Division of Youth Services
Community Services Programs and Services
The primary goals of Community Services are:
- To ensure a balanced approach of accountability, competency development and community safety in providing quality services that address the needs of clients, individual victims and the community,
- To test the effectiveness of community-based programs on reducing commitments to state custody and caseload reduction,
- To establish multi-agency, cooperative partnerships with local communities,
- To establish uniformity in DYS services, case management practices and procedures.
Probation and After Care Services are provided to juveniles referred to the Youth Courts in Mississippi. Individual, group and family counseling, intake, pre-court investigation, case management and referral and placement are some of the services provided by the Youth Services Counselors.
Mental Health Intensive Adolescent Opportunity Program (AOP)
The AOP is a community-based partnership among the Mississippi Department of Human Services, mental health agencies, community agencies and local multi-agency councils. The AOP provides a mechanism by which the communities can coordinate services, share resources and reduce the number of at-risk youth being placed in state custody.
The Adolescent Opportunity Program targets adjudicated delinquent youth ages twelve (12) to seventeen (17) years of age, who are at a high risk of becoming further involved in the Criminal Justice System by offering reintegrative theories and practices. AOP operates on a twelve (12) month basis, until the youth completes all three (3) phases of the program, completes his or her probation sentence, or reaches the age of eighteen (18). Services may encompass up to twelve (12) months but treatment is based upon the assessment of the Mental Health Clinician or the Licensed Counseling Staff. Hours of operation (normally after school) will vary depending on location and method of transportation that is provided.
AOP is divided into three phases. Phase I, or the “Intensive Phase”, may encompass up to six (6) months but longer or shorter treatment shall be based upon the assessment of the Mental Health Clinician or the Licensed Counseling Staff. Phase II is considered the “Intermediate Phase and encompass up to three (3) months. Phase III composes the “Transition Phase” of the program and the last three (3) months.
As the adolescents progress through the three phases of treatment, a client must be referred or offered case management services to the case in order to provide linkage and referral service to other agencies, along with additional support to provide comprehensive treatment for the adolescents. The Therapeutic Modalities utilized in the AOP shall include but are not limited to day treatment/group counseling, individual counseling, recreational therapy, role playing, supervision (curfew) and family intervention. Family sessions are to teach parents new and more effective parenting skills and strategies to help them understand their child’s behavior.
In addition AOP also addresses issues involving the adolescent’s continuing educational and vocational training. The counselors work very closely with the adolescents in the areas of completing job applications and learning and practicing interviewing skills. Other program activities and interventions include address issues of sex, sexually transmitted diseases, personal hygiene, parenthood, responsibility, trust, and self-esteem.
All treatment modalities and intervention are aimed at decreasing criminal activity, encouraging the adolescents to attend school or obtain their G.E.D (high school equivalency), facilitating goal development toward employment, and inspiring the adolescents to be more positive and effective individuals, ensuring that children may be cared for in their homes or in the homes of relatives; and finally preventing and reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
IACCII, Tony Gobar
The Individualized Assessment and Comprehensive Community Intervention Initiative (IACCII), Tony Gobar provides comprehensive strength-based needs assessments, individualized service plans and community-based services for eligible (low-risk, low-need/high need) youth who would otherwise be committed to the training school. The specific target population for this initiative is: youthful offenders ten (10) through (17) seventeen years of age who possess high risk of returning or becoming further involved in the juvenile justice system. The IACCII ensures that at risk youth and their families have access to necessary services available in their home community.
Electronic Monitoring Services (EMS)
The overarching goal of Electronic Monitoring and Supervision services is to offer electronic monitoring and communities based supervision for youth between the ages of thirteen (13) to seventeen (17) and are on juvenile probation and require electronic monitoring services. Electronic monitoring offers assistance with the supervision and rehabilitation of juveniles diverted from institutional care or released back into the community. Electronic monitoring also offers different levels of monitoring to juveniles on temporary custody orders, as a condition for release from detention, continuing delinquency orders or utilized for sanctions.
Services – Each program listed above offers services primarily to non-Medicaid and non-billed Medicaid clients. These services are also available to Medicaid eligible clients. A total of 1477 clients have received services through programs.
According to social learning theory, the closer the treatment provided is to the environment in which the youth normally functions, the more effective the treatment will be. DYS is dedicated to bringing treatment closer to the environment and the family.
Contact Information
Mississippi Department of Human Services
Division of Youth Services
(601) 359-4972 | 1-866-312-7215