Juvenile probation can be a critical intervention for youth who have committed a crime or engaged in delinquent behavior. By providing support, guidance, and accountability, probation officers can help young people turn their lives around and avoid further involvement in the justice system. 

However, the effectiveness of probation often depends on the quality of the relationship between the probation officer, the youth, and their families. 

In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of youth and family partnerships in juvenile probation, recommendations for building authentic relationships, overcoming barriers to meaningful partnerships, and how Functional Family Therapy training can help. 

Benefits of Youth and Family Partnerships in Juvenile Probation 

Research has shown that the outcomes are more optimistic when probation officers work collaboratively with youth and their families. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, approaches centering youth and their families are associated with numerous positive results, such as: 

• Increased academic engagement 
• Higher numbers or positive relationships 
• Decreased recidivism 

• Improved safety and wellbeing 

Additionally, in a study on parents' perceptions of juvenile probation, researchers found that the quality of the relationship between the probation officer and parent was the strongest predictor of youth compliance with probation. 

In addition to improved outcomes, youth and family partnerships can increase compliance with probation requirements. When young people feel like they have a stake in their own success and are invested in their rehabilitation, they are more likely to take responsibility for their actions and follow through on the expectations set by their probation officer. 

Furthermore, when families are involved, they can provide support and accountability to their children outside the probation office, reinforcing the lessons and skills learned during probation meetings. 

Building Authentic Partnerships and Relationships 

So how can probation officers build authentic relationships with youth and families? The key is to prioritize trust and communication. 

The article "Do relationships matter? Examining the quality of probation officers' interactions with parolees in preventing recidivism" concludes that the relationship between probation officers and parolees is an essential factor in preventing recidivism. 

Probation officers can play a critical role in building positive relationships with parolees by being responsive, respectful, and empathetic. They can also work to build trust with parolees by following through on commitments and treating them with dignity and respect. By doing so, probation officers can significantly reduce recidivism rates and promote successful reintegration into the community. 

A few ways probation officers can build authentic relationships with young people and their families are: 

• Create Supportive Environments: Probation officers should aim to create a safe and supportive environment where young people and their families feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Parole officers can achieve this comforting environment by actively listening, showing empathy, and respecting cultural differences and diverse perspectives. 

• Engage the Family: By involving parents and caregivers in probation meetings, probation officers can better understand family dynamics and develop strategies tailored to the needs of the whole family unit. 
• Connect Families to Outside Support: Probation officers can also offer resources and support to parents and caregivers, such as parenting classes or counseling services, to help strengthen the family unit and promote healthy communication. 

Overcoming Barriers to Meaningful Relationships 

Unfortunately, some barriers can make establishing meaningful relationships between probation officers, youth, and families difficult. The most common obstacles to success include the following: 

• Lack of trust or willingness to engage 

• Limited access to critical resources 
• Systemic biases 

Skepticism & Lack of Trust 

One of the most significant barriers is a lack of trust or willingness to engage. Some families may feel hesitant or skeptical about working with the justice system and resist opening up to probation officers.  

In these cases, it's crucial for probation officers to be patient yet persistent while demonstrating their commitment to helping youth and their families succeed. 

Limited Access to Resources 

Limited resources or support can also be a barrier to building effective partnerships. For example, families living in poverty may face significant challenges accessing transportation or childcare, making it difficult to attend probation meetings or participate in therapy sessions. 

In these cases, probation officers can work with community partners to provide resources and support, such as transportation vouchers or family therapy sessions that are scheduled outside of traditional business hours. 

The Juvenile Justice Information Exchange reports that recidivism rates drop significantly when probation officers and community partners collaborate to connect youth with needed services. 

Systemic Barriers & Biases 

Finally, systemic barriers and biases can also hinder the development of positive relationships between probation officers, youth, and families. For example, some families may have experienced discrimination or prejudice from the justice system in the past, which can create mistrust and skepticism. 

Probation officers should be aware of these potential biases and work to build trust and understanding with the youth and their families. 

Functional Family Therapy (FFT): An Intervention for Juvenile Probation 

To overcome barriers in fostering meaningful relationships, probation officers can seek out training and education on cultural competency, anti-bias practices, building trust, and more, to better serve the diverse needs of their clients. 

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an evidence-based program that effectively reduces recidivism rates among juvenile offenders. This high-quality, strength-focused family counseling model is designed primarily for at-risk youth who have been referred by juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems. Services are short-term and conducted in clinic and home settings and can also be provided in schools, child welfare facilities, probation and parole systems, and mental health facilities. 

What Is Functional Family Therapy? 

FFT is a family-centered, strengths-based approach that helps identify the underlying issues and challenges contributing to familial concerns.  

When juvenile justice workers refer a youth and their family to FFT, they engage the entire family unit. Why? Because recognizing that family members' support and involvement can significantly impact juvenile probation's success. 

FFT utilizes a five-phase approach to engage and support families in the process of juvenile probation. 

• Phase One: In the Engagement phase, therapists work hard to demonstrate a sincere desire to listen, help, respect, and "match" family members in a way that is sensitive and respectful of individual, family, and cultural beliefs, perspectives, and values. 

• Phase Two: In the Motivation stage, therapists work to change the meaning of family relationships by emphasizing possible hopeful alternatives, maintaining a nonjudgmental approach, and conveying acceptance and sensitivity to diversity.  
• Phase Three: In the Relational Assessment phase, therapists gather an understanding of the motives behind family members’ behaviors. This understanding sets the stage for planning in the following two phases: Behavior Change and Generalization, where all interventions are matched to the families' relational functions.  
• Phase Four: The Behavior Change phase includes formal strategies that specifically address relevant family processes (e.g., conflict resolution), individual skills (e.g., emotional dysregulation), or clinical domains (such as depression and substance use). Techniques and strategies often include evidence-based family- and cognitive-behavioral strategies for addressing family functioning and referral problems. 
• Phase Five: In the Generalization phase, therapists extend positive family functioning into new situations or systems, plan for relapse prevention, and incorporate community systems into the treatment process (such as teachers and Probation Officers). 

Evidence-Based Programs & Resources 

These researched-proven programs and resources emphasize the importance of building authentic partnerships with families, identifying and addressing underlying issues and challenges, and developing skills and resources to support long-term success. 

FFT Probation Checklist 

One resource that can help implement evidence-based practices in juvenile probation is the 20 Key Components of Strong Juvenile Probation Practices Checklist. 

This checklist provides a comprehensive framework for juvenile justice agencies to evaluate their current practices and identify specific actions they can take as they work toward successful juvenile probation reform. In addition, it includes a range of strategies and recommendations for assessing whether strategic practices are in place, which will ultimately help improve outcomes for youth and families. 

Functional Family Parole Program 

Another program that incorporates FFT principles is the Functional Family Probation and Parole (FFP) program. This program directly trains probation officers in a case management model. 

FFP is based on the core principles of FFT and focuses on training probation officers to provide family-based, alliance-based, and strength-based case management. The program includes a range of interventions and support services to help justice-involved youth change risky behaviors within their community. 

By implementing these practices, probation officers can positively impact young people's lives and help break the cycle of recidivism. 

The Bottom Line 

In summary, the importance of relationships between probation officers, youth, and their families in juvenile probation cannot be overstated. When probation officers work collaboratively with youth and their families, they can achieve better outcomes and increase compliance with probation requirements.

To build authentic partnerships, probation officers should prioritize trust and communication, engage families, and work to overcome barriers to meaningful relationships. By doing so, probation officers can positively impact young people's and their families' lives, ultimately helping to break the cycle of returning to the juvenile justice system. 

Interested in Functional Family Probation and Parole (FFP)? Download the FFP-Brochure.

FFT LLC brings Functional Family Therapy to over 40,000 families a year globally at risk of involvement in the justice and child welfare systems and gangs. To maintain positive outcomes, FFT LLC provides clinical oversight and ongoing research to ensure that all FFT providers adhere to evidence-based practice standards. 

Contact us for more information about our evidence-based youth and family counseling services.