Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program (MYDP)
The Massachusetts Youth Diversion Program (MYDP) provides community-based alternatives to formal court involvement, helping young people accept responsibility, access needed services, and build positive pathways for the future.
The MYDP was launched in 2022 by the Department of Youth Services (DYS) in partnership with the Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to provide youth with evidence-based diversion services before formal court involvement.
The program partners with community organizations throughout Massachusetts to connect youth and families with supportive services that promote accountability, personal growth, and long-term success.
Who Will be Eligible for Diversion?
Youth can be referred to the Diversion Program for any delinquency case an eligible referrer considers appropriate (within legal limits). The program will be equipped to work with youth of a variety of risks and needs, including those with substantial needs or complex situations.
What Services Does MYDP Provide?
When a youth is referred to the Diversion Program, the following steps will happen:
- The Diversion Coordinator will begin the intake process, which will include interviewing the youth and their family, conducting a YLSI/CMI risk/needs assessment and MAYSI, developing an individualized, evidence-based case plan, and Diversion Agreement.
- If the youth sign the Diversion Agreement, the Diversion Program will connect the youth with in-house and local services, tailored to the needs and circumstances of each youth. While supporting the youth and their family in overcoming barriers to accessing those services. In some cases, the Program will provide the services directly; in others, they may connect the youth to other community service providers. As needed, the Diversion Program will support the youth and their family in connecting to state services (e.g. MassHealth) that can help fund treatment programs or otherwise support the family.
- The Diversion Program will provide ongoing monitoring and active case management support, as needed, to ensure youth are adhering to the Diversion Agreement and have the supports they need to be successful.
The Diversion Program will communicate with the original referrer to provide updates on the case as needed. If the youth does not complete their Diversion Agreement, or if the Program becomes aware the youth has been arrested or summoned to court on a complaint, the Program will communicate that information to the referrer.
Counties We Serve
| County | Service Provider |
|---|---|
| Worcester | Advocates |
| Middlesex | NFI Massachusetts |
| Essex | Family Services of the Merrimack Valley |
| Hampden | The Salvation Army |
| Barnstable | Advocates |
| Bristol | Coming Soon |
| Suffolk | RFK Community Alliance |
| Norfolk | Bay State Community Services |
| Berkshire | Brien Center |
Each county has a dedicated Diversion Coordinator responsible for:
- Youth intake
- Risk and needs assessments
- Diversion agreements
- Service coordination
- Case management
A statewide Diversion Manager coordinates program implementation across all participating sites.
Program Goals
- Reduce the likelihood of future offending by youth in the program and increase public safety
- Hold youth responsible for their actions
- Support positive youth development (PYD)
- Promote and ensure equity in the process
How Was the Diversion Program Model Developed?
In 2021, the JJPAD Board’s Community-Based Interventions Subcommittee met to discuss program design principles. This Committee is led by the OCA and includes representatives from DYS, the Juvenile Court, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, CPCS, the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Probation, DCF, DMH, DPH, the Children’s League of Massachusetts, Citizens for Juvenile Justice and the Parent Professional Advocacy League.
The OCA has drafted a Model Program Guide based on these discussions, with significant review and editing from committee members. DYS is using the guide as a starting point for the MYDP, recognizing that the guide was developed based on the best available research and with the input of a wide variety of stakeholders. DYS also recognizes that in some cases, program details may need to be modified based on feedback from referrers and service providers. The program model is not static; it will also need to shift based on “lessons learned” over time.
How Will DYS Work with Current Diversion Programs?
Currently, many District Attorneys run their own diversion programs, as do some police departments. For many years, some court clerks have practiced diversion informally and starting in 2018, judges were also given the authority to divert youth pre-arraignment for some charge types.
The Diversion Program will be open to referrals from any referrer in each location, within any legal limits (see M.G.L Ch. 119 § 54A). Participation in the program is voluntary, and participating referrers retain their authority to make decisions about whether or not to refer a given youth to the program. Local referrers (police, clerks, DAs, judge) may decide to coordinate on referrals in each area, but that is not required.
The OCA works closely with our partners at DYS to monitor program implementation. Since the program launched, the OCA has published annual Impact Reports to share data, track progress, and highlight key trends.
The MYDP Year One and Year Two reports provide an overview of early results and lessons learned from the program’s launch and early growth. The MYDP Year 3 Impact Report details findings from the third year of program implementation, as well as opportunities for program improvement.