Just for Youth: Advocating for Youth in the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services

2nd Edition Now Available!

     This book is for parents, legal guardians (including the Department of Children and Families) and other caregivers of youth in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services (DYS) or at risk of entering DYS custody. In addition, we hope that this book can be useful to youth in DYS custody themselves. While the book is written for lay people, it also should be helpful to professionals working in this area including advocates, providers, and administrators.

     This book describes the basic steps that a youth typically follows within the DYS system, from the point of arrest until discharge from DYS. The book is focused particularly on the rights of a youth involved with DYS. The book explores two areas closely: 1) mental health/substance abuse services; and 2) education.

 

To view the book in its entirety please click HERE
 
  Cover, Preface, and Table of Contents(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 1: Using this book to advocate for youth involved with DYS(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 2: How youth become involved in DYS(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 3: How youth become involved with the juvenile justice system(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 4: Prevention(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 5: After the arrest(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 6: Trial, adjudication, and disposition(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 7: Commitment and assessment(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 8: Classification (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 9: Placement(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 10: Overview of rights during confinement(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 11: The situation for girls(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 12: Medical services and substance abuse services(Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 13: Mental health and substance abuse services during confinement (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 14: Education services during confinement (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 15: Special education services during confinement (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 16: Transition back to the community (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 17: Grant of conditional liberty (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 18: Health insurance & other health care funding sources in the community (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 19: Mental health and substance abuse services in the community (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 20: Education in the community (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 21: Supervision in the community (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 22: Discharge from DYS (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Chapter 23: Resource guide (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Appendix A (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Appendix B (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Appendix C (Click to View, Opens New Window)
  Acknowledgements (Click to View, Opens New Window)