The Missouri Juvenile Justice Association has selected a parent education program developed and utilized by the Greene County Juvenile Office for an award.
Greene County’s Road to Reunification Program, or R2R, has been named for the association’s 2008 Innovative Program Award for Excellence in a Juvenile Court Program.
R2R is a court-ordered class for parents of children under the jurisdiction of the Greene County Juvenile Court. The hour-long class provides parents a comprehensive understanding of Juvenile Court processes, treatment plans, visitation procedures and their own roles and responsibilities.
Greene County Deputy Juvenile Officer Cassandra White, the program’s co-facilitator, said the program helps parents navigate a complicated court system.
“It gives our parents a solid understanding of what their rights and responsibilities are, what all the different hearings are for and who the other people are that are working on their case,” said White. “Everyone’s job is different — the guardian ad litem, the case manager, the deputy juvenile officer — but we’re all working toward the same goal: reunification of the child with the parent.”
Since its implementation in October, 2007, more than 80 local parents have completed the R2R class. Other juvenile courts throughout Missouri are now replicating the Greene County program to meet the specific needs of their region.
R2R is made possible through a community collaboration including the Greene County Juvenile Office, Abuse/Neglect Unit; the Missouri Department of Social Services — Greene County Children’s Division; the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Juvenile Law Committee; Court Appointed Special Advocates; Parenting Life Skills Center; retired Commissioner Chester Hayes; and the Hon. Don E. Burrell, Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District and former Greene County Juvenile Court Judge.
The Missouri Juvenile Justice Association award will be presented to the Greene County Juvenile Office Thursday, May 22, at the associations’ spring conference at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark.
