Coordination, 2014
- Uses for coordination
- Does not use for coordination
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Data sharing
Facilitated through the use of statewide information systems allowing for consistent data sharing between systems.
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Committees or advisory groups
Multidisciplinary groups that often have regularly scheduled meetings to brainstorm ways to improve systems integration.
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Formal interagency MOUs
Collaborative agreements to guide systems integration efforts
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Informal interagency agreements
Commonly based on historical practice, mutual trust, and recognition of the need to collaborate in order to serve dual-status youth.
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Statute and/or rules
Rules that mandate systems integration efforts
Summary
In Washington, data sharing between the Department of Social and Health Services, Children's Administration (CA) and the juvenile courts/probation activity can occur at the state-level by merging state-level CA event data with juvenile justice event-level data that is also on a state-wide platform even though juvenile probation is locally administered. This type of sophisticated data sharing occurs on a fairly routine basis to support point-in-time research. The research topics have had both a state and a jurisdiction-specific focus and involved a range of national dual status youth research experts.
While state wide data are analyzed periodically, as resources exist, statewide ongoing reporting of dual status youth has not yet been realized. However, Washington is poised to be among the first states to accomplish this along with reporting by risk/need screening level and recidivism.
Additionally, there are ongoing examples of local data sharing and dual status youth coordination. The focus of many reforms have been in the King County, Juvenile Court Services Department. These efforts have involved policy research to examine in great detail the characteristics and outcomes of dual status youth, developing formal information-sharing protocols and procedures for identifying dual status youth, implementing cross-training and cross-system procedures to coordinate case planning, joint case planning, and joint case management of youth concurrently involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. A standing committee, Uniting for Youth (UfY), advances the case coordination efforts and policy reforms on behalf of dual status youth in King County and is currently working on research based diversion opportunities for dual status youth. Other counties have replicated the King County Information Sharing Resource Guide, conducted cross-system training and enhanced alternatives to formal court processing for dual status youth, with a particular focus on truancy case diversion. A detailed description of data sharing statutes and policies and details concerning the King County model can be found in a second edition of the King County Information Sharing Resource Guide on the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change juvenile justice systems reform national website.
