The DHS Bureau of Juvenile Justice (BJJ) has a case management information system that was implemented in the summer of 2001. The system is Web-based allowing easy access to users statewide or further 24/7/365 without requiring individual software set up on their computer.
The BJJ information system is a case management system including basic demographic information, placement history, treatment plans and basic case management. The cornerstone of the information system is the automatic case assignment, Juvenile Justice Assignment Unit (JJAU), computations which compares the scores based on needs and strengths scores for each youth with services proved by treatment providers. Other areas include the education module designed to implement federally required information for special education and non special education students including; track education gains; class scheduling; transcripts and the ability to develop individual education plans.
The system allows staff within facilities to rapidly share information, within a secure environment, enabling quicker decisions in the best interest of youths served. Staff utilizing the system includes treatment team members, teachers, nurses, administrators, assignment staff, intake staff, detention and probation officers etc. The more people using the system, the more complete the records become.
Security and safety are critical considerations for a system of this type. Confidential youth records have stringent privacy requirements. Access to the system and youth records is based on facility assignment and need to know to perform job functions. Passwords are changed on a regular basis to ensure that an unauthorized user is not accessing information.
The long-term goal is to integrate/share/capture information across all boundaries to facilitate a better idea of the needs of juveniles in the state of Michigan.