Submitted by the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department has forged a partnership with Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) to help improve educational outcomes for youth involved with probation. Nationally, 60-70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition and almost 30% have a serious disorder that requires immediate significant treatment (National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 2006). These students are entitled to important protections and behavioral supports under either special education or 504 plans, depending on the severity of their disability. Unfortunately, many students have never been properly identified, or received the services that allow them to make academic and behavioral progress. As a result, students with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be expelled than their typically developing classmates, and many students are referred to juvenile court due to incidents that occurred at school. For some youth, the incident that brought them to court may have been prevented with improved behavior supports. Parents of youth in the juvenile justice system are often unaware of their rights and how to collaborate with schools and advocate for their child to ensure appropriate educational services.
Through this partnership, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and DRTx strive to equip parents and families with the resources to effectively partner with their child’s school and advocate for the services schools can provide to improve student outcomes for youth who are diverted from court, receiving services in a detention or JJAEP setting, or returning to their community schools. DRTx has already trained juvenile probation staff and is planning to offer additional training to youth and families. DRTx attorneys and advocates are making themselves available to answer technical questions that arise while probation staff works with schools to improve educational plans for students. Additionally, DRTx will accept referrals for legal representation, if probation encounters efforts to support the family are insufficient to resolve concerns about a student’s educational plan. This partnership emerged after Harris County probation leaders visited a model program in Chicago where Equip for Equality, a sister organization of DRTx, works with probation in a similar partnership that has successfully improved outcomes for youth in Cook County. Both DRTx and Harris County probation are excited that the partnership in Houston will have similar positive benefits for the youth of our county.
Disability Rights Texas is the federally designated legal protection and advocacy agency (P&A) for people with disabilities in Texas. DRTx’s mission is to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law, ensuring their full and equal participation in society.
Rescources and videos are available at www.drtx.org. Families can request assistance advocating for special education services by calling DRTx intake at 800-252-9108 or completing the online intake form.
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department has forged a partnership with Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) to help improve educational outcomes for youth involved with probation. Nationally, 60-70% of youth in the juvenile justice system have a diagnosable mental health condition and almost 30% have a serious disorder that requires immediate significant treatment (National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, 2006). These students are entitled to important protections and behavioral supports under either special education or 504 plans, depending on the severity of their disability. Unfortunately, many students have never been properly identified, or received the services that allow them to make academic and behavioral progress. As a result, students with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be expelled than their typically developing classmates, and many students are referred to juvenile court due to incidents that occurred at school. For some youth, the incident that brought them to court may have been prevented with improved behavior supports. Parents of youth in the juvenile justice system are often unaware of their rights and how to collaborate with schools and advocate for their child to ensure appropriate educational services.
Through this partnership, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department and DRTx strive to equip parents and families with the resources to effectively partner with their child’s school and advocate for the services schools can provide to improve student outcomes for youth who are diverted from court, receiving services in a detention or JJAEP setting, or returning to their community schools. DRTx has already trained juvenile probation staff and is planning to offer additional training to youth and families. DRTx attorneys and advocates are making themselves available to answer technical questions that arise while probation staff works with schools to improve educational plans for students. Additionally, DRTx will accept referrals for legal representation, if probation encounters efforts to support the family are insufficient to resolve concerns about a student’s educational plan. This partnership emerged after Harris County probation leaders visited a model program in Chicago where Equip for Equality, a sister organization of DRTx, works with probation in a similar partnership that has successfully improved outcomes for youth in Cook County. Both DRTx and Harris County probation are excited that the partnership in Houston will have similar positive benefits for the youth of our county.
Disability Rights Texas is the federally designated legal protection and advocacy agency (P&A) for people with disabilities in Texas. DRTx’s mission is to help people with disabilities understand and exercise their rights under the law, ensuring their full and equal participation in society.
Rescources and videos are available at www.drtx.org. Families can request assistance advocating for special education services by calling DRTx intake at 800-252-9108 or completing the online intake form.