SERVICES

The following service activities are made available to clients: advocacy, school enrollment, daily school attendance, tutoring, prevocational and vocational counseling, job finding and placement, peer group interactions, family contacts and interactions, counseling (one-on-one and group), recreation, social and cultural activities, court appearances, egress planning (linkage to other community programs), monthly written progress reports, weekly verbal communication with the UDIS Casemanager, attendance at regularly scheduled case staffings, and 24-hour, 7 day availability.

A performance contract is drawn up outlining the goals and objectives to be achieved in advocacy. The norm of advocacy service is ten to fifteen hours per each week for youth. A minimum of twelve hours must be of an individual one-to-one nature, to be divided equally over at least for face-to-face contacts, including one family contact. At least three contacts with the youth must occur during the after school and evening hours and/or weekends.

These service activities are provided through the UDIS advocate and/or through linkages with other community agencies. Those in need of other more appropriate services or more specialized treatment such as psychotherapy, drug/alcohol, pregnancy, education, or employment services will be directly referred to other agencies in the community.

The target population of UDIS includes only those youth age 12 to 17 who:

• Have been adjudicated to be delinquent or to be in violation of probation for a delinquent act, or who the judge would otherwise commit to the Juvenile Division of DOC, and there are no other available resources to meet the youth's needs.
• Have had at least two delinquent adjudications in the juvenile court, or have committed an extremely serious offense for which the youth would be committed to DOC.

Youth who are eligible for the UDIS program must meet the criteria of the target population as youth who are adjudicated nonviolent delinquents between the ages of 12 and 17, who will be committed to DOC if services are not provided.

Youth referred to the YSB are referred as a condition of probation by the Juvenile Court Judge. If the youth meets the criteria outlined as the target population then the Judge may refer him or her for assessment for UDIS services and development of a service plan by either:

1. Entering a hold-in-custody order; or

2. Allowing the youth to return home for the assessment period

The Youth Service Bureau serves youth in Christian, Logan, Mason, Menard and Sangamon Counties.