Youth

Juvenile Prevention Services

Hartford Support Team for Educational Progress Program (STEP)
An intensive community-based program, STEP is designed to help youth return home after residential placement with DCF. Eligible youth are generally between the ages of 12 and 17, have been away from home for a year or longer, are Hartford residents and are on parole. One of three programs in the state, STEP seeks to help youth reintegrate into their home community, including with their family and school. Youth attend classes taught by certified teachers for up to a 45 day period to ease their transition to public school. Staff works with the youth, the family and the school system with the goal of returning to school and supports them in their school work. Other services that are provided include life skills, substance abuse and anger management groups, employment readiness, job training, job placement, community service, structured receation, family assistance, and other services needed to be successful in their home community and to increase the child's competencies to effect long-term and sustainable positive change. Youth are provided an opportunity to continue with STEP after their parole ends through a voluntary period of up to six months.

Hartford Juvenile Case Management Collaborative Program (JCMC)
The Hartford JMC has evolved to be an intensive case management, outreach and tracking program for youth returning to their community from residential placement for youth from Hartford, East Hartford, Bloomfield, West Hartford and Windsor. Youth are referred to the program from DCF Parole. Services begin when the youth is in placement, monitors weekend home passes, and continues through the end of the youth's parole period. Services are also provided to the family. Services are provided into the evenings and on weekends. Case managers and case aides are on call 24/7.

Juvenile Diversion Case Management
The Juvenile Diversion Case Management Program is designed to support youth 8-18 years of age and their families with interventions, case management and structured after- school programs to help youth steer clear of trouble. The program offers pro-social interventions that develop life skills.