A dual-status youth, one coordinated team
A 15-year-old crossing juvenile probation and foster care had been in three placements in six months. One care team synchronized the social worker, probation officer, and school — and she stayed put.
Member
Aaliyah (15)
Who we help
Justice Involved (JI)
Location
Sacramento County, CA
Timeframe
12-month coordination
What changed
The outcome for Aaliyah (15)
1
Placement in 12 months
Down from 3 in the prior 6 months.
0
Self-harm episodes
In the last 9 months of care.
1
School enrollment
Full year of continuous schooling.
12
Multi-agency case conferences
Monthly cadence sustained.
Where things started
The situation.
Aaliyah was on informal probation for a status offense and simultaneously a dependent of the court. Prior placement disruptions had cost her a full semester of consistent schooling.
“For the first time, everyone in the room was on the same page — and I didn't have to be the messenger.”
The hard part
What stood in the way.
- 1
Three placement moves in six months; two school changes.
- 2
Untreated depression with self-harm history.
- 3
PO and social worker communicating through Aaliyah, not each other.
- 4
Resource family overwhelmed and considering a 7-day notice.
Our approach
How we built the plan.
Step 1
Single care manager holding the pen across probation, child welfare, school, and clinic.
Step 2
Adolescent DBT skills group + weekly individual therapy.
Step 3
Resource family respite and coaching to prevent placement disruption.
The support
What we actually did.
- 01
Weeks 1–4 — Stabilization
Joint case conference with PO, social worker, resource family, and school; one shared care plan produced.
- 02
Months 2–6 — Skills + supports
DBT skills group weekly; resource family coaching biweekly; mentor pairing through a community partner.
- 03
Months 7–12 — Continuity
Placement preserved through two crisis points using respite and rapid clinical response instead of disruption.
Behind the scenes
The team and services on this case.
You could be next
Tell us what's going on — we'll take it from there.
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