SOCIAL  SERVICES  DEPARTMENT

 The Social Services Department consists of Counseling Services, special programs, volunteer/intern opportunities, program development and grants management.  Most programs and services provided through this department are funded through federal, state and local grants and contracts.  In 2004, the Office of Juvenile Justice Services received over $1,120,000 in grant funding which provided enhanced programs and services for juveniles and families.

COUNSELING

The Counseling Department consists of the Family Strengthening Program, the Child Abuse Recovery Counseling Program, Anger Management Counseling, and Substance Abuse Counseling. Master’s level Counselors or Interns perform the counseling services under the supervision of a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) Supervisor.

CHILD ABUSE RECOVERY COUNSELING PROGRAM

This program works with juveniles who have been identified through Families in Need of Services (FINS) or other pre-adjudicatory processes, as victims of child abuse and are now displaying negative behavior patterns.  The counselor works with these juveniles to identify problems and establish a continuum of services treatment plan that help the juveniles recover from the effects associated with violence.

DETENTION COUNSELING  SERVICES

Counselors provide 24 hour on call services, suicide-risk assessments, and daily staffings on all juveniles detained in the Juvenile Detention Center. In addition, the counselors provide individual and group counseling and educational programs for the juveniles.

ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION

Staff counselors provide substance abuse screening and assessment, as well as psychosocial assessments for referred clients. Counselors prepare reports concerning client treatment progress and recommendations for the Court and other agencies.

Juveniles in need of in depth evaluation may be referred for psychological evaluation.  The Office of Juvenile Justice Services contracts with a child and adolescent psychiatrist to provide consultation concerning treatment planning for juveniles. Any client believed to be suffering from an acute mental illness or who appears to be a danger to themselves or others will be referred to appropriate treatment resources in the community.

WHERE /WHEN ARE COUNSELING SERVICES PROVIDED

Counseling services are normally conducted on site at the Office of Juvenile Justice Services. The Counselor may meet with the client in their home, at school or other community agencies when deemed appropriate and necessary for the therapeutic process.

 The hours of service are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Wednesday nights until 8:00 PM. Upon request, the Counselor accommodates clients in need of services outside of traditional working hours.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Training and Education Center - A 9,635 square foot Training and Education Center was completed in 2002 and expanded the capacity of our present detention center.  The center provides a space for staff training, community training seminars, and programs, services, and aftercare support for our detention and probation clients.  A part of the center includes a videoconferencing center whereby satellite downlinks provide specialized training opportunities.  The Training and Education Center was partially funded by a grant from the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement-Juvenile Accountability Block Grant.

      Strengthening Teens and Educating Parents (S.T.E.P.)

A ten-week educational program for court-referred juveniles and their parents. The goal of the program is for parents and teens to build stronger, more positive relationships, and to develop important life skills. Our Master’s level therapist facilitates each class.  Both parents and children attend the sessions and participate in educational programs and activities, which allow them to practice new and healthier coping and parenting skills. The curriculum includes Character Counts, Communication Skills, Dangers of Drugs, Alcohol and Violence, Healthy Living Series, Stress Reduction, Conflict Resolution and Job Preparedness.  The S.T.E.P. Program was funded by a grant from the Children’s’ Miracle Network.

Social Services Resource Library

Office of Juvenile Justice Services clients, staff members, and other agencies have access to a variety of resources designed to improve their skills and increase their knowledge of assigned topics.  The library includes written materials and videotapes on issues concerning healthy living, pro social choices, parenting, life skills, substance abuse and prevention.  The Social Services Resource Library was funded through a grant from the Children’s’ Miracle Network.

Character in Action (C.I.A.)

This program is an interactive educational class that assists youth in developing good character based on core virtues. Service learning will be incorporated in the program to encourage the participants to become involved in the community in a positive way. The C.I.A. Program was funded by a grant from the Chilerens Miracle Network.

Personal Responsibility Education Program (P.R.E.P.)

This is a structured interactive workshop that teachers teens basic responsibilities that will improve the quality of their lives and ensure a productive future. Topics include proper child care (with Baby Think It Over manikin’s).. The P.R.E.P. Program was funded by a grant from the Children’s Miracle Network.

Changing Attitudes and Decisions Through Experiential Training (C.A.D.E.T.)

This program is an innovative, adventure-based therapy program. Participants are engaged in reflection of the principles of personal development, citizenship, leadership and educational attainment. The C.A.D.E.T. is partially funded by the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office.

SHELTER SERVICES

The Office of Juvenile Justice Services contracts with Harbour House ETC, Emergency Shelter for Children, to provide nine beds each day for shelter services and family counseling services for juveniles who are residents of Calcasieu Parish.  Shelter services are available for juveniles who may need to be temporarily out of their home in order to prevent a family crisis, and for those juveniles who have committed a status offense such as ungovernable behavior, curfew violations, and running away.

VOLUNTEERS/INTERNS

OJJS offers unpaid internships to students of McNeese State University Psychology and Social Science Departments and Sowela Technical Institute’s Criminal Justice Department. The purpose of the internship is to provide students with supervised agency experience for majors in criminal justice, sociology, government, and psychology.

Social Science Interns complete 104 hours of internship for 3 hours of college credit. Psychology Interns complete 40 hours of internship for 3 hours of college credit.  The students become acquainted with the juvenile justice field, including client interviews, documentation, court proceedings, and administrative functions.

Community groups volunteer in the Detention Center by providing church services and education programs.  Volunteers are needed for tutoring and recreational programs.

Ms. Vi Martin is the Director of Programs.  For more information about any of these programs contact her at vmartin@cppj.net.