Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention

Continuum of Care

for Communities

A broad array of youth justice programs and services ranging from prevention programs for young children and youth at 

risk of delinquency to intervention programs serving high-risk youth in secure residential settings and reentry programs 

for youth returning to their communities.

PREVENTION

INTE

RV

E

N

T

OI N

–

LOW

COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION

INTERVENTION – HIGH

INTERVENTION – MEDIUM

OUT

O- F-H

O

M

E

P

LACEMENT

Preparing youth to reenter 

the community and/or 

return home.

Protecting and supporting 

children who are at risk 

of becoming involved in 

delinquent behavior and/or 

being victimized.

Supporting youth in 

residential placement or 

housed outside of their 

homes.

Engaging system-involved, 

high-risk youth with intensive 

supervision and services while 

holding them appropriately 

accountable.

Providing system-level 

intervention to support and 

hold accountable youth who 

are formally involved in a court 

process or some form

of system oversight. 

Preventing or disrupting 

a youth’s formal 

involvement in the 

juvenile justice or child 

welfare system.

C O M M U NITY

FAMILY

YOUTH

In addition to the array of services, system and policy changes play a critical role in achieving a fully effective continuum 

of care in which the needs of youth and families are met, positive outcomes are achieved, and personal accountability 

and public safety are maintained. 
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s “Continuum of Care for Communities” describes a framework 

for youth justice services—and the dynamic and evolving nature of youth involvement in this continuum. This framework 

has been shown to improve youth outcomes and reduce reoffending, thereby advancing public safety. The graphic 

reflects the process for providing services to youth impacted at each stage. In an effective continuum of care, the majority 

of youth would be served through prevention and early/low intervention services. The number of youth served should 

decrease at each stage in the continuum. 

This approach has proven to be cost effective. According to research from the Justice Policy Institute, the average state 

cost for secure confinement of a youth is $588 per day (that’s $214,620 per year), while community-based programs can 

cost as little as $75 per day. In addition, diverting youth away from long-term involvement in the criminal justice system 

can result in much higher long-term economic and societal benefits. 

The “Continuum of Care for Communities” framework centers around the needs of youth, families, and communities with 

services targeting the following areas.

PREVENTION

These efforts reduce risk factors and promote protective 

factors for children at risk of becoming involved in 

delinquent behavior or being victimized. 

Examples: Mentoring; community violence intervention 

and prevention; support for children of incarcerated 

parents; supporting children exposed violence.

INTERVENTION 

There are multiple opportunities to “meet youth where they 

are” and match the intervention to their individual needs 

and risk factors. Intervention efforts are considered low, 

medium, or high depending on where they fall along the 

Continuum of Care.

INTERVENTION – LOW

Prevent or disrupt a youth’s formal involvement in the 

juvenile justice or child welfare systems, including after a 

youth has committed delinquent acts. 

Examples: Pre-arrest diversion; mediation (conflict 

resolution that employs a neutral third party). 

INTERVENTION – MEDIUM

Support youth who are formally involved in a court 

process or other justice system oversight. Efforts may 

involve specialized services or programs targeting specific 

delinquent activities and/or youth. 

Examples: Juvenile treatment and family treatment courts; 

restorative practices aimed at repairing harm done to 

victims.

INTERVENTION – HIGH

Provide intensive supervision and services that support 

system-involved, high-risk youth, both pre- and postadjudication. These efforts meet the complex needs of 

youth on probation and under in-home monitoring by 

providing an array of services to help them fulfill the 

conditions of their adjudication.

Examples: Community violence intervention (CVI); 

cognitive behavioral therapy; intensive wrap-around 

models of service.

OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT  

Youth may be placed outside the home after the child 

welfare or juvenile justice systems intervene in response 

to the youth’s needs and risks. Residential facilities are 

responsible for a youth’s safety, education, and mental and 

physical health needs. As shown in the dark orange section 

of the infographic, secure care (in a locked facility) should 

only be used for the small percentage of youth who pose a 

serious risk to public safety and only for limited periods of 

time.

Examples: Nonsecure placement; group homes; foster 

care; shelter care; secure detention and confinement.

COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION

Often called reentry or aftercare, these programs 

prepare youth to reenter the community and/or return 

home. Successful reintegration requires planning and 

collaboration to identify and deliver services needed by 

youth, families, and the community. Key components of 

the reintegration process include education, mental health 

services, housing, and family support.  

Examples: Mentoring programs; education and 

employment programs; continued mental health and 

substance use treatment; partnerships with volunteer 

service organizations.