Section 938.547. Juvenile alcohol and other drug abuse pilot program.

 

(1)   Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature finds that the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs by juveniles is a state responsibility of statewide dimension. The legislature recognizes that there is a lack of adequate procedures to screen, assess and treat juveniles for alcohol and other drug abuse. To reduce the incidence of alcohol and other drug abuse by juveniles, the legislature deems it necessary to experiment with solutions to the problems of the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs by juveniles by establishing a juvenile alcohol and other drug abuse pilot program in a limited number of counties. The purpose of the program is to develop intake and court procedures that screen, assess and give new dispositional alternatives for juveniles with needs and problems related to the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs who come within the jurisdiction of a court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 48 in the pilot counties selected by the department.

(2)   Department responsibilities. Within the availability of funding under s. 20.437 (1) (mb) that is available for the pilot program, the department shall select counties to participate in the pilot program. Unless a county department of human services has been established under s. 46.23 in the county that is seeking to implement a pilot program, the application submitted to the department shall be a joint application by the county department that provides social services and the county department established under s. 51.42 or 51.437 . The department shall select counties in accordance with the request-for-proposal procedures established by the department. The department shall give a preference to county applications that include a plan for case management.

(3)   Multidisciplinary screen. The multidisciplinary screen developed for the pilot program shall be used by an intake worker to determine whether or not a juvenile is in need of an alcohol or other drug abuse assessment. The screen shall also include indicators that screen juveniles for:

(a) Family dysfunction.

(b) School or truancy problems.

(c) Mental health problems.

(d) Delinquent behavior patterns.

(4)   Assessment criteria. The uniform alcohol and other drug abuse assessment criteria that the department developed shall be used in the pilot program under ss. 938.245 (2) (a) 3. , 938.295 (1) , 938.32 (1g) , 938.343 (10) and 938.344 (2g) . An approved treatment facility that assesses a person under ss. 938.245 (2) (a) 3. , 938.295 (1) , 938.32 (1g) , 938.343 (10) and 938.344 (2g) may not also provide the person with treatment unless the department permits the approved treatment facility to do both in accordance with the criteria established by rule by the department.

1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19) ; 1995 a. 77 , 448 ; 2007 a. 20 ; 2015 a. 55 .