]]>"This funding is a game-changer for our ability to effectively help Kansas youth in the justice system," said Megan Milner, KDOC Deputy Secretary. "By identifying and addressing mental health and substance use needs early, we are providing a pathway for young people to receive the support they need to avoid future system involvement. For many detention centers, this is the first time they have had the capacity to offer these essential services".
This grant program utilizes the state’s Evidence-Based Programs fund to improve services in Kansas’ nine locally operated juvenile detention centers. Assessments conducted since the grants were implemented in 2023 have revealed a critical need: over 80% of youth admitted to a detention center have mental health or substance use disorders. The grants are directly addressing this by funding timely assessments, case management, and behavioral health services.
“These grants provide crucial funding to address the needs that may be influencing a youth’s behavior in the community, thus resulting in them coming to the attention of the justice system. By getting them connected to services as early as possible, we can provide a structure of support for the youth and their family to hopefully change their trajectory in the juvenile justice system”, said Steve Stonehouse, Sedgwick County Director of Corrections.
The KDOC is responsible for the adult and juvenile correctional systems in the state, ensuring a safe and secure environment while providing opportunities for offenders to become productive members of society upon release.
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Megan Milner
Phone: (785) 746-7456
Fax: (785) 596-6080
Kansas Department of Corrections
ATTN: Juvenile Community-Based Services
714 S.W. Jackson St., Suite 300
Topeka, KS 66603
The Kansas Department of Corrections – Juvenile Services (KDOC-JS) establishes operational standards for use by administrative counties for the operation of their local intake and assessment programs. Administrative contacts must use these standards to develop their local policies and procedures that direct the actions of their local employees for the intake and assessment process. These standards are the minimum standards that are intended to help guide the development of the local agency's policy and procedure manuals.
Some of the primary functions of a locally-operated JIAS include, but are not limited to:
24-Hour service Availability – The JIAS shall provide intake and assessment services 24-hours per day, 365 days per year. Each Board of County Commissioners, local Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board and local law enforcement agencies authorize how these services are provided; whether by locally staffed facility, an on-call system, notice to appear process or other local process. At a minimum, 24-hour services must include who to contact (local name and or office) and how to contact the local JIAS for questions or assistance during the regular workday, after business hours, on weekends, and during holidays for regular or emergency situations.
Reaction and Response Time – Local JIAS staff shall respond to law enforcement upon their request within ten (10) minutes of notification. The intake worker and law enforcement officer shall confer and determine whether an immediate assessment is required. If determined an immediate assessment is required, the assessment should commence by the local JIAS staff within thirty (30) minutes of the conversation.
County Operated - Because JIAS are operated by the local county and are staffed by county employees, different operations models are utilized based on the county organization and use of local staff and resources. In the more populated counties they typically operate JIAS as a facility that is staffed continuously. In counties where a juvenile detention center is located it is common to operate JIAS in conjunction with their facility that is staffed continuously and cross-train juvenile detention staff. However, most local JIAS operations across Kansas are staffed using an office that is staffed during regular business hours and/or evenings and use on-call juvenile intake workers in evenings, overnight hours, weekends and holidays etc. Having local staff that have skill sets to work with youth and their families that may be vulnerable, upset or angry is a necessity. For that reason, a number of counties have cross-trained staff that have experience and expertise with this population and within these areas.
Screenings and Assessments - The screenings and assessments provided at the local JIAS help determine what community-based services may be appropriate for the youth and family in that area as well as help determine if the youth can be returned home or if placement is appropriate pending a subsequent court hearing. Local JIAS staff collect the following information through an interview process:
In addition, standardized screenings and assessments utilized in local JIAS include:
Release from Intake and Assessment - One of the primary tasks of the administrative county juvenile intake worker is to support law enforcement in providing the best and most appropriate option for the immediate placement of the youth. Pursuant to K.S.A. 75-7023 and K.S.A. 38-2331, local juvenile intake workers shall use the records, reports and information obtained in the intake process to make a release determination. Working with their local law enforcement and child welfare agency partners is critical in their ability to best carry out this role.
Referrals from Intake and Assessment - Another critical task for the administrative county juvenile intake worker is to ensure that each youth processed through the local JIAS shall have their case referred to the local Immediate Intervention Program, the county/district attorney, or the Department for Children and Family Services. Additionally, youth and families will be referred for services within the community as appropriate to address identified areas of concerns. The primary functions of local juvenile intake are established in KSA 75-7023. Again, working with their local law enforcement and local child welfare agency partners is critical in their ability to best carry out this role as well as having a good relationship and working knowledge of community resources that are available to provide needed support to a youth and/or their family.
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