Committees Details

In 2008 the Balanced and Restorative Justice Implementation Committee revised their Strategic Plan to add the goal, "To develop a family involvement focus within the balanced and restorative justice model". Following the addition of that goal, a workgroup was formed with membership from both juvenile justice and family advocacy to address this issue and ultimately led to the development of the Family Involvement in Pennsylvania's Juvenile Justice System monograph. That workgroup was raised to Standing Committee status in 2010 as recognition that family engagement remains one of the cornerstones of the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy (JJSES).

Enhancing family engagement in the juvenile justice system has been a priority of the Chiefs' Council since 2008 and is a building block for all JJSES activities. The Committee's work has captured state and national interest as we work to identify practices that support family engagement throughout all stages of the juvenile justice system, as well as developing original and Pennsylvania specific resources where needed.

The Family Engagement Committee is responsible for the development of the Family Guide to Pennsylvania's Juvenile Justice System, assisting families as they navigate through the JJ system, educating them in the process, people they will meet, steps in the system they will face, and things they can do to achieve better outcomes for their children. Another product of the Committee’s work are four parenting skills workbooks: Setting Boundaries and Applying Rewards and Consequences, Respect in the Home, Dealing with Frustrations, and Understanding Motivation. Most recently, an introductory family engagement curriculum was developed for new juvenile probation officers attending the Juvenile Probation Officer Academy.

Moving forward, the committee will continue to interface with the PA Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategy, identifying at each stage how families can play a key role, and how the committee can strengthen family engagement at every stage. The committee meets virtually every other month and is always looking for new members. If you would like more information or are interested in joining the committee, please contact Dwight Penberth, Lebanon County Probation Services, at dwight.penberth@lebanoncountypa.gov.