Behavioral Health Services

The BHS Department was developed out of the growing need for sentencing recommendations for youth with substance abuse/dependency issues and/or mental health needs. The Family Court operates as a Trauma Informed Court and this department is continually involved in efforts to ensure the Court remains so. Trauma Screening is conducted daily for youth admitted to Multi-County Attention Center. Referrals to other community agencies are made based on assessed needs for ongoing intervention. The following programs are operated within the Behavioral Health Services Department:

Case-link

Case-link increases the percentage of Court youth who engage in treatment once a behavioral health need is identified. A licensed mental health professional employed by the Court in its Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Department ensures that youth who screen positive for a behavioral health need are linked with a community provider for intervention services that appropriately correspond  to the youths' challenges. Case Link receives referrals from BHS screeners and assessors, probation officers, diversion programs, and hearing officers. Youth remain in the program until they are successfully engaged with the indicated intervention service.

Diversion Program

Juvenile Rule 9 (A) states, "In all appropriate cases formal court action should be avoided and other community resources utilized to ameliorate situations brought to the attention of the court." The Supreme Court of Ohio has cited research that shows diversion is the most effective manner of disposing most juvenile cases.

Decisions on whether or not a case goes through a diversion program are based on established criteria. This criteria is applied to all incoming cases. Stark County Family Court's Diversion Department operates under the premise that youth are amenable to change. Diversion is designed to provide effective intervention programs, especially those that focus on helping youth mature, build critical thinking skills and address the underlying behaviors that lead to delinquent actions.