Unified Delinquency Intervention (U.D.I.S)

What is the Unified Delinquency Intervention (U.D.I.S) Program?

A program designed to;

• Divert youth from committing further criminal offenses;
• Demonstrate the feasibility of short-term community based corrections; and
• Provide a normalizing experience by using local resources.

(Funded by Illinois Department of Human Services)

How?

By;

• Providing a Para-professional Youth Advocate;
• Establishing and maintaining strong communications with the Judge, Probation Officer, State's Attorney, Parent (Guardian), and law enforcement in the youth's local area;
• Providing weekly progress reports to the above offices in the youth's local area; and
• Maintaining good communication with the youth's school and family.

How Does A Youth Qualify for the Program?

The youth;

• has been adjudicated to be delinquent;
• is in violation of probation for a delinquent act;
• the judge would otherwise commit to the juvenile division of the Department of Corrections (D.O.C.) and no other resources are available to meet the youth's needs.

The youth has had at least two delinquent petition adjudication's in the juvenile court; or has committed an extremely serious offense that would cause the youth to be committed to the D.O.C.

The youth is committable to the D.O.C.

NOTE: Petitions that are dropped (DWOP) with no findings are not considered delinquent petitions.

How Is a Youth Referred to the Program?

As a condition of probation a youth is referred to the program by a juvenile court judge.

The juvenile judge may request that the youth receive an assessment from the Cra-Wa-La U.D.I.S. program by;

• Entering a hold-in custody order; or
• Allowing the youth to return home for the assessment period.

The Probation Officer may refer a youth to the program by contacting the Cra-Wa-La U.D.I.S. program before a judicial referral (two weeks), or; within a half-day after a judicial referral

What's Next?

Upon receipt of the U.D.I.S. referral form, Cra-Wa-La will notify the Judge and/or the Probation Officer of the pending assessment.

The youth and parents are contacted to schedule an appointment for the In-Take Assessment.

Cra-Wa-La collects the following;

• Release forms from the parents and youth;
• The Social investigation conducted by the Probation Office;
• Medical information;
• Clinical;
• School reports.

Additional interviews may be conducted with teachers, principals, local law enforcement, medical practitioners, relatives, or other individuals providing information about the youth.

Upon completion of the assessment a Service Plan is developed to meet the specific needs of the juvenile.

The Service Plan is presented to the youth and parents and requires agreement and signature.

NOTE: If the youth and parents fail to agree to cooperate with the program the youth will not qualify.

The approved Service Plans will be presented to the Judge, Probation Officer, States Attorney and youth's attorney.

A Cra-Wa-La Youth Advocate will appear at the disposition court hearing and present the Service Plan Agreement.

What Is The Length Of The Program?

The length of the program is 6 months.

The youth will receive a minimum of 10 direct hours of service per week.

What Services Are Provided?

• Advocacy
• Counseling
• Educational/Vocational training
• Wilderness Stress (Spectrum - In Touch)
• C & A LAN Wraparound Team
• Individual youth assessment
• Referral and linkage with other service providers such as, county mental health, school, health care providers, programs such as Teen Reach, Project Success, Teen Choice, ShoCap, Gateway, Counseling & Information for Sexual Assault & Abuse, IDCFS, CCBYS (Community Counseling Youth Services), etc.

What are Reasons the Youth May Be Terminated From the Program?

• The youth has successfully completed the six month program.
• In these cases the youth will be referred back to the courts for re-disposition;
• The youth withdraws from the program.
• The youth fails to comply with the terms and conditions of the Service Plan Agreement.
• The parents of the youth refuse to comply with the Service Plan Agreement.
• The youth commits a violation of probation or a delinquent act.

Counties Served:

Crawford, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Gallatin, Hardin, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash and White