JUVENILE INTENSIVE SUPERVISION SERVICES

Juvenile Intensive Supervision Services (JISS) is a program of Rumford Group Homes, Inc. with offices located at 201 Knox Street, Rumford and 40 Western Avenue, South Paris, Maine. JISS addresses the needs of at-risk juveniles throughout Oxford County who are entering the state's criminal justice system.

RGH, Inc. 's. JISS program, also known as the "jail diversion" program, assists between 15 and 25 youth each month. The JISS Coordinator and case managers work directly with clients to meet their individual needs by providing a wide array of services.

There are five primary components of the RGH, Inc. JISS system. These components are: Intensive Supervision/Case Management Services; Emergency Foster Care; Attendant Care; Mentoring and Community Service. Each component is intended to assist youth in breaking a pattern of illegal behavior and to assume a greater responsibility for their behavior.

INTENSIVE SUPERVISION/ CASE MANAGEMENT

These services are intended to enhance collaboration between all involved parties such as law enforcement, probation and parole officers, educators, family members, counselors, other interested parties and the juvenile. The success of this approach relies heavily on the face-to-face contact with the youth regarding monitoring school attendance and performance, curfew checks, attendance at counseling and other rehabilitative issues. Our philosophy is that it is more beneficial to provide close case management services and support in the community, at school, at residential placements and in the clients' homes than serving jail time. Data also indicates that JISS is a more cost effective alternative to incarceration.

EMERGENCY FOSTER CARE (EFC)

This service is provided when a youth presents no risk to self or others but lacks support from their immediate family. Foster homes are licensed through the Department of Human Services and are selected by the JISS Coordinator according to their abilities and interest with at-risk youth. These homes provide a caring and structured environment from where the youth may be returned to his/her home or community whenever possible. These stays are typically limited to no longer than two weeks during which time an individual service plan will be developed.

MENTORING

This important component is designed to give the youth a role model by which they are able to observe positive behaviors and interactions. By role modeling these behaviors and attitudes, it is intended to have the youth assume a greater responsibility for his/her positive and productive behaviors. The JISS Coordinator and case managers are available 24 hours a day for support and assistance and can be reached by phone or pager.

ATTENDANT CARE

The Attendant Care component of the Oxford County Juvenile Intensive Supervision Services provides at-risk juveniles with a short-term, conditional release option. Juveniles eligible for this service must be referred by the Oxford County Juvenile Corrections officer. Juveniles will be temporarily housed in the Attendant Care facility in South Paris and will be supervised 24 hours a day by a trained child care worker. This option allows the juvenile and the coordinator an opportunity to assess the juvenile's current situation and to build a solid, long-term plan that avoids further graduated sanction.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Youth are provided the opportunity to complete community service hours with one of the programs per arranged work sites or set up a job site on their own.