CJS Family Navigator Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Parents with children involved in the juvenile justice system often cannot take full advantage of available services due to a variety of barriers, ranging from unfamiliarity with the system to being monolingual Spanish speakers. To address these challenges, the Family Navigator Program was created within the Community Justice Services (CJS) Division of Boulder County’s Community Services Department. The Family Navigator Program includes one staff member designated as the Family Navigator who helps these families in two ways. The first (Track 1) is a quick one-time connection with other community resources. The Family Navigator can also serve as an advocate who helps families navigate their child’s involvement during the entire time they are involved in the juvenile justice system (Track 2), more of a case management approach. In 2017, the Family Navigator made almost 800 contacts and more than 1,700 referrals with Track 1 clients, and also worked with 23 families through Track 2 services in that timeframe. The impact of the Family Navigator program is substantial. Families who have been connected with the Family Navigator have reported their concern and anxiety related to their child’s charges were reduced from 91% to 52% after beginning the program. Likewise, the number of families who reported being confused about the justice system went from 87% to 48%, and 87% of families reported the assistance they received gave them more confidence in working through the justice system.