Aftercare Services

In an effort to reduce recidivism, KY DJJ initiated the Intensive Aftercare Program (IAP) to provide intensive services to youth identified as being at the highest risk of re-offending upon return to the community.

Upon being identified as in need of intensive aftercare (IA) services, a youth is placed in one of KY DJJ's three IAP-designated residential treatment programs. A team, consisting of an IA worker (who is assigned to the community), an aftercare liaison (who is assigned to the residential treatment facility), and residential facility treatment staff, works to make the youth's transition from residential placement to the community as successful as possible by preparing a detailed aftercare plan tailored to meet the youth's unique needs.

While the youth is in residential placement, his/her IA worker and the facility's aftercare liaison prepare for the youth's reentry in the community by scheduling counseling appointments, meeting with the youth's family, exploring job opportunities and locating possible mentors.

Upon leaving the IAP-designated residential treatment facility, the youth moves to a less-structured step-down program such as foster care, a group home or a day treatment program. Once the youth returns to the community, he/she is transitioned through a community phase system that is coordinated by the IA worker and includes intensive contacts, services and supervision.