Intensive Supervision Program

The Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) is a 4 to 6 month program that diverts high-risk youth from placement or TYC redirecting their lives through a program of close supervision and rehabilitation. Each ISP participant must have adequate supervision by parents or significant adults in the home. After placement in the program by the courts, clients are contacted a minimum of twice weekly in the home, school or office by a probation officer. This program serves youth throughout all of Harris County and includes counseling and community service projects. In 2009, an average of 536 youth were supervised by the ISP each month.

Female Intervention Program

The Female Intervention Program (FIP) is a component of the Intensive Supervision Program (ISP) serving adjudicated females for a minimum of 4 months.   FIP is a community based intensive supervision program, which provides specialized services addressing self-awareness, health and hygiene, social skills and relationships, career education and community service as well as counseling for the probationer and her family.  The girls also participate in job fairs, college campus tours, CPR classes and the RealCare® parenting program.  The RealCare® parenting program is a science-based program featuring the RealCare® Baby, a computerized infant simulator that requires realistic care and reports on exactly how it was cared for to provide powerful, hands-on experiences, and teach valuable lessons about motherhood and parenting. Additionally the program hosts an open house each December.   409 girls participated in the Female Intervention Program in 2009, and 88 of those were involved with the RealCare® Parenting program.

Institutional Aftercare Program

The Institutional Aftercare Program (IAP) provides intensive supervision for youth leaving residential placement during the weeks following release from structured living. Clients participate in drug testing, 2 session parent-child reunification workshops and a two-day ROPES program (Reality Orientation through Physical Experience) with low and high element challenges to build confidence and promote teamwork. In 2009, an average of 209 youth were supervised by the IAP each month. 172 families participated in the parent-child workshops and there were 29 participants in the ROPES component.

Project 17

The Project 17 program is a component of Institutional Aftercare Program (IAP) concentrating on 16 and 17 year old probationer’s educational and vocational training needs.  The focus is on preparation for independent living and permanent job placement.

In 2009, 85 youth were served in Project 17.

Specialized Program Unit

The Specialized Program Unit provides supervision for 2 separate and unique caseloads, those being sex offenders and gang involved probationers. All SPU clients receive intensive supervision and participate in program specific services as well as drug testing, and a two-day ROPES program (Reality Orientation through Physical Experience) with low and high element challenges to build confidence and promote teamwork. Additionally, electronic monitoring is available to all youth in the SPU.

Sex offender supervision is designed for youth adjudicated on sexual offense charges that meet the state registration eligibility. These clients participate in specialized sex offender treatment, undergoing a polygraph if necessary to assist with the therapeutic process.  In 2009, approximately 50 polygraphs were performed.

The gang supervision program provides intensive supervision to probationers that have been identified with gang association or affiliation. Various services are provided focusing on intervention and prevention from gang activity such as the Gang Awareness Program with workshops addressing anger management, decision making, unlawful behavior as well as sessions provided by former gang members.  Additionally, tattoo removal is available through a partnership with the City of Houston’s D-TAG program.

The D-TAG program was designed to help individuals re-enter mainstream society by removing tattoos that would identify them as participating in or supporting anti-social behavior. The program exchanges a commitment for community service for free tattoo removal.  The tattoos to be removed must be visible in normal street clothing to be eligible for treatment.

Funding is currently being sought with the goal of adding a graffiti abatement component to the gang supervision program.

In 2009 an average of 125 probationers were supervised in the gang supervision program each month, and average of 129 probationers were supervised in the sex offender program each month.   164 youth received electronic monitoring services, 19 attended the D-TAG tattoo removal program, 142 participated in the Gang Awareness Program and 185 attended the ROPES program.

Challenge Course

The ROPES Challenge Course provides a 2 day outdoor educational environment in which learning opportunities for all participants are presented to develop the skills of an effective communicator, competent problem-solver, self-directed learner, and responsible citizen through Reality Oriented Physical Experiences (ROPES).  In addition to being a component of the IAP and SPU, a limited amount of probationers under regular probation supervision have the opportunity to participate in this program each summer. In 2009, approximately 40 probationers participated in the ROPES program, in addition to those in the IAP and SPU programs.

Community Service Restitution

The Community Service Restitution Program supervises work projects done by probationers and sometimes with their parents at non-profit agencies or institutions which have been approved as worksites by the Juvenile Board. Work sites are arranged for youth from all divisions of the department including those referred for lesser offenses from Intake Court Services. In 2009, 5614 probationers and 271 parents worked 63,555 hours at an estimated value of $460,773.

Drug and Alcohol Use/Abuse Assessment and Education

Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors from the Council on Alcohol and Drugs - Houston screen all youth entering Field Services supervision from Court to identify, educate and intervene with those who have substance abuse problems.  In 2009, 4644 screenings were conducted and substance abuse education services were provided to 1020 youth.

Drug and Alcohol Use/Abuse Counseling

A recently awarded grant will provide for counseling services by Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors at the CUPS offices beginning in the Spring of 2010.

Drug Testing

Random urinalysis drug testing is conducted at all CUPS offices throughout the county.  Preliminary testing is done via 5 panel tests administered by the JPO in the offices.  Subsequent urinalysis samples may be sent to a local lab for further testing and meets the chain of custody requirements necessary for court action. In 2009, 1100 samples were submitted to the lab for testing.

Education Services

Educational specialists advocate for juveniles to keep them in school, to reinstate them if expelled or to arrange completion of GED requirements and career planning.  Testing is conducted to verify the youth’s proper grade level placement and/or need for special programming in the educational setting. In 2009, 1048 youth were assessed and received services.

Educational Workshops

Workshops are provided for probationers and their families addressing various topics such as peer pressure, decision making, life skills, prohibited weapons, anger management, shoplifting prevention, anti-gang activity, and victim impact panels. The workshops are generally 1 to 2 hours in length and are held at CUPS offices throughout the county.   In 2009, workshops were attended by 5683 probationers.

Evening Reporting Center

The Evening Reporting Center (ERC) is contracted to Southwest Key and serves Alief and far southwest Harris County probationers.  The 30 day program is highly structured and has well supervised evening activities that includes school home work activities and tutoring, group therapy, recreation and provides a hot meal. Youth are transported from school to the ERC and then home at the end of the program.  The program is used a sanction for adjudicated youth will serve a maximum of 25 youth five days a week.  This program was launched December 8, 2009. 

Equine Therapy

A program combining traditional therapeutic intervention with a more innovative component involving relationships and activities with horses.  These services are currently available to the Female Intervention Program and Institutional Aftercare Program.   

Functional Family Therapy

The Functional Family Therapy (FFT) program is set to begin February 1, 2010 and is an exemplary rated model program of the OJJDP.  FFT is delivered by two person teams’ of probation officers and mental health professionals and consists of one-hour sessions that typically occur over the course of three months, serving as a short term intervention. The family must be willing to participate in the process which is family focused, includes siblings and emphasizes the importance of respecting all family members on their own terms. There will be three therapists each handling 5 - 15 clients.

G.E.D. Program

G.E.D. (General Educational Development) Programs will be provided at the CUPS 3 and CUPS 6 offices in the summer of 2010 provided a recent grant application is awarded. The grant will provide laptops and GED instructors at each location.  The G.E.D. measures the outcome of a high school education and consists of five tests: Math, Science, Social Studies, Writing, and Reading. 

On BELAY

On BELAY (Building Engagement, Leadership, and Assets for Youth) is provided at several CUPS offices by The Baylor College of Medicine.  On BELAY is an experiential youth leadership and development program designed to create youth leaders as the primary means of fostering community change. Guided by research-based healthy youth development principals and inclusive of evidence-based violence prevention curricula, program goals include participant increase in: culturally competent leadership skills, numerous development assets, non-violent problem solving, meaningful contribution to community, and connection with adults.  This has become a favorite program among participants and probation personnel. In 2009, there were 375 participants.

P.A.C.E.

The P.A.C.E. Program (Project self-esteem, Academics, Character, and Employment) is a multiple week education and training program providing moral, educational and spiritual values through a comprehensive life skills program. The curriculum

addresses character-building and esteem, fosters effective communication and problem-solving between youth and parent, matches adult coaches with youth and parents to form a bonded team, establishes individual educational goals for youth and helps implement them and provides training opportunities for job readiness.  217 youth were served in this program during 2009.

Shoplifting Prevention Program

The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention provides a unique program for juveniles who have been involved in shoplifting called the Youth Educational Shoplifting Program (Y.E.S.). The Y.E.S. Program is a at home study course consisting of 2 audio CDs and a workbook to be done jointly by the child and parent. It is designed to  help to change the thinking, feelings and attitudes the youth holds which allowed him/her to shoplift and will reduce his/her risk of shoplifting and getting arrested in the future.  In 2009, 250 youth under supervision participated in this program.

Therapeutic Counseling

Professional, licensed therapists provide individual, family and group counseling to probationers and their families at all CUPS office locations as well as satellite locations in Baytown and far southeast Harris County at the Scarsdale location.  Services are provided in both English and Spanish.   In 2009, nearly 4000 youth benefited from this service.

Youth Advocate Program

The Youth Advocate Program is designed to provide community-based mentors in order to prevent costly and unnecessary placement of youth who are, have been, or may be subject to home removal.  The YAP advocacy model is based upon the development of a trust relationship between a supportive, trained, skilled adult advocate, the young person, and his family. The advocate team develops a child and family team process that is based on the strengths of the child and family. The advocates assist the youth in providing recreational activities as well as transportation to and from probation related functions.  In 2009, nearly 500 youth were assigned mentors through the Youth Advocate Program.