Juvenile Mental Health Court, SOAR

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Program’s Purpose

SOAR at Commission MeetingThe program’s purpose is to serve the needs of children who are at risk of being removed from their homes due to mental health issues that result in behaviors that make them unmanageable in their home and/or community environments.

The program was established to bring intensive services to these children in their homes and to address the family issues that may be contributing factors to the dysfunction of the identified children. 

The program is designed to assess the issues in the home that impact the mental health of the child and the functionality of the family and to work with the family and community resources to address the identified problems and to provide the rehabilitative and supportive services that will allow the juvenile to remain in his home with a decreased risk of removal as well as a lessened risk of recidivism, thereby keeping the community safe.

Program Goal

The goal of Denton County Juvenile Mental Health Court is to reduce delinquency, increase offender accountability and rehabilitate juvenile offenders through a comprehensive, coordinated community-based juvenile probation system that involves the entire family dynamic.

Target Population

Post adjudicated male and female juveniles between the ages of 10 to 17 diagnosed with:

Laura Prillwitz Accepting Award at Commissioners Court Ceremony

  • Anxiety
  • Mania
  • Mood disorder
  • Other diagnosis
  • Psychosis
  • Trauma (PTSD)

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible for program consideration, the juveniles must meet the criteria of the following target population. The juvenile must be found to:

  • Post adjudicated youth
  • Have a DSM-Vdiagnosis other than or in addition to:
    • ADHD
    • Autism
    • Mental retardation
    • Pervasive developmental disorder
    • Substance abuse
  • IQ of 70 or greater

Reasons for Exclusion

Primary diagnosis of ODD, Conduct Disorder, or ADHD. Juveniles charged with a "sex offense."

Therapeutic Provider

  • Denton County Juvenile Contract Providers

Psychiatric Service Provider

  • Denton County MHMR or Participant’s Private Psychiatrist