Miami-Dade Juvenile Services Department Prevention Initiative

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2013

The Miami-Dade County Prevention Initiative falls under the umbrella of the JSD. The Initiative provides services to at-risk youth under 17 years of age or younger and their families who are experiencing dysfunctions within the structural component of the household; are showing early signs of behavioral and mental health problems; and may be at risk of being arrested. The Prevention Initiative is staffed with highly trained and specialized professionals and paraprofessionals who are able to determine through evidence-based assessments and contacts with the child and family the deep rooted concerns that may be causing the youth to exhibit problem behaviors including issues related to drug and alcohol, mental health, discipline, poor school perforlmance, and running away just to name a few. The goal of the Prevention Initiative is to intervene early in the lives of these youth in order to identify behaviors that are at risk and prevent them from entering the juvenile justice system. The services provided by the Prevention Initiative include referrals to a formal network of private and public community based organizations that will address issues including anger management, disruptive behavior, family dysfunction, drug experimentation, and negative peer associations.