Axios project - the pima prevention partnership's (PPP) axios (axios is greek for worthy) "i am worthy" project (axios project) to serve youth 10-17 years of age at risk for entering the juvenile…

Axios project - the pima prevention partnership's (PPP) axios (axios is greek for worthy) "i am worthy" project (axios project) to serve youth 10-17 years of age at risk for entering the juvenile justice system in tucson, AZ metro area, located in pima county (PC), AZ's second most populous county. With a total population of 1,035,063, 21% are under the age of 18, and half (50.6%) of the population is female. 38% of the population identifies as hispanic or latino and 50.4% of population identify as white, 3.4% of the population identifies as black or african american, 3.6% as america indian and alaska native (AI/an), 2.8% as asian. According to the US census, 27.3% of the population speaks a language other than english. Educational attainment in pima county in general, is low, with only 70.7% of individuals graduating from high school in 2021 (AZ DOE). By providing education, skill building, and pro-social activities, the axios project aims to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system. The axios project seeks to achieve the following three goals: -build collaborative partnerships among relevant agencies; -build community capacity; and -divert youth from juvenile justice or criminal justice systems to community-based mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services and other support services in a culturally competent manner. In collaboration with partners cope community services (thrive youth and family services), as the adolescent mental health and substance use treatment provider and the pima county juvenile court center (pcjcc), the axios project will serve over 575 youth and parent/guardians. Youth axios project participants will be provided with a warm hand off for mental illness or CO-occurring disorder (COD) treatment services by a pathways coach of the axios project. Each youth participant will also work one-on-one with a pathways coach to set goals and identify their individual needs in order to divert them from the juvenile justice system. Axios project participants will also participate in evidence-based curricula based on youths' needs and assessment data to address potential contributing factors for juvenile delinquency. The axios project to convene a behavioral health partnership workgroup (bhpw) to coordinate strategies into the existing system of care. The axios project also to complete a sequential intercept mapping (SIM) matrix to inform pima county policies, protocols, and resources. The bhpw will consist of members from juvenile justice, law enforcement, schools, behavioral health, child welfare system, civil first responders, family members with lived experience, youth and young adults with lived experience.