OJA Schedules Follow-up Meetings on Need for Community-based Services in Three Southern Oklahoma Counties
Follow-up meetings are scheduled next week to address the lack of juvenile prevention and diversion services in three southern Oklahoma counties.
Officials with the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) held meetings last month in Stephens, Cotton and Jefferson counties to discuss youth involved and at risk of involvement in juvenile justice since last year’s closing of Youth Services for Stephens County.
“We are reviewing the comments and suggestions made during the meetings,” said Amanda (Leonhart) McClain, OJA’s Project Director. “We also received a good response from area residents to an online survey, which will be included in evaluating how best to develop and implement prevention and diversion services to meet those needs identified.”
Follow-up meetings are scheduled for:
- Monday, April 15, 5 p.m. at Red River Technology Center in Duncan.
- Tuesday, April 16, 10 a.m., in the council chambers at Waurika City Hall in Waurika, and at 5 p.m. at the Walters Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Walters.
OJA allocates funds to designated youth service agencies. To ensure community needs are met, a comprehensive plan will be developed to target existing dollars toward building and implementing programs to meet the needs the communities identify through this process, McClain said.
Those attending the four earlier meetings held over three days last month in Stephens, Jefferson and Cotton counties included judges, court staff, district attorneys, juvenile justice staff, elected officials, school representatives, family members, young people and faith-based leaders.
For more information on the meetings, contact McClain at ojacatsgroup@oja.ok.gov.
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For additional information, contact:
Michael McNutt/OJA Communications Director
(405) 530-2860 (405) 249-6072
Paula Christiansen/ OJA Public Information Officer
(405) 530-2814
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