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1. What is a Crossover Youth?

In general, a Crossover Youth is a juvenile who has been both mistreated (abuse, neglect, dependency) AND is also a delinquent child. Therefore, the term Crossover Youth describes a juvenile who “crosses over” from being an abused, neglected or dependent child to being a delinquent child or a juvenile who “crosses over” from being a delinquent child to being an abused, neglected or dependent child.

2. Why focus on Crossover Youth?

The Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Justice Reform has been involved in much research relating to Crossover Youth. The research shows that Crossover Youth experience an increase in the variety, seriousness, and duration of problems. Crossover Youth may have an increased risk of suicide attempts, post-traumatic stress disorder, low IQ scores, increased truancy and substance abuse.

The Crossover Youth family often has a history of criminal behavior, domestic violence, mental health issues and substance abuse problems. As a result, Crossover Youth often experience numerous placements outside of the home.

Overall, Crossover Youth appear to enter the system when they are young children (through abuse, neglect and dependency) and remain in the system into and sometimes throughout adolescence.

The research also shows that there is an overrepresentation of females and African-Americans in the Crossover Youth population

3. What is the Crossover Youth Model?

The Georgetown University Center for Juvenile Reform has created a model outlining practices and procedures to be used by all agencies which serve Crossover Youth which are designed:
1. To identify juveniles as soon as they “crossover”
2. To require an initial meeting between the family and all agencies providing services to the Crossover Youth as soon as possible and
3. To provide coordinated services to the Crossover Youth and family during the entire time they remain in the system.

4. What are some of the goals of the Crossover Youth model?

Some of the goals of the Crossover Youth model are a:
1. Reduction in the number of Crossover Youth placed in out-of-home care.
2. Reduction in the number of Crossover Youth placed in congregate care (group homes, residential placements).
3. Reduction in the disproportionate representation of females and African-Americans.
4. Reduction of the time in which Crossover Youth remain in the system.
5. Reduction in the number of juveniles who “crossover” and become Crossover Youth.

5. How are we implementing the Crossover Youth Model in Mahoning County?

The Crossover Youth model encourages each county to define the Crossover Youth population it will serve and to implement the specifics means to serve this population by building on practices and procedures which already exist in the county.

Representatives from Mahoning County Juvenile Court and Mahoning County Children Services Board, as well as other service providers such as schools, residential placement facilities, mental health providers, police departments, and drug abuse treatment providers have been meeting for over a year with representatives from Georgetown University to review current practices in Mahoning County and to create appropriate practices to implement the Crossover Youth model.

6. What is the definition of a Crossover Youth in Mahoning County?

A Crossover Youth is a juvenile between 10 and 17 years of age with an open and active case with Mahoning County Children Services Board and an open and active delinquency case in Mahoning County Juvenile Court.