We provide mental health support to youth and families involved in the San Francisco juvenile justice system for high-risk youth ages 12 – 24, including pre- and post-adjudicated youth who are either at risk of out-of-home placement or are reintegrating into their communities from out-of-home placement.
Mental Health Support for Youth and their Families
How it works
COY is a behavioral health program providing services to ensure client safety and stability, life skills development, increased pro-social behaviors, and participation in education and employment. Services include:
Eligibility & Referrals
Community Options for Youth (COY) client referral forms are available to San Francisco Juvenile Probation personnel, public defenders, and other non-profit agencies serving youth in similar target populations. Youth must be eligible for Medi-Cal and not currently detained. A CJCJ therapist conducts an initial assessment with the youth and his/her parent or guardian upon enrollment.
To make a referral or a request for services, please contact Sean Cochrun, Director of Behavioral Health, by phone at (415) 621‑5661 x. 109 or email at sean@cjcj.org.
History
COY developed out of recognition that traditional clinical therapy does not effectively address the needs of high-risk justice involved youth. Historically, CJCJ’s Detention Diversion Advocacy Program (DDAP) referred youth clients to licensed therapists that required youth to attend therapy appointments in hospital and office environments around the city. However, the clinical environment and passive style that characterizes traditional mental health services was insufficient to address the needs of this troubled youth population. As a result, youth participation in these services was low. Once a youth had exited the DDAP program, services stopped completely.
In 2008, COY began serving youth through licensed therapy provided in the community. The program maximizes Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) funding through Senate Bill 163 to create a flexible service delivery system that emphasizes engaging the client in the therapeutic process. This fundamental shift in the provision of mental health services has not only been successful with CJCJ’s youth client population, but has created an alternative and effective mental health model that improves the juvenile justice system’s ability to respond to the youth in its care and promote better public safety outcomes.
Contact:
Sean Cochrun, Director of Behavioral Health
sean@cjcj.org