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The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), on behalf of the New York State Juvenile Justice Strategic Planning Action Committee (SPAC), is seeking proposals from qualified regional community collaborations to serve as regional youth justice teams. Each regional team will act as a liaison between its region and State policy makers, providing the region with a voice at the State level and serving as a conduit for channeling technical assistance, juvenile justice expertise, local data and information about best practices from the State level back to the local region. The regional team will coordinate local stakeholders in data driven analyses of local juvenile justice trends, and will play an important role in planning, supporting and evaluating effective juvenile justice services and reforms in each of 10 designated regions in New York State.

Each regional team will provide a venue for local communities and city, county and state agencies to engage in formal communication and planning around juvenile justice issues. The team is intended to be an independent entity that works to improve system collaboration and service delivery across the region; it is not intended to provide services to clients, though its member organizations may. Teams will help facilitate a regional approach to assessing local needs and developing effective strategies for working with children and families that maximizes resources and reduces unnecessary duplication of services. Through close analysis of county and regional trends and through data and technical assistance provided through the SPAC, teams will identify promising practices within their region and consider strategies to replicate those promising practices throughout the region.

The Teams will also assist in the assessment, alignment, coordination, prioritization and measurement of available services and programs that address the needs of children and youth at-risk for becoming or who are system-involved. The assessment and coordination of services shall include, but are not limited to prevention, early intervention, diversion, alternatives to detention and placement, treatment services, residential placements and reentry services. Through the Teams, the SPAC intends to foster and promote a continuum of community-based services and systems reflecting service integration at the local, regional and state levels.

Finally, the regional team will represent the designated region at the SPAC, informing the SPAC about the region’s needs and concerns. The team will provide the SPAC with local perspectives on juvenile justice reform and, through recommendations to the SPAC, will have a voice in influencing policy and funding directions. Teams will serve as key advocates for additional and appropriate resources for at-risk and system-involved children and youth in their respective regions.

The RFP can be found at http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ofpa/newrfp.htm, and questions may be emailed to funding@dcjs.state.ny.us through Friday, March 1, 2013. Please reference “RYJ Teams RFP” in the subject line of your email. On Friday, March 8, 2013 DCJS will post answers to the received questions on our website at http://criminaljustice.ny.gov/ofpa without identifying questioners. Application deadline is 12:00 noon April 15, 2013.