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Communities are Safe for Children, Youth and Families (Frederick) (Formerly Safety)

Story Behind the Curve



Various data points demonstrate the need for intervention programs for youth with criminal justice system interactions. The quantitative assessment of need regarding the juvenile arrest rate (314.4) and 12-month juvenile rearrests (28.6%) indicate that Frederick County is doing well in these areas compared to the state averages (22% less and 38% less, respectively). These indicators may also speak to the effectiveness of the Frederick County Juvenile Entry Diversion Initiative program in preventing arrests or rearrests. However, incidences of bullying, harassment and intimidation have risen dramatically and are 50% higher than the state average. Gang activity and negative peer influences were identified as critical issues by focus group participants and both the key leader and general community respondents on the online surveys. These indicators, while not directly related to arrests, may signify that preventative measures are warranted, or that the incidence of juvenile arrests may soon be on the rise. The number of pre-adjudicated CINS referrals has been on the rise since FY13 (from 26 in FY13 to 81 in FY15), which also indicates a potential future increase in need. The number of referred juvenile offenders has increased less dramatically (from 318 in FY13 to 341 in FY15).


Strategies to improve these indicators

FY 2016 LMB strategies to improve these indicators:

•Frederick County Out of School Programs (which promote pro-social development, school and community engagement, and parent involvement)

•Juvenile Entry Diversion Initiative (JEDI)

•Active involvement of LMB members/LMB staff in Public Health and Safety Collaborative

•Locally funded LMB program such Children's Mobile Crisis and Health-E Kids: Mental Health

Why Is This Important?

The hours from 3 to 6 p.m. are the peak time for juvenile crime and victimization. Youth left unsupervised after school are more likely to engage in criminal activity, initiate sexual activity at an earlier age, and abuse substances, including alcohol and cigarettes. Unfortunately, Frederick County’s youth are more likely to be at risk for unsupervised time and dangerous activities because working parents in Frederick County spend significantly more time commuting than other Maryland or U.S. residents (U.S. Census Bureau). Recent data shows that 1 in 6 working residents in the county commutes over 60 minutes each day.

A decade of research and evaluation studies confirms that children and youth who participate in after school programs can reap a host of positive benefits in a number of interrelated outcome areas – academic, social-emotional, prevention, and health and wellness. These are the skills that many suggest are necessary for youth to succeed in the 21st Century global economy and world.

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

Scorecard Container Measure Action Actual Value Target Value Tag S A m/d/yy m/d/yyyy