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In 2004, the State of Florida, Department of
Juvenile Justice contracted with Evidence-Based Associates,
Inc. (EBA) to launch the Redirection project in an effort to
"redirect" troubled youth from residential placements to
more effective, family-focused, evidence-based treatment
options. The Redirection project focuses on two Blueprints
for Violence Prevention model programs that have
demonstrated strong positive outcomes in addressing the
needs of delinquent youth and their families - Multisystemic Therapy and Functional Family Therapy.
Since inception, the Department has expanded
Redirection to 18 circuits, providing alternative, effective
treatments for more than 3,100 troubled youth and families
as of October 2008. The Redirection program has successfully
addressed the mental health needs of referred youth and
families, helping to promote a more functional family system
based upon more effective parenting and improved
communication between family members and those outside the
family.
This month, October 2008, the Department was
notified that DJJ and EBA have been named as a "Science and
Service Award" winner for the Redirection project. This
honor is awarded by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration), which is a division of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. SAMHSA created
the "Science and Service Award" as a national program to
acknowledge community-based organizations and coalitions
that have shown exemplary implementation of evidence-based
mental health and substance abuse interventions. Applicants
were evaluated on the following criteria: community need,
sustainability, accurate implementation and results. To be
awarded, an organization had to demonstrate successful
implementation of a recognized evidence-based intervention,
including interventions that have been published in the
scientific literature and/or appear on a federal or state
registry.
"Families and individuals expect the best
services possible for the prevention and treatment of health
conditions. This includes an expectation for the best
services for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse
and mental illnesses," said SAMHSA acting administrator Eric
Broderick, DDS, MPH. "These award winners are blazing the
trail to show how it can be done."
"The effectiveness of this project is
extremely important, and knowing that our efforts are being
recognized in Washington is a testament to the hard work of
our teams across the state," said Rex Uberman, Assistant
Secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice. "Being
award-winning and cost-effective in addition to providing
better outcomes reassures me that the agency is maximizing
our resources to provide solid investments for our youth and
our taxpayers."
2008 Science and
Service Award Winner
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
Click here to read the DJJ Press Release
(November 3, 2008)!
2007 Davis Productivity Award
Winner
Redirection Contact Information
For questions regarding the Redirection project, contact
Jack Ahearn at jack.ahearn@djj.state.fl.us.
Evidence-Based Associates
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