Connecting Youth and Their Families to Community Resources
SPaRC
Early intervention with meaningful connections to nurture healing and growth.
assessment centers
Assessment (screening) Centers aim to prevent and divert youth from juvenile justice and child welfare systems through a single point of contact that identifies underlying issues concerning behavior and partners with youth and families to access individualized services and/or resources. This occurs through intervention in schools, at the point of or after arrest, at the request of parents/caregivers, or through partnerships with other community stakeholders. Through in-depth interviews and validated screening and assessment tools, centers work to understand the barriers youth and families are experiencing at home, school, or in the community. Following the screening, Centers partner with the youth and family to access individualized resources and services to help overcome barriers and create a stable environment where they can thrive. When appropriate, centers coordinate with educational, social service, and justice agencies to provide a holistic view of the family’s and youth’s strengths and needs.
WHAT WE DO
SPaRc provides a supportive environment that fosters cooperation as we connect youth and families to services and resources in the community. Our dream is to bring a “sparc” into the community. We can make a difference by listening without judgment to an individual’s needs and helping them meet those needs, thus being proactive in preventing youth from entering the juvenile justice and welfare systems.
wHY WE DO IT
At SPaRC, we believe in every youth’s potential and capacity for growth because the youth in our area are worth their community’s care and investment. We are committed to supporting youth and providing them with the resources they need to be safe and healthy.
HOW WE DO IT
With a compassionate staff that are well trained and willing to work with youth and families every step of their journey, we are committed to creating partnerships and relationships that lead to the success of our youth.
Our Funding
The Idaho Behavioral Health Council (IBHC) was established in 2020 through a partnership between the three branches of Idaho state government. Upon the implementation of the Council’s strategic plan, investments for behavioral health that aligned with the mission of the Council were recommended to Governor Little. The Idaho Legislature approved the proposals for increased resources as recommended by the IBHC, and Governor Little signed them into law. The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections will manage the following two priorities:
- A supplemental of one-time funding of $6.5 million in FY 2023 will allow IDJC to partner with city and county providers, non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and courts through a grantor/grantee partnership to establish youth assessment centers to connect youth & families with long term community-based resources within their area, thus avoiding further entrance into the juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
- A supplemental of one-time funding of $4.4 million in FY 2023 will allow IDJC to partner with city and county providers, non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and courts through a grantor/grantee partnership to establish youth crisis centers located across the state for youth safety, stabilization, and immediate case management services.
