Questions about the Juvenile Reporting and Family Center contact:
Shalet Laing
Associate Director for Diversion and Preventative Services
laing@lasalle-school.org
(518) 242-4731 x227
Overview
The Juvenile Reporting and Family Center (JRFC) is an expansion of the highly regarded, nationally accredited LaSalle School Evening Reporting Center, which has served adolescent males on its Albany campus since 2006.
The program serves Albany County youth and their families, identified by Probation, the Department of Children, Youth and Families, or Family Court as an alternative to detention or at risk for juvenile justice difficulties. The program also acts as community reintegration program for youth in OCFS (Office of Children and Family Services). OCFS youth must report Monday-Saturday and attend counseling at LaSalle School.
Participants attend the year-round program for 90 days, up to 20 hours a week, Monday through Friday. Each site provides structured, supervised and age-appropriate Positive Youth Development (PYD) activities for at-risk youth between the ages of 9 and 17. The program is committed through PYD strategies to helping our youth understand life’s challenges and responsibilities by developing skills to become successful members of the community.
The program introduces youth to skills, activities, and opportunities; taps into their strengths; fosters appropriate peer and adult relationships.
Program Activities include:
- Health and Life Skills
- Education and Career Development
- Character and Leadership Development
- Evidenced Based Programming provided in conjunction with Albany County Juvenile Probation
- Family-Focused Engagement
- Community Involvement
- Mentoring
Family Empowerment
Strength-based Family Team Meetings are conducted upon initial enrollment and before discharge to link families to natural and community resources to increase protective factors and reduce recidivism and further penetration into the juvenile justice system. Probation, DCYF, and other service providers and supports are invited to these conferences for the development of both short and long term service plans. An assigned Caseworker has weekly contact with families, including twice a month in the home.
Monthly Parent Nights are designed to strengthen families through skill development and fun, social activities.
Parents are invited to participate in quarterly parent advisory Groups for their feedback and recommendations.
LaSalle School does not discriminate in admissions and the provision of services and programs with respect to race, national origin, or religion.