Regions

	Central Region Arapahoe, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson, Lake, Lincoln, Summit counties
	Northeast Region Adams, Boulder, Broomfield, Jackson, Kit Carson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma counties
	Southern Region Alamosa, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Mineral, Otero, Park, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache, Teller counties
	Western Region Archuleta, Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hindsdale, La Plata, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, Moffat, Ouray, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt, San Juan, San Miguel counties

History

In 1986, the Division regionalized its administration of commitment continuum services. Five regional offices were established with staff capable of providing services and parole supervision to committed youth within each region. Later, the five regions were condensed into the following four management regions: Central, Northeast, Southern and Western. These four offices span across 64 counties and work in partnership with 22 Judicial Districts.

Regional Offices are responsible for:
 

• Oversight of the region’s client management and parole systems;
• Liaison and collaboration with juvenile justice and human services local agencies;
• Representing the Division on local Collaborative Management (HB 04-1451) Projects
• Collaboration and coordination with local judicial districts to administer the Senate Bill 91-94 detention services programs; and,
• The development of local resources to meet the needs of youth and families as they transition from residential treatment back to their communities.
  
   

Client management is an overarching case management system for youth who are committed to the custody of the Department of Human Services, Division of Youth Corrections. The system functions to:
 

• Guide youth through the commitment continuum from assessment through parole;
• Develop treatment and supervision plans for each committed youth;
• Monitor the youth progress in treatment through regular contact with program staff;
• Present the youth’s community treatment plan to the Community Review Board when community-based programming is prescribed;
• Prepare the Parole Plan and present the plan and the youth before the Juvenile Parole Board;
• Procure transition and parole services for youth upon community transition;
• Supervise and monitor each youth’s progress while on parole; and,
• Advocate for the needs of the youth in their care.
   

In addition, regional offices also negotiate contracts with residential and non-residential treatment providers, and monitor those programs for contract compliance and compliance with Division Policy and Procedure.

Detention Continuum

The Division operates a detention continuum that provides for the supervision of youth who are either pre-adjudicated/pre-trial youth, or youth sentenced to time in detention, but who are not committed to the Division. The detention continuum spans community supervision options provided by Senate Bill 91-94 programming to staff secure detention in the community and finally, secure detention in facilities operated by the Division.

Senate Bill 91-94 programming provides an array of services designed to ensure youth are placed in the appropriate setting based upon their risk to the community. Each Judicial District is responsible for screening potential admissions and determining the risk level and intervention needs for youth who have been brought into custody. In many cases, these youth can be served and monitored through non-secure, community-based services such as day reporting, electronic home monitoring, and/or enhanced community supervision.

Youth who are admitted to a detention facility have an average length of stay of 14 days, but may be sentenced up to 45 days. Youth will serve their time in either a state secure facility, or a contracted staff-secure detention facility.

Commitment Continuum

Contract and Community Placements
In order to offer a full continuum of services to youth committed to the Department’s custody, the Division of Youth Corrections contracts with an extensive network of community-based residential and non-residential providers in addition to programs and services offered through state operated facilities. Placement decisions are based upon the risk and treatment needs of the individual youth and range from staff-secure placements, to independent living programs and non-residential treatment.

Transition and Parole Services
These same residential and non-residential service providers are utilized to provide support and supervision to youth as they transition out of DYC care, and back to their families and communities. Services include Multi-Systemic Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, individual and family therapy, substance abuse counseling, tracking, mentoring, offense-specific therapy, independent living skills, anger management skills, parenting skills training and links to sustainable community resources. Client Managers within each region oversee the provision of these services and are responsible for ensuring that the needs of each individual youth are met and that community safety is maintained.

The 5 Key Strategies
The Division of Youth Corrections is committed to improving the lives of youth, families and communities through utilization of the guiding Five Key Strategies.

“The Division will provide The Right Services at the Right Time, Delivered by Quality Staff, Using Proven Practices, in Safe Environments while Embracing Restorative Community Justice Principles.”

Youth committed to the Division of Youth Corrections are assessed at one of the Division’s four assessment centers for a comprehensive evaluation of risk and need before determining placement and developing an individualized treatment and supervision plan. This assures youth are receiving The Right Services at the Right Time. The DYC assessment process consists of applying evidence-based evaluation practices to measure various aspects of functioning for juvenile offenders committed to the Division of Youth Corrections.  Findings from a clinical assessment utilizing motivational interviewing techniques, a criminogenic risk and needs assessment, alcohol and drug screening/assessment, mental health screening/assessment, psychological evaluation (as needed basis), medical and dental screening/examination and educational and vocational appraisal are integrated to formulate recommendations for treatment.  

Information gathered through the assessment process is utilized to develop a cell score that indicates the youth’s level of security. The Division of Youth Corrections utilizes an actuarial based risk assessment, the Colorado Juvenile Risk Assessment (CJRA). This tool identifies a youth’s risk level (or likelihood to re-offend) and guides decisions about treatment priorities and services. The CJRA addresses 12 key areas (or domains) that rank a youth’s risk to re-offend as high, moderate or low. These areas include Record of Referrals, Demographics, School History/Status, Use of Free Time, Employment, Relationship History, Family History/Current Living Arrangements, Alcohol and Drug History, Mental Health, Attitudes/Behaviors, Aggression and Skills. Treatment providers and client managers assist youth to address these areas through a jointly developed individualized treatment plan.

Youth and families are best served with Quality Staff. Through education, experience, licensure and continued training and professional development, DYC staff is well prepared to work with youth in the Division’s care. Proven Practices such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and evidence-based assessment tools, are utilized to provide the best services for youth and families.
Creating and maintaining Safe Environments for youth, staff and the public in residential placements and in community settings are a top priority. Through the use of actuarial based risk assessments, staff and youth safety interviews, implemented safety and security practices and polices, and through internal and external inspections, safety is always monitored and enforced.

The key strategy of Restorative Community Justice Principles is implemented through various Regional restorative justice projects including the annual support of Coats for Colorado, the annual Children’s Hospital Christmas Collection, and the Food Bank of the Rockies collection. Regions also partner with facility staff in joint restorative justice projects such as Habitat for Humanity deconstruction and builds projects, a mural at the Rude Recreation Center in Denver, quilts for patients at the Veteran’s Hospital and teen mothers in Weld County, providing volunteers for local animal shelters, clean up efforts at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Blood Drives, fundraisers for the Red Cross for hurricane Katrina and Haiti Earthquake victims, as well as numerous additional projects to help youth experience and process giving back to their communities.