OJA Schedules Meetings to Discuss Need for Community-based Services in 3 Southern Oklahoma Counties
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) is holding community meetings to develop plans to serve youth involved and at risk of involvement in juvenile justice in three southern Oklahoma counties.
Juvenile prevention and diversion services in Stephens, Cotton and Jefferson counties have been lacking since last year’s closure of Youth Services for Stephens County.
“It’s become apparent that the affected areas need and deserve services that promote improved outcomes for juveniles and prevent our justice-involved youth from re-offending,” said OJA Executive Director Steven Buck. “Programs that serve young people and their families vary from area to area so it’s essential to hear from the various partners in each community who are affected by or working within the juvenile justice system.”
Family members, young people, judges, court staff, juvenile justice staff, school leadership, elected officials, community leaders, mental health providers, tribal leaders and organizations, attorneys and those involved with faith-based organizations, child welfare services and law enforcement are invited to attend.
Meetings are scheduled for:
- Stephens County: 9-11:30 a.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, at the Red River Technology Center auditorium, 3300 W. Bois D’Arc, Duncan.
- Jefferson County: 10 a.m-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at The Depot, 203 S. Meridian, Waurika.
- Cotton County: 4-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 202 E. Oklahoma, Walters.
The purpose of the meetings is to:
- Develop a commitment of community leaders to a multidisciplinary approach to prevention, diversion, intervention, and re-entry for youth involved in and at-risk of juvenile justice involvement.
- Engage community members in formulating long-term community juvenile justice strategies.
- Explore data to inform planning on the protective and risk factors.
- Identify the providers and clarify the roles of each partner in the provision of services.
- Determine priority areas for focusing services, programming, and partnership.
- Establish methods for tracking and measuring outcomes of supported items.
OJA has requested technical assistance from the Center for Coordinated Assistance to States (CCAS), which provides juvenile justice-related training and technical assistance to states and local areas on behalf of the federal Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention (OJJDP).
For more information, contact Amanda (Leonhart) McClain, project director for OJA at amanda.mcclain@oja.ok.gov
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