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Direct Services

The NCCD Center for Girls and Young Women has been awarded a four-year Local Funding Partnerships matching grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to partially underwrite Girl Matters: It’s Elementary. This direct service project is a gender- and culturally-responsive alternative to suspension and expulsion for 5-to-12-year-old girls who present disruptive behaviors in targeted elementary schools in Duval County (Jacksonville, Florida). The Weaver Family Foundation has matched the first year of funding from RWJF. Click here to read the media advisory. To view photos from the August 2, reception click here.

Justice for All Girls Services (JAGS)
Alternative Services for Girls in Detention in SW Florida
The NCCD Center for Girls and Young Women (The Center) has implemented a model program, JAGS for girls detained at the Southwest Florida (Fort Myers) Regional Juvenile Detention Center.   JAGS provides alternative services for girls who are awaiting judicial disposition and/or commitment placement. At the core of service delivery is the deliberate creation of a staff culture that values the developmental differences of girls and embraces their life experiences. Research-based gender responsive and trauma-informed practices are core to our program. These alternative services have an over-reaching goal of reducing recidivism by coordinating and delivering services that are deliberately designed to address the pathways that lead girls into the juvenile justice system.

The Center has the experience and expertise to provide direct service to girls that are meaningful,  because we understand the systemic and individual issues that are involved. Through the JAGS program, we will offer individual services to all girls (assessment, referrals, one/one skills training, group skills training,  and systemic services to girls and their families (help navigating the system, information about community programs that are available, recommendations to DJJ, judges regarding appropriate placements, collaboration with girls’ probation officers where appropriate). We will place a special emphasis on training detention center staff in the critical issues that impact the safety and well being of girls and that lead to improved outcomes for girls.

The JAGS program employs the following strategies grounded in research and best practices to accomplish program goals:

• Recruit and train highly committed staff to provide gender responsive and trauma informed services that promote a safe detention experience.
• Develop and implement the Friends of JAGS volunteer/intern program to provide supplemental services including groups, recreational activities (yoga, meditation, visual arts, drama, skills building activities, mentoring, etc.).
• Utilize the NCCD gender specific  JAIS™ (Juvenile Assessment Intervention System) assessment tool to develop individualized care management plans that address girls’ prioritized needs, public safety risks, supervision strategies, and critical needs (mental health, substance abuse, suicidal ideation, self harming behaviors, education needs, relationship needs, trauma and victimization, housing, safety, etc).
• Identify the strengths of girls and their family members and develop strategies to build on those strengths.
• Make informed recommendations for alternative placements based on evidenced based JAIS assessment and collateral documentation and individual contacts with each girl, family member(s) and other professionals as appropriate.
• Increase the knowledge and awareness of girls regarding topics that matter to girls.
• Utilize the NCCD Girl Matters™: Right Moves Curriculum to provide skills training opportunities for girls that are grounded in research and best practices.
• Coordinate access and referrals to appropriate services in the community based on individual prioritized needs of girl and family member(s).
• Assist families to maneuver the justice system as well as community based referrals for services.
• Build relationships with community partners to sustain program operations.
  
  

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