Statement of Needs Questionnaire

Statement of Needs Questionnaire

More than fifty percent of the male population of youth between the ages of 16

to 18 years old in Essex County needs some form of vocational training. Essex

County is the largest County in the New Jersey and most individuals within that

age group do not have a high school diploma or GED and more than half have

either been detained or arrested for illegal activities.  The Juvenile Justice

Commission conducted a survey of incarcerated adolescents to determine what

they felt they needed in order for them to become productive members of society

and to focus on their educational and vocational needs.  Their highest priority was

to learn how to deal with peer pressure and having the courage to make the right

decisions and choices. New Jersey has a wide variety of programs and services that

are available to youth, much more than was available years ago, however,  there is

a limited number of mentoring programs in the New Jersey.

 

Adolescents that are not able to return to school there is home schooling there

is also in-home therapy sessions that is available to all youth whether they are at

home, in residential placement or incarcerated.  Adolescents are able to perform

community service that will satisfy some probation requirements.  Most if not all

of the services that available for adolescents require a diagnosis of substance use,

trauma or mental health issues. Adolescents with a level of care diagnosis of III.5

will be able to access all of these services and more.  However the adolescents that

are diagnosis at a lower level of care are not privy to many of these services and

they need them.  The increase of licensed clinic