ABSTRACT

In each Judicial District in Colorado, the District Attorney (DA) is required to provide written notice to the home school district when youth have obtained criminal charges. The new protocol includes instructions for the juvenile assessment center staff to inform youth and family about school district notification and its purpose during the intake process. This also provides an opportunity for a guardian or youth to ask for educational assistance. Once family/youth identifies school of origin, the juvenile assessment center staff refers to a school contact list, identifies the district Child Welfare Education Liaison (CWEL) for that particular school, and emails the CWEL notification of juvenile justice involvement. Once a youth enters the child welfare system or juvenile justice system, the agency involved at the point of entry can refer to the action team’s point of contact list and initiate educational planning that involves all agencies and the school within one email.