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The need for juvenile justice case management is on the rise. From 2021 to 2022, the number of juvenile arrests in the state of California increased by 34.3%. These young people require additional help to reduce recidivism rates and properly navigate society upon their release.  

A juvenile case manager provides critical support for young people within this system. A case manager’s job is multi-faceted, with duties spanning all parts of the rehabilitation process. They assess their clients to determine risk factors and needs. They connect the youth with services and programs to reintegrate them successfully into society. They monitor their behavior to ensure they stay on track, comply with court orders, and report critical information to judges and relevant parties. They collaborate with all relevant parties, including parents, courts, officers, schools, healthcare providers, and non-profit organizations, to create the best possible outcomes. 

All of this work means that juvenile case managers need tools to streamline processes and make every step as easy as possible. An emerging software tool amongst organizations is juvenile case management software. In this article, we’ll outline why it’s needed and how it helps case managers not just do their job well, but thrive. 

The Need for Advanced Software in Juvenile Case Management 

With so many stakeholders and moving parts, the juvenile case management system is chock-full of challenges. Daily, a case manager in juvenile justice battles: 

• Too many cases at once: the average child welfare worker caseload is between 24 and 31 children, while the recommended caseload is 15. 

• Communication errors: case managers are working with people and organizations of different backgrounds, cultures, and languages, who all come with varied expectations. 

• Lack of resources: case managers are forced to do a lot with a little, and sometimes a lack of funding or bureaucratic barriers means clients don’t receive the services needed. 

• Changing circumstances: crises can come out of nowhere, and juvenile case workers must be prepared to handle anything. 

• Tedious administration: heavy reporting and paperwork add hours to the workday, especially when case managers use manual systems. 

All of this stress can lead to emotional exhaustion. Juvenile case managers and probation officers struggle with burnout and still suffer from mental health stigmas, which leads to high turnover rates within these positions. 

The industry must modernize practices and look to technology to simplify workflows and ease administrative burdens on juvenile case workers. This way, they can spend less time on time-consuming paperwork and more time caring for their clients.  

Core Features of Advanced Juvenile Case Management Software 

Juvenile justice case management software eases common problems within workflows. Options such as PlanStreet follow the case management process so case managers can seamlessly integrate the program into their day-to-day. 

Some of the core features of juvenile case management software are: 

• Comprehensive case tracking and management: allows case managers to see all of the details of the case in one place so nothing falls through the cracks. 

• Real-time data access and updates: case managers see changes from other relevant parties that use the software, so they’re always aware of critical information. 

• Secure and scalable data storage solutions: robust cloud systems offer HIPAA-compliant security to protect all sensitive information. 

• Advanced reporting and analytics tools: case managers can make data-driven decisions that work by examining information from past cases and successful trends. 

• Customizable workflows and automation: simplify processes with time-saving data validation and conditionality features and intuitive workflows specific to the organization’s needs. 

• Integrated communication and collaboration platforms: it’s easy to leave someone off an email on accident. Software allows everyone to communicate in one place, on one platform, so that every relevant party is on the same page. 

How Advanced Software Improves Operational Efficiency 

At the end of the day, nonprofits and other organizations involved in the juvenile case management system are asked to do a lot with minimal budget. While software is an expense, it saves money in the long run due to decreased time on administrative tasks.  

With digital documentation, relevant parties can send and receive documents securely in seconds. They no longer have to print paper copies and drive to different locations to ensure delivery. This saves time on overhead costs and travel time. Additionally, document automation and form builders streamline client intake with intuitive features that identify the juvenile’s needs. These automation features reduce administrative burden and allow case managers to focus on the client. 

Another hurdle juvenile case managers deal with in operations is workflow management. A common battle is figuring out who will handle each task. This can be time-consuming. Case management software features elevated workflow management, where tasks can automatically be populated and allocated. Every person can view their tasks and see what challenges need to be addressed for each client. 

Boosting Accuracy and Compliance with Advanced Technology 

Social workers, case managers, and other relevant parties in the juvenile justice system must maintain strict compliance standards. Young people within this system are at a greater risk for suicidal behavior. Legal regulation must be followed to ensure the client’s safety and the prevention of worst-case scenarios. 

Advanced juvenile justice case management software can help social workers follow federal and state protocols through: 

• Standardized documentation: structured templates allow social workers to collect all legally required data, ensuring accuracy and minimizing errors. 

• Synced calendars track deadlines and court dates: case managers for juvenile offenders can help their clients succeed in court, never missing an important date. 

• A data audit trail: if an issue arises, legal software provides an audit trail so that the case worker can prove their capability and remain practicing. 

• Secure data sharing: facilitates compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for data security with sensitive client information. 

Enhancing Communication and Collaboration Among Stakeholders 

Multiple parties fight for the child’s well-being in case management for juvenile offenders. A centralized location to share documents, communicate about services, and update the status of a case allows seamless collaboration between social workers and relevant stakeholders.  

Collaboration tools allow the expert on each subject to weigh in timely and make the best decision for the client. For example, if the case worker has a medical question about a service for their client, they can message the provider through the software to receive a faster response.  

Clients–and in juvenile justice, parents or guardians of clients–can also communicate directly with their case manager via client portals. In California, children within the juvenile justice system have a reasonable right to access computer technology and the internet. Probation officers cannot limit or deny this right. Therefore, social workers must set up systems to best serve their clients, allowing them to better engage in services that will lead to successful rehabilitation.  

Selecting the Right Software for Juvenile Case Management 

There are many options for juvenile case management software, so it’s important that you choose the correct one for your organization. When shopping around, look for the following features: 

• Customization: you should be able to adjust and scale the software to work within the needs of your case managers. 

• Client portals: an access point for clients to complete and submit forms, access files, collaborate with the case manager, make payments, and schedule meetings. 

• Reporting and analytics: highly customizable dashboards that allow case managers to build tailored reports based on their needs. 

• Case boards: allow users to see all information at a glance and gain a holistic understanding of how to move forward. 

• Attendance features: case managers should be able to enroll clients in services and track their attendance. 

When evaluating different options, schedule a demo with each software you’re considering. Build questions out in advance and list the non-negotiables for your firm. Take detailed notes, and list the pros and cons of each option. 

Best Practices for Software Implementation and Training 

Once you’ve chosen a software solution, everyone in your organization must understand how to use it. Schedule a morning (or two) when everyone clears their calendar. Send everyone the proper training videos, or have the software provider take your team through a demo. Be patient but encourage adoption to ensure a successful transition. 

Simplify Juvenile Case Management at Your Organization With PlanStreet 

Case managers for juvenile offenders complete noble work, preparing the next generation for a better life. Do your part to lower burnout at turnover rates with PlanStreet’s advanced case management software. We create software tools to streamline administrative workflows and ease communication between stakeholders.  

PlanStreet offers: 

• A user-friendly web and mobile app for seamless implementation. 
• Workflow automation to simplify client onboarding. 
• Standardized assessments to maintain legal compliance. 
• Power BI reporting for accurate, data-driven decision-making. 
• Encrypted data security to satisfy HIPAA requirements. 

Help your case managers, social workers, and other relevant parties work smarter, not harder to achieve better results, and schedule a demo with PlanStreet today.