Participants enter the JIFF program through three main venues: juvenile court referrals, community referrals, and voluntary participation

1)   *Juvenile Court Referrals: (Two referral types)

a. Reentry - Upon arrest and hardware secure placement, youth (and their parent(s) or guardian) from the following zip code areas are offered the JIFF opportunity and are subsequently referred to JIFF for intervention and reentry services: 38106, 38107, 38108, 38111, 38112, 38114, 38117, 38122, 38126, & 38127.

Once enrolled in the JIFF program intervention services begin and continue throughout the duration of the JIFF participant's hardware secure placement. Each week staff meet with JIFF participants in order to begin implementing program activities, such as: psychological evaluations, goal setting, mentoring, and discussion based biblical studies. Upon release from hardware security, reentry JIFF participants enter into a highly structured client-centered process for a minimum of another 16 weeks.      

b. Diversionary - Upon arrest youth (and their parent(s) or guardian) from the previously mentioned zip code areas are offered the JIFF opportunity and subsequently referred to the JIFF program for diversionary intervention services, (as an alternative to hardware secure placement).

Once enrolled in the JIFF program intervention services are implemented using a client-centered approach process for a minimum of 16 weeks.

* Primary referral source

2)   Community Referrals: (Future program goal)

a. School administrators or teachers may refer willing youth to the JIFF program from the previously mentioned zip code areas, providing their family is or has been involved with the juvenile justice system.      

b. Clergy Members may refer willing youth to the JIFF program from the previously mentioned zip code areas, providing their family is or has been involved with the juvenile justice system.

c. Counseling or other community agency administrators may refer willing youth to the JIFF program from the previously mentioned zip code areas, providing their family is or has been involved with the juvenile justice system.

3)   Voluntary Participation: (Future program goal)

Any young person residing in Shelby County who has had, or whose family has had involvement with the juvenile justice system, and is willing and able to abide by program guidelines may request participation in the JIFF program.