Programs and Administration

Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant

The Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant, funded by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, is a $750,000 diversion grant aimed at providing evidence-based treatment services for youth at risk of being committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Its primary goal is to reduce felony and short-term program (STP) commitments, as well as total commitments to DJJ, while decreasing new instances of secure detention admissions. The key objectives of the grant are to:

• Decrease felony and STP commitments to DJJ in Macon-Bibb County.
• Promote the use of evidence-based practices in Georgia’s juvenile justice system by launching community-based juvenile justice programs.
• Lower recidivism rates among youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
• Reduce the annual secure detention and confinement rates in Macon-Bibb County.
• Demonstrate cost savings for Georgia’s taxpayers by providing research-backed services to youth in the juvenile justice system.

To achieve these objectives, Macon-Bibb County Juvenile Court has contracted with Evidence-Based Associates to implement two evidence-based treatment services: Functional Family Therapy (FFT).

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family-focused intervention that targets delinquency, violence, substance use, and disruptive behavioral disorders by reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors. Typically lasting 12 weeks, FFT is delivered in the home with the participation of all family members.

C.H.I.N.S Panel

A complaint alleging that a child is in need of services (C.H.I.N.S) can be filed with the Department of Juvenile Justice for issues such as:

• Serious behavioral or environmental challenges within the family or school setting that indicate the child is at risk and in need of services and corrective actions to prevent irreversible decisions and preserve family integrity.

The C.H.I.N.S Panel, in collaboration with the court, takes the following actions:

• Helps family members recognize their roles in the family’s problems and encourages them to accept responsibility for participating in court-ordered care programs.
• Provides the child with a comprehensive program of treatment, care, guidance, counseling, supervision, structure, and rehabilitation to help them become a responsible and productive member of society.
• Ensures the coordination and cooperation of all relevant agencies to deliver services to any family member referred to the court, ensuring that the child’s needs are effectively met.