Regional Care Teams, a collaborative of the University of Southern Maine's Catherine Cutler Institute, the Maine Department of Corrections (MDOC) and Center for Youth Policy and Law at Maine Law released a new report summarizing the progress of the Regional Care Teams initiative over the past three years of its operation and a retrospective analysis of the initiative's impact through FY24. In its first three years (July 2020-July 2023), the Regional Care Teams served 165 youth and allocated over $71,000 in funds to meet emerging or urgent needs.

Started in 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative brings together youth-serving agencies, systems, local organizations, and communities in each MDOC region to directly support individual system-involved youth and their families, and to help inform broader systems change. At the time of the data analysis, the authors found the majority of referred youth are no longer under MDOC supervision, meaning they have been successfully diverted from further system involvement. The report also recommends next steps for the state and the initiative to expand prevention, community intervention, and reintegration supports for youth.

These efforts built on the initiative's goal to keep young people connected to services in community and to avoid incarceration. The report was authored by a collaborative team including staff from the USM's Catherine Cutler Institute's Place Matters project, Youth and Community Engagement teams, and the Center for Youth Policy & Law at Maine Law.

"In the past year, we have seen an increase in referrals coming from different groups, including community-based organizations, youth, and family," said Jill Ward, Center for Youth Policy and Law Director, RCT co-facilitator and founding member in Region 1. "We are working with partners to expand opportunities to give more youth access to the RCT process."

USM and Maine Law along with the MDOC have helped design, implement, and co-facilitate the initiative which is funded in partnership with the MDOC and the Maine Juvenile Justice Advisory Group (JJAG). Other partners include the Opportunity Alliance and Wings for Children and Families, who serve as fiscal agents for the initiative funding. These service provider partners also contribute their wraparound expertise to consult local teams to assess and address youth strengths and needs. Regional Care Team members include representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, Disability Rights Maine, and other direct service providers and advocates.

Christine Thibeault, Associate Commissioner for Juvenile Services said "The Maine Department of Corrections is proud to partner with the Catherine Cutler Institute, the Center for Youth Policy and Law at Maine Law, and other State and community-based agencies to meet the needs of youth at the local level with few barriers. Supporting the Regional Care Teams enhances our efforts to divert youth from the formal juvenile court process and increase collaborations that build stronger communities."

Together, RCT stakeholders respond to funds and case review referrals to connect youth to resources for basic needs, transportation, mental health, and education. In monthly care team reviews, team members discuss a particular young person's strengths and needs with the aim of problem solving, leveraging new or existing resources, and lifting up challenges to policymakers who can assist. Emergency flexible funding is accessible to support unmet needs and strengthen positive outcomes. In its third year, RCTs received referrals from emergency rooms, the judiciary, and behavioral health services, in addition to Juvenile Community Corrections Officers. "It has been great to see RCT members leaning into the initiative's collaborative process and work across organizations to address the urgent needs of young people and their families," described Ahmen Cabral, Senior Policy Associate at the Catherine Cutler Institute and co-facilitator in Region 2.

Building on past recommendations, the report identified key next steps in increasing access to essential services and opportunities that respond to the needs of young people at risk of entering or returning from secure confinement. Emma Schwartz, Research Analyst at the Catherine Cutler Institute and co-facilitator for Region 3 added, "Members shared that while RCTs are an essential resource for helping youth, more work has to be done to address the serious service gaps and barriers to wellbeing for young people across the state." The needs surfaced through case reviews, funds requests, monthly meetings, and stakeholder conversations continuously revealed how young people in the justice system are categorically excluded from critical services. In addition, the authors suggest next steps for how partners can support the expansion of RCTs to reach more youth prior to their involvement with the legal system.

For more information about the Regional Care Teams and the most recent data please visit placemattersmaine.org/regional-care-teams

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