DHS | Department of Human Services

Delinquency Prevention

To make a referral or learn more about Prevention Services call 215-683-4000

The delinquency prevention program seeks to address the service needs of chronically-truant youth, first-time offending youth with minor charges, but who have not been formally adjudicated in Family Court, and other youth at highest risk for delinquency as identified by DHS.

Access
For more information, and to learn how to access Delinquency Prevention programs, please call 215-683-4000.

Program Components
Click here for a listing of the main program components. Delinquency prevention programs are designed to provide “one-stop shopping” with most of the basic services available at each site.

Program Goals

To increase participants’ school attendance and performance by addressing related individual and family issues;
To prevent future or further illegal behavior by participating youth;
To improve the functioning of a mutually supportive relationship among the participating youth, family, school, and immediate community;
To improve the ability of participating youth to comply with the law and to avoid behaviors that become barriers to education, safety, health, and self-sufficiency;
To increase participants’ understanding of the impact of negative and delinquent behavior on victims, family, and community;
To improve participating youths’ life skills, and social, civic and employment competencies;
To improve youths’ sense of belonging in and responsibility towards his/her immediate community.

Eligibility
The delinquency prevention program serves youth who:

Are between the ages of 10 and 17;
Have not been formally adjudicated in Family Court;
Are not actively involved with a probation officer; and
Are not already actively involved in REAAP (Reasonable Efforts at Assessment, Access and Prevention) programs.

Target Population
Specifically, the program seeks to target youth who:

Have been referred to DHS/DCBPS by Family Court through its informal adjustment or other process;
Have been referred to DHS/DCBPS from the Regional Truancy Courts; and
Have been referred to DHS/CBPS through the District Attorney’s Youth Aid Panels.

Additional factors considered include: individual and peer related risk factors such as alienation, rebelliousness, association with peers who engage in delinquency, bullying behavior, parental incarceration, and a favorable attitude towards delinquent behavior; and alcohol and/or drug abuse.

Referral
Delinquency Prevention Programs follow a “no-reject” policy. In other words, DHS will determine if a youth is an appropriate referral to the program and providers are required to accept all referrals.

Length of Service
DHS will authorize delinquency prevention services for an initial period of up to 12 months. However, this timeframe may be extended on a case-by-case basis depending on the needs of the child.