Hawaii County Comprehensive Strategy for Juvenile Justice

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March 2001 Two-day Comprehensive Strategy Community Planning Team Orientation held. The team structure was created and members were assigned to each of the workgroups. May 2001 Two-day workshop held for team members on Community Assessment Training. June 2001 Workgroups convened independently to work on assignments. July 2001 Team members met to review data findings. Four risk factors were selected as priority for Hawaii County. Technical assistance was provided by OJJDP consultants to each workgroup for assistance in preparing reports. August 2001 Workgroups convened independently to complete reports for the Community Assessment Report (CAR). October 2001 Draft-2 of CAR presented to planning group. Community Planning Training (CPT) workshop conducted to develop strategic plan. February 2002 CAR completed and presented to planning group. CPT —2 workshop held to evaluate gaps identified in the CAR and prioritize strategies and best practices from the planning group for inclusion in the plan. Hawaii County's Four Priority Risk Factors The Data Collection and Analysis Workgroup collected data on all 19 risk factors through a process that involved evaluating the quality of the data and its causal relationship to each risk factor. The group then assigned a score based on the assessment, determining the likelihood of affecting the risk factor through Comprehensive Strategies as low, medium, or high, and finally determining in which risk factors the County most stood out from the State as a whole. The recommendations were reported to a forum consisting of the other workgroups as well as representatives of the community. A lengthy discussion ensued and a vote taken. The group agreed upon the following four risk factors, which represent a starting point for Hawaii County to begin planning strategies on a scale that is manageable and thus geared for success. Risk Factor 1: Availability of Drugs - The more easily available that drugs and alcohol are in a community, the greater the risk that drug abuse will occur in that community. Perceived availability of drugs in school is also associated with increased risk Risk Factor 2: Family Management Problems: Poor family management practices are defined as not having clear expectations for behavior, failing to supervise and monitor children, and excessively severe, harsh or inconsistent punishment. Children exposed to these poor family management practices are at higher risk of developing all of the health and behavior problems listed in the Risk Factor/Problem Behavior matrix. 12