Sec. 16.17.02.06. Guidelines for Youth Diversion Programs Receiving State Funds

A. Nature of Services Delivered.

(1) Youth diversion programs shall provide services in a manner which is appealing and accessible to their community. This requires flexible hours and may entail the use of an outreach approach or satellite centers, or both.

(2) Youth diversion programs are responsible for developing and maintaining community rapport.

(3) Programs may not systematically deny service to any groups of youths in their communities.

(4) Programs may not be required to provide services to youth who, in the best judgment of the program staff, are in need of services beyond those which the program is capable of offering. In this case, the programs shall attempt to refer the participant to an appropriate agency for service.

(5) Diversion programs shall maintain a listing of community services to which participants may be referred. The listing shall include at least the name of the referral service, its address, telephone number, and eligibility requirements.

(6) Youth diversion programs shall make use of existing public and private services in their communities by referral and networking with those services which are available and appropriate. Programs shall provide the participant with whatever assistance is needed to follow through with the referral. In addition, it is the program's responsibility to follow up on each formal case referred to determine whether the service was provided by the agency to which the referral was made.

(7) Youth diversion programs shall provide written or verbal feedback to the worker making the referral to the program regarding the acceptance of referrals. The worker shall be periodically informed of the individual's participation in the diversion program.

B. Internal Management and Operation.

(1) Internal management, evaluation of staff, and other aspects of the daily operations of the diversion programs are the responsibility of the program director.

(2) Youth diversion programs shall be staffed by professionals or paraprofessionals, or both. The use of volunteers to expand services and support the paid staff is recommended.

(3) Youth diversion programs shall maintain case record files on each formal counseling case when the youth is seen on a regular basis. Program shall maintain physical custody of case records at all times.

(4) The diversion program staff shall provide suitable protection for case record files. Information in these files is confidential. Accordingly, client-identifying data from case files will be released to individuals or agencies outside the program staff only if the participant has given his or her permission in writing, and then only when considered appropriate by the program.

(5) The agency operating the youth diversion program shall have an advisory board or board of directors, or both, which is representative of youth and adult community members, agency staff, and professionals in the human services field.

(6) The Department of Juvenile Services shall define the specific geographical areas which the program will serve, and the programs shall make their catchment areas known to all agencies or organizations from which the program may receive referrals. Catchment areas may not be so large as to prohibit proper coverage or so small as to ignore natural boundaries. Diversion programs shall make sure, at all times, that they are adequately serving the needs of youth in their designated catchment areas before extending their services to youth outside these areas.

(7) Diversion programs shall serve, on a priority basis, those youth and their families referred by the Department of Juvenile Services or the State's Attorney's Office, or both, for the juvenile court or as specified, according to individual contracts.