Juvenile Delinquency
When kids get into trouble, they generally follow one of two paths. One path leads further into crime, and the other leads back into a healthy, contributing future. Our staff helps youth walk on the second path.
Even the teens with the worst behavior problems are not “bad” kids. For the most part, they have been through tougher times than most of us will ever know. Abandonment, loss, physical or sexual abuse, mental illness—all create trauma that plays out in destructive behaviors that form in the undeveloped psyche of youth. The boys and girls we work with are tough, it is true. But they have strong potential to get back on the right path.
You can help these young men and women by showing them you care about them.
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact the volunteer coordinator to:
- Host a pizza & movie night
- Help the youth with homework
- Chaperone a field trip
- Teach life skills
- Organize a Wish List collection
- Sort donations for the holidays
- Help with holiday celebrations
Donation Opportunities
- Items from the Troubled Youth Wish List
- Tickets to community events and concerts to reward good behavior
- Sponsor a field trip
- A monetary gift
Programs in this category
Community Based Evaluation
Heartland Family Service professional therapists assist juvenile court judges by evaluating youth who have committed juvenile crimes and providing recommendations regarding treatment and rehabilitation services. Our therapists interview the youth, his or her family and confer with the individuals and institutions that have become involved with the youth. The youth receives medical, psychological and substance abuse evaluations. A multi-disciplinary report is assembled that includes recommendations from all disciplines. The therapist then recommends to the judge appropriate community resources available to the child and his or her family. Community Based Evaluations continue to have a positive impact in the community because the parents, the youth and the therapist all work together as a team to come up with the best solution for each individual family. Referrals are made through the juvenile court.
Tracker Services
This Tracker program monitors youth on probation or parole and assists them in following through with the recommendations of the court. The staff monitors the youth’s compliance with school attendance, curfew, employment, counseling and drug and alcohol restrictions in order to reduce the need for detention. This intensive supervision allows the youth to stay at home and at school, where influential people can help him or her learn more socially acceptable behaviors. In addition, staff also serve as an advocate to help youth reduce risks to themselves and others, and to help them develop a more positive lifestyle through healthy activities including community service. Services and procedures are slightly different in Iowa and Nebraska. Referrals are through the Office of Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Court.
Tracker Services Brochure
Tracker Services Prevention and Intervention Brochure
Victim Empathy Program
Our Victim Empathy Program is based on the principles of Restorative Justice — to repair the victim/offender relationship, to fix the damage that has been done and to prevent further crimes from occurring. We believe that helping youth understand the impact their crime has on the victim and community is an important step in preventing future crimes. Not only do youth learn from their experience in the three- or six-week classes, they are given the opportunity to repair the harm through a two-hour community service project. And if the victim chooses and the youth is prepared, a guided face-to-face meeting can be arranged to further enhance the learning. The program is a collaboration among Heartland Family Service, Concord Center and the Douglas County Attorney Victim Witness Unit.
Youth Links Triage Center
Youth Links is an innovative new program for Douglas and Sarpy youth in crisis. The program offers services for youth age 10-18 years who have been found to be delinquent or who are status offenders. The program is designed as a “triage center” that combines evaluation, crisis stabilization and linkage to community services to help youth successfully return to home, school and community. Residential and partial day services are provided, as well as outreach and supportive services to the youths’ families. Referrals are made through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Douglas and Sarpy County juvenile courts. Heartland Family Service is the lead agency in a partnership with Boys Town to develop and provide this program.
Learn more:
Solving Community Problems: Youth Offenders
Youth Links
Youth Links flier
