In a significant win for local innovation, the Coconino County Juvenile Court Services Department's recent development, the Hope Receiving Center, has been recognized with a Summit Award from the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo). As detailed by Coconino County, the award honors county-level problem-solving and honors the Receiving Center for its role in providing essential services aimed at preventing at-risk youth from entering the justice system.
The facility commended for its foresight, serves as a haven for youth and their families, offering intervention services like formal deflection, truancy response, and educational programs. These efforts seem to paint a promising picture, as AACo Executive Director Jen Marson highlighted the project's departure from traditional methods. "Prior to this program, youth were only able to access these kinds of services after they were already 'in the system' even though the goal is to keep them out of the system in the first place," Marson said, as stated by Coconino County.
Alongside the Summit Award for Court Administration & Management, the center also earned the Merit Award for Innovation of the Year for its impactful achievements. Serving families seven days a week, the success rates speak volumes—out of the 215 families served in 2023, as per Coconino County, a mere 1.86 percent of the youth were re-entered into the justice system. This equates to a staggering 98% success rate in redirecting youth away from potential incarceration, a move that not only changes lives but also conserves taxpayer funds.
