Comprehensive Strategies/Partnership for Success

Stark County was one of five Ohio sites selected by the Ohio Department of Youth Services in 1998 to implement the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's (OJJDP) Comprehensive Strategies Initiative. This initiative was designed to assist in planning and developing a coordinated continuum of services in Stark County which:

  1. Strengthens families,
  2. Supports core social institutions,
  3. Promotes delinquency prevention,
  4. Intervenes immediately when delinquency first occurs, and
  5. Identifies and controls the small group of serious, violent, and chronic offenders (Core Principles of the Comprehensive Strategies Initiative).

The Comprehensive Strategy Initiative emerged from the realization that the country's juvenile population is expected to grow steadily through the next decade, thus leading to challenges to local budgets and resources. Even communities with many strengths are often consumed by negative Risk Factors such as extreme economic deprivation, family management problems, and early and persistent antisocial behavior. Problem Behaviors such as drug use, delinquency, and school drop out rates, accompany the Risk Factors and further challenge communities. The Comprehensive Strategies Initiative is one vehicle to encourage collaboration as a means to address these challenges, using the combined assets of individuals, families, public systems, and local agencies.

The Stark County Process

Stark County, with a rich history of collaborative efforts, accepted the challenge to develop a Comprehensive Strategies Plan to address the critical issues facing juveniles, their families, and the systems with which they interact. Stark County Family Court was the local lead agency for this project and, with the assistance of the Stark County Family Council, implemented this strategic planning process. A Steering Committee was developed early in the fall of 1998 to guide the initial work of the project. In January of 1999 a community forum was held with over 150 community partners in attendance. Responding to an invitation from Family Court Judges Hoffman, Stucki and James, 88 individuals agreed to spend time over the next 12 months working on the specific details of the Comprehensive Strategy.

The process included assessing risk factors, identifying the problem behaviors, analyzing resources, gathering data, and making recommendations. The participants in this process, which included a diverse group of citizens, public agencies/systems, and private providers, are embarking on a journey whose destination is a child-centered, family friendly environment. The process itself was a catalyst to community conversation and problem solving. It brought people together across a wide range of perspectives, from prevention to sanctions, to dialogue and helped build a plan that connects youth, families, agencies, and systems in a coordinated manner. The work was performed by a host of community partners organized into the following Workgroups: Data; Decision-Making; Legislative and Policy-Making; Resource Assessment; and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

The analysis of all this information resulted in the selection of five key community Risk factors as targets for improvement (research analysis by OJJDP concluded that there are 19 risk factors that increase the likelihood of future violent or serious juvenile crime). Each Risk factor has a broad goal(s) assigned:

  • Economic Deprivation
    • A community in which every child's basic needs are met.
    • A community which supports and develops economic opportunities for all.
  • Family Conflict and Management
    • A community where caregivers will have the skills necessary to support a healthy family.
    • A community that provides the informal supports and resources to promote and develop healthy families.
  • Early Initiation of the Problem Behavior
    • A community in which there is open communication and cooperation among caregivers, school, and service providers to promote early identification and response to problem behaviors.
  • Early and Persistent Antisocial Behavior
    • A community that supports each child's individual cultural, social, behavioral and educational needs.
  • Academic Failure Beginning in Elementary School
    • A community that builds on the strengths of each of its children and promotes each child's academic success.

Analysis of the research showed that the presence of certain Risk Factors can predict certain Problem Behaviors. These must be addressed through the development of services from prevention to sanctions. There are five Problem Behaviors, outlined by OJJDP, that are associated with each one of the Risk Factors. Each of the Problem Behaviors was identified and one measurable objective was chosen. Achievement of these objectives is one way the Plan can begin to be measured.

  • Substance Abuse
    • Reduce the number of youth referred to Juvenile Court for alcohol and drug offenses.
  • Delinquency
    • Reduce the number of delinquent juveniles as measured by the number of cases closed in Family Court..
  • School Dropout
    • Reduce the number of youth who drop out of school as measured by the EMIS reports issued by the Educational Resource Center.
  • Violence
    • Reduce the number of violent offenses as committed by youth 10-14 years of age.
  • Teen Pregnancy
    • Reduce the number of births to teen females as measured by the Ohio Department of Health from birth records.

The Comprehensive Strategy links the Risk Factors to the Problem Behaviors, establishes measurable outcomes, demonstrates an improved quality of community life, and fulfills the Vision statement. When the Goals have been reached Stark County will indeed be a community that values all children and families by actively participating in the development of their potential.

The Goals, Objectives and timelines for the Comprehensive Strategies Plan were based on the findings and recommendations of the workgroups.

To see the entire Comprehensive Strategies for Stark County Youth plan, click here: http://www.cpdomjuvdiv.co.stark.oh.us/comprehensive.html

The Comprehensive Strategies for Stark County Youth plan continues to provide a basis for many community organizations in the writing of grants and re-direction of funds for services identified as "gaps" in the Stark County Continuum. The progress is monitored by a cross systems group and reports made to the Family Council Board at regular intervals. Data is updated annually and outcomes reviewed. To see the latest data available, please click here: http://www.cpdomjuvdiv.co.stark.oh.us/comprehensive.html

The Ohio Department of Youth Services in 2001 decided to implement the Comprehensive Strategies concept on a statewide basis and called the initiative: Partnership for Success (PfS). They entered into a contract with the Center for Learning Excellence at Ohio State University to provide the technical assistance and curriculum for the initiative. Requests for Proposals were submitted by counties throughout Ohio and 10 counties were chosen for the project in 2002. Five additional counties began the project in 2003.

For more information on Partnership for Success, please click here: http://pfsacademy.org/academyoverview/pfsacademyoverview.htm
For more information on the Comprehensive Strategies for Stark County Youth plan, please contact Susan Hays, ext. 303, or Carol Lichtenwalter, ext. 304, at the Stark County Family Council, (330) 455-1225.