The Reclaiming Futures Model is designed to improve the accountability of the systems that identity and treat substance abuse problems among justice-involved youth. Reclaiming Futures is not simply a program for changing youth; it is a method for changing how service systems and community partners work together to improve youth behavior and reduce the effects of substance abuse on youth, families, and neighborhoods.

All justice-involved youth with substance abuse problems could be affected in some way by the Reclaiming Futures Model, whether or not they are actually charged with a drug offense, and whether or not they are actually referred for substance abuse treatment. Each community must decide for itself how quickly and how broadly to apply the Reclaiming Futures Model.

Communities differ in how they handle juvenile delinquency matters, from arrest and prosecution, to adjudication, and disposition. Youth may be involved with the juvenile justice system for varying lengths of time and different levels of intensity, depending on their legal charges and in keeping with local practices. The Reclaiming Futures Model does not mandate a particular legal response for youth with substance abuse problems.

The Reclaiming Futures Model encourages communities to use performance-based management approaches in designing and monitoring their efforts to intervene with the substance abuse problems of justice-involved youth. Substance abuse problems should never be ignored by the juvenile justice system. They should be identified early and in some cases they should be the focus of intervention for court-involved youth. The Reclaiming Futures Model is designed to assist in this process, whether it applies to every youth with a potential drug problem or only to those youth referred for formalized substance abuse treatment.

COORDINATED INDIVIDUALIZED RESPONSE			COMMUNITY DIRECTED ENGAGEMENT