About the YDT
The Youth Diversion Team (YDT), formerly known as the Juvenile Review Board, is a program designed to assist youth who are at risk of becoming involved with the juvenile court system. Youth may be referred by schools, police, youth organizations, juvenile courts, or families concerned about their child’s behavior. The YDT consists of a team of community youth leaders who work with the family in creating a plan to support the identified youth in overcoming the behaviors that may impact them having a successful future.
Many youth are referred to the YDT after an incident that has caused some kind of harm. Some examples of these kinds of incidents may include criminal activity or arrest, school refusal or excessive school absence, bullying or school conduct concerns, or substance use.
The Youth Diversion Team works with the youth and their family to create a plan to:
- Identify root causes that may be leading to harmful or unhelpful behaviors
- Change behaviors that may be causing harm to the youth, to others, and to the community
- Repair the harm the youth’s behaviors may have caused
How Do Youth Become Involved with the YDT?
Youth can become involved with the YDT in one of three ways:
Law Enforcement Referral
The youth is found to be involved with or charged with criminal activity. The involved law enforcement officer (or juvenile court representative) will submit a referral to EHYFS for review.
East Haddam School Referral
A student is referred by a school in East Haddam for significant defiance of school rules. The reason for referral must be an arrestable offense or a major issue beyond typical school disciplinary action. School-based interventions must be first tried and documented as showing limited success for a referral to be accepted.
Parent Referral
Parents may refer their own child under certain circumstances for significant behavioral challenges. These cases are screened for eligibility prior to acceptance by the YDT.
How does the YDT process work?
- Phone Call: An initial phone call with the family is conducted to determine if the youth is appropriate for YDT services. The youth must be willing on some level to accept accountability for their behaviors and have some motivation for change. Youth with misdemeanor and some felony charges are generally eligible for YDT services.
- Evaluation: If the case is screened and deemed appropriate for YDT, an initial evaluation is completed with the YDT case manager.
- Diversion Plan: The youth and family then meet with the full team to develop a diversion plan. This plan is designed with feedback from the youth, their family, the diversion team. If applicable, the plan may also take into account the voices of those that have been harmed by the youth’s behavior.
- Action: The youth takes action, with support of the team, to make change in accordance with the diversion plan. This and “make right” the harm that has been done as a result of the youth’s behavior. This may include harm to individuals, to the community, or harm the youth has caused to themselves.
- Plan Completion: If the team determines the youth has taken accountability and honored the commitments of their diversion contract, the youth’s accomplishments are celebrated and they are noted to have successfully completed. If there are associated criminal charges, these charges are often dropped and the youth’s case in most instances do not proceed to court.
Note: the EHYFS YDT is not a court and is not part of the CT Department of Children and Families (DCF) or CT State Judicial Branch. The YDT is not involved with determination of guilt or innocence in cases involving criminal charges.
What are some things commonly seen in YDT diversion plans?
Acts of Responsibility-Taking – The most important part of the YDT process is helping youth understand the impact of their behaviors on themselves and others. This may include apologies or restitution to those wronged/harmed. Some examples may include repaying stolen money, repairing vandalized property, or making an authentic apology to a bullying victim.
Education – This may include demonstrating an understanding to the team of the impact of drug use, or participating in a “victim impact panel” where those harmed have the opportunity to share how they were impacted by the youth’s actions.
Prevention – This may include attending individual or family counseling to address underlying mental health or substance use issues that may impact the youth long-term. It may also include engagement in healthy youth recreation or development activities.
A Stronger Future Starts With a Conversation
Every young person deserves a chance to succeed. The Youth Diversion Team is ready to partner with you to create a plan that works. Get in touch today.