with youth. The time and length of commitment depend upon the volunteer’s schedule.

Volunteer Processor: Assist the Program Coordinator by conducting reference checks via the phone and by co-facilitating interviews of potential volunteers. Volunteers may also assist in trainings, in-service training and planning group activities for youth and mentors. The volunteer may or may not have direct interaction with youth.

Crossroads Family Center (CFC)/Catholic Social Services

Provides out-patient substance abuse treatment
In-patient treatment housed in Court's Detention facility
Court ordered

Electronic Tether Program

Adjudicated youth ordered to comply with the Tether Program have an ankle bracelet attached to their leg which utilizes an electronic device attached to the telephone in the juvenile’s home. The device monitors the juvenile’s activities within a specified range within the home. The tether is used in lieu of the juvenile’s placement in the Juvenile Detention Center.

Electronic device to monitor Court Ward within home
Used in lieu of detention
Probation Violation for violations of tether rules

Outreach Counseling

Family therapy
Provided by contracted private practitioners

Foster Care

Foster Care is used when a youth is not able to remain at home with their parent)s), relatives or guardians. This is the least restrictive choice and allows the youth to remain connected with the pro-social aspects of his/her community. Foster care is individualized and often includes assessment, stabilization, intervention strategies to reduce further offending, and skill development. Through family and individual therapy many of the youth are successfully returned home. A number of youth are unable to return home, due to a variety of reasons, and leave foster care to live on their own.

Minor court ordered into a licensed home
Length of placement determined by need and progress
Goal is reintegration with biological family
All foster homes licensed through State of Michigan

Shelter Care

Shelter or respite care may also be utilized by caseworkers for a maximum of two weeks. Shelter placements allow families relief from emotional and situational stresses families often experience. Shelter/foster parents are a valuable asset and make it possible to provide consistent, intensive observation, assessment and supervision for youth placed in their care.

Sexual Perpetrator's Group

The Sexual Perpetrator’s Group is a minimum of 40 weeks in length for sex offender specific treatment. Youth are required to complete offender curriculum that includes the sexual assault cycle, high risk situations, interruption strategies and accountability issues.

Mandatory individual and family assessment
Meets weekly for 1 ½ hours
Treatment provided by contracted sex-specific treatment specialist

Interpreter Services

Bilingual attorney available upon request
Interpreter services available on an "as needed" basis
Some documents are available in different languages upon request

Parental Consent Waivers

Permission for abortion without parental consent
Minor requested
Determination by Court through a thorough assessment
Must be in minor's best interest or minor must be mature enough to make decision

Juvenile Alternative to Detention Experience (JADE)

JADE provides an immediate and consistent consequence for youth who have violated probation or school rules. This program is held on Saturdays for seven hours during the academic year. Youth focus on completing their homework assignments or on basic math and reading skills. Additional components involving videos or a variety of experiential educational opportunities teaching life skills augment the program. JADE reduces the number of youth placed on the electronic tether or time in the Juvenile Detention Center.

Alternative consequence to Detention
Meets on Saturdays during the school year
Facilitated by contracted, professional staff

Supervised Community Service

Supervised Community Service Program was designed to reduce the number of youth placed on the electronic tether or placed in the Juvenile Detention Center as a consequence for their probation violation or new law violation. Youth are ordered to perform seven hours of work at a variety of sites in the County. County parks, community gardens, and township offices are a few examples of possible work sites. Youth work in groups of seven and are supervised by contracted professionals.

Alternative consequence to detention
Meets on Saturdays during the school year
Work sites located throughout Ottawa County

Habitual Offender Group (HOG)

The Habitual Offender Group is designed for youth who have committed multiple law and probation violations. The purpose of the group is to positively impact youth with similar legal histories and thinking patterns. The Habitual Offender Group is based on cognitive restructuring, addressing the individual’s distorted, confused and chaotic thinking patterns that are often learned at a youth age. It focuses on confronting group participants in recognizing how they hurt and victimize others as a result. The power of the group influences participants in this crucial process.

For youth who have committed multiple law and probation violations
Designed to positively impact harmful thinking patterns
Minimum eight (8) week participation
Parental participation is strongly encouraged
Meets weekly for 1 ½ hours

Court Incentive Group (CIG)

The Court Incentive Group is an ongoing group designed to impact youth who are exhibiting high risk behaviors. Youth who have committed crimes, where others have been victimized, are referred to the group. The group’s focus is on changing thinking patterns that assist participants in recognizing how they hurt and victimize others as a result of their behaviors. The power of their fellow group members is crucial in this process. The goal of the group is to change the youth’s thinking patterns and may shorten the youth’s time on probation. Parents are expected to participate on a weekly basis by notifying the caseworker and report their child’s behavior.

For males who are exhibiting high-risk behaviors
Meets weekly for 1 ½ hours
Parental participation is strongly encouraged
Minimum eight (8) week participation

Girls Group

This 12 week girls group is used as a time to encourage, educate and empower the youth women and their mothers to promote a personal sense of confidence, competence, tolerance of differences in others, develop healthy relationships and positive awareness of their bodies. By investing in these attributes we are increasing their power to avoid risk-taking behaviors. At this critical time in their lives our goal is to maximize their potential, enhance their ability to grow, explore and succeed.

Designed to impact adolescent girls involved in the Court
Activity-based, psycho-educational, female-responsive program
Meets weekly

Emancipation

Minor must file petition
Allows minor to function as adult with 2 exceptions:
- cannot vote until legal age
- cannot drink alcohol until legal age
Must be at least 16
Burden of proof on minor for self-sufficiency