transporation project

Barriers to Implementing a
Transportation Project at the 18th
District Juvenile Diversion Counseling

Program

By Korina Trezza-Del Valle, Program and Resource Development Intern

Page 1 Table of Contents
Page 2
Page 3 Introduction
Page 4 Organizational Context
Page 5 Essential Change
Page 6 Background
Best Practices
Page 7 Forces for and Barriers
Page 8 Against change
Page 9 Force Field Analysis
Page 10 Vision for Change
Page 11 Model for Change
Change Goals and Strategies
References

Introduction

(Bakes, 2017; World Prison Brief, n.d.). 1

Organizational Context

In Colorado statue 19-2-303 created the Juvenile
Diversion program in most Colorado judicial districts

The goal of the program is to reduce juvenile recidivism
rates, and the cost to the criminal justice system, and its
creation was prompted by rising juvenile crime rates

The programs serve youth from ages 10-18, who have their
first, non-violent offense. Program completion gets the
charge expunged from their record

The 18th District Juvenile Diversion Diversion program
offers counseling services, case management, restorative
justice programming, experiential programming, and more

Our youth need
rehabilitation not prison

2

Essential Change

Some Diversion clients do not have access to as
many resources as others do, such as not having
access to reliable and affordable transportation

This can cause clients to be late to, or miss
many of their Diversion appointments

Missing appointments means not getting
needed therapy or other resources

If clients miss too many appointments, then they
will be in contract violation, and will be returned

to court, which could result in their arrest

Studies have shown that juvenile court exposure
leads to an increased chance of adulthood
incarceration, as well as poor health outcomes

Incarceration rates disproportionately effect 3
people of color and those with low socioeconomic
status, as seen through the literature

(Baglivio, Wolff, Epps,& Nelson, 2017).Bakes, 2017; Petitclerc, Gatti, Vitaro & Tremblay,
2012).

Background

This project has not been
attempted at Diversion before,
although it has been discussed
before

There are many options- bus
passes, car services, medicaid
rides,- but no one has agreed on
what the best one would be

Funding is also an issue, as is
what the eligibility for clients
would be, and how clients
would be chosen to participate

Too many options can complicate the process

4

Best Practices

Adams County's child
protective services utilizes
GQ transportation services
to transport foster children
to school. GQ is a trusted car
service with highly trained

drivers. The service is
expensive however, costing

$50 a ride

The 18th district probation
office offers bus passes to
clients so they can travel to
appointments. Ten local bus

tickets cost $28.

Other county and district
agencies have transportation

programs for clients that
utilize either car services or
bus passes. This shows that a

similar program may be
effective at Diversion.

5

Forces For and Barriers Against Change

Forces for creation of Barriers to the creation

the project of the project

JVD counselors To receive Leadership team
agree that the approval to disagrees what
project would move forward the transportation
method should be
help their with the
clients transportation

Clients have project, factors A system must be

told JVD that like methods of put in place to

lack of transportation, determine
transportation facilitation, and eligibility, which
causes missed funding must be
appointments agreed on by the takes time
leadership team,
Leadership and approved Where will the
team agrees funding come
that this would by from, and how
help clients administration. much will there

be?

Interns can The District
devote time Attorney's office
to project doesn't always

creation agree with
Diversion, which
6
effects funding

Force Field Analysis

While Diversion interns have drafted several form of a
transportation project proposal, the process has been stalled.
No one can seem to decide exactly how the project should be
carried out, how much funding should be devoted to it, and
where the funding would come from.

Funding is a big road block to the project. Diversion's funds are
limited, as the District Attorney's office funds other programs,
like the sheriff's department, first. Diversion funds extra
projects through grant, but those are not guaranteed. Also,
some of the transportation options, like utilizing GQ car
service, is expensive and limits the amount of clients that can
be served.

Also, Diversion counselors, Diversion supervisors, and
Diversion administration cannot agree on what transportation
method should be used. New options get posed during each
revision, and it has been difficult for a decision to be made.

For these barriers to be overcome, all stakeholders should be
engaged in finding solutions, not just the supervisory and

administration teams. Once parameters are set for what the
stakeholders feel the project should look like, the appropriate

transportation method can be chosen.

7

Vision for Change

By providing reliable, no cost
transportation to Diversion clients
who do not have current access,

clients will be able to better
complete the program and forge
bright futures without their past

charges holding them back.

8

Model of Change

Appreciative inquiry is a change theory that focuses
on creating organizational and community change
through focusing on an organization's positive core,
and the strengths and knowledge that all stakeholders
involved in the process have.

Destiny Discover

What will be- Creating a vision Appreciate the best of what is-
shared by administration, Diversion currently does it's best to
counselors, and clients, the agency support its clients. In the past,
as a whole will be better invested in Diversion counselors have
the project, which may motivate dropped clients off at the light rail
them to move the project forward. station to help them get to and
from appointments
Design
Dream

Co-constructing what should be-All Imagine what will be- By exploring
stakeholders, including counselors what staff and clients think
and clients should be heard when transportation should look like for
designing this program. Diversion clients who do not have access to
clients may already feel that their their own, a more comprehensive
lives are out of control due to their program can be built that supports
involvement in the criminal justice the needs of both the client and the
system. By giving clients the chance agency.
to voice their opinions, it may help
make the process easier for them.

(Finegold, Holland & Lingham, 2002).

8

Change Goals and Strategies

Education of options and Facilitation of Is there a time
conversation decision makers

can sit down
and discuss

the issue?

To address the issue of the team not knowing which
transportation option to use, a meeting should be set with
the leadership to discuss the different options and
ultimately chose one

Will taking a small Productive conversation and concrete steps
step forward

break the stalemate?

Once an option is chosen, the rest of the team be informed and
included in the discussion at the all staff meeting. Having a chosen
method of transportation will allow Diversion to move forward

10

References

Baglivio, M., Wolff, K., Epps, N., & Nelson, R. (2017).
Predicting Adverse Childhood Experiences: The
Importance of Neighborhood Context in Youth Trauma
Among Delinquent Youth. Crime & Delinquency, 63(2),
166-188.

Bakes, K. (2017). Juvenile Incarceration Is Associated
with Worse Adult Health Outcomes. NEJM Journal
Watch. Emergency Medicine, NEJM Journal Watch.
Emergency Medicine, Jan 26, 2017.

Petitclerc, A., Gatti, U., Vitaro, F. and Tremblay, R.
(2012). Effects of juvenile court exposure on crime in
young adulthood. Journal of Child Psychology and
Psychiatry, 54(3), pp.291-297.

World Prison Brief (n.d.). Highest to Lowest - Prison
Population Total. Retrieved from
http://www.prisonstudies.org/highest-to-
lowest/prison-population-total?
field_region_taxonomy_tid=All

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