Minnesota Aftercare Resource Guide.

The attached message is being sent to the Special Ed Directors ListServ of the Minnesota Department of Education. It is being sent to you by a ListServ coordinator who will not be able to answer any of your questions regarding this message. Please do not hit reply.

 Please find information on a document of interest: Minnesota Aftercare Resource Guide.

This guide is developed to assist local interagency teams as they plan for the time a youth leaves a correctional facility and returns to their own community and school. Please share this information with appropriate staff.  For questions, please contact Cheryl Kreager at the Juvenile Justice Coalition of Minnesota at ckreager@jjcmn.com . Thank you

Aftercare Resource Guide

            The Juvenile Justice Coalition of Minnesota (JJC) statewide Aftercare Workgroup convened in 2007 with the goal to create a more effective aftercare system for youth who have involvement with Minnesota’s juvenile justice system. The workgroup’s belief is that youth deserve an aftercare system that promotes their well-being, and supports lasting positive behavior, while holding the youth accountable. The JJC Aftercare Workgroup was made up of community experts including state and county corrections staff, residential corrections staff, state and local education staff, community providers, parent advocates and academic researchers.

             The group developed guiding principles to provide the foundation for a resource guide on aftercare. This handbook is based on research informed, best practices and results of surveys with Minnesota’s professionals and practitioners who work in the area of aftercare. It is designed to be a guide for all those involved in the juvenile justice system, including judges, state and county staff, facility staff, families, educators and community based programing. The workgroup believes aftercare is part of a comprehensive continuum of intervention/care that begins at disposition, continues through placement and extends beyond the youth’s formal involvement with the juvenile justice system. This manual serves as a day to day resource as well as a guide for decision makers to promote effective practices and a coordinated system.

             The JJC Aftercare Resource Guide is available electronically on the JJC website in the resource section at http://www.jjcmn.com/resources/minnesota-aftercare-resource-guide?sr=1. An upcoming video training will provide additional assistance on how to utilize this tool within your community. If you have any questions or would like a presentation on the resource guide, please contact Cheryl Kreager, JJC Director, at ckreager@jjcmn.com.