Youth Services Advisory Council

The Youth Services Commission continues to be the comprehensive planning entity for local youth, as part of New Jersey's Juvenile Reform Bills signed into law in December of 1995.  Youth Services Commissions were established by law to plan and implement strategies, and to advocate to reduce juvenile delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system.  County youth services commissions are also designated to administer the State / Community Partnership Grant Program.  In Cumberland County, this Commission is known as Youth Services Advisory Council (YSAC).

Historical Overview

The Cumberland County Youth Services Advisory Council is required to "submit and obtain Juvenile Justice Commission approval of a bienniel plan for services and sanctions for juveniles adjudicated or charged as delinquent and programs for the prevention of juvenile delinquency which: a) are designed to promote the goals of P.L. 1995, c283; b) provide recommendations for funding of programs, sanctions and services that enhance and expand the range of sanctions and services for juveniles adjudicated or charged as delinquent and programs designed to prevent delinquency; c) make services available in geographic locations within the county where juveniles in need reside; and d) provide for the distribution of State / Community Partnership Grant funds by the county in accordance with contracts or agreements executed by the appropriate county officials in accordance with applicable law."  The appropriation of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funds also are incorporated into the identified needs for county youth and families.

The Juvenile Justice Commission, New Jersey Association of County Youth Services Commissions and the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Committee developed a Comprehensive Plan that would address the needs of youth throughout the justice system.  A primary goal of developing a coordinated planning system was to encourage Counties and municipalities to comprehensively plan for their population of youth, thus developing a streamlined process for a County to apply for all types of funding.  It was important that the requirement of the plan included a strong foundation of specific raw data which would directly assist the decision making process.  In order to plan in a "systems thinking" way, County plans focus on the development of their juvenile justice continuum.