These are astounding outcomes, even compared to the more acute national average of 70%. Our most recent quarterly numbers are 85%! In addition, 53% of youth in our programs are less likely to re-offend compared to other program rates at 17 - 20% nationally.
Stanford Youth Solutions' Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention Program (JJCP) program works in partnership with Sacramento County Probation Department supporting the Restorative Justice Model, focusing on community protection, victim restoration, and offender accountability and competency.
Youth offenders, young people engaged in high-risk activities, and their families address underlying challenges within their family unit to help them engage in positive, productive activities, while significantly reducing additional criminal offenses.
Our JJCP practitioners utilize Functional Family Therapy (FFT), an evidence-based practice, as a means to provide rehabilitation to young offenders, with a focus on reducing criminal behaviors, decreasing individual and community risk factors, changing negative family relationships and enhancing protective factors to facilitate relapse prevention.
Practitioners frequently collaborate with probation officers to ensure there is effective communication and coordination of services to achieve the combined goal of successfully reintegrating these young people as healthy and productive members into the community.
Program Facts
Youth ages 12-17 are referred to our Juvenile Justice and Crime Prevention Program through Sacramento County Department of Probation, based on an assessment and eligibility criteria administered by Probation.
Eligible youth have previous interaction with Probation and exhibit high-risk behavior, frequently including previous criminal offenses and gang involvement.
We collaborate with the Sacramento County Probation Department and problem solve with families to help families understand how their role and support can give their children the help they need so they have a way out of the juvenile justice system.
Case Management Services
Active collaboration and partnership with probation and school personnel
Assistance and linkage to community resources to help meet critical basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter
Limited access to funds to meet emergency or critical family needs when no other resource is available
Attendance at court dates with families
Attendance and advocacy at Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings with schools
Attendance and advocacy at Student Study Team (SST) meetings with schools
Assistance with arranging transportation for a variety of needs, such as medical, psychiatric, education or employment needs
What Services Look Like
Youth and families participate in 8 to 12 Functional Family Therapy sessions over the course of approximately 3 months
Sessions can be more frequent or extended beyond 3 months for more challenging situations
Functional Family Therapy works in phases: Engagement and Motivation, Behavior Change, and Generalization. These phases include specific goals, assessment foci, specific techniques of intervention, and therapist skills necessary for success
