Parent Peer Support Program, Community Connections for Youth

The Parent Peer Support Program is a collaboration between the NYC Department of Probation and Community Connections for Youth (CCFY). The program provides parents of system-involved youth with “peer coaches” who can guide them through their child’s involvement in the juvenile justice system. The parent support group is a product of CCFY’s advocacy for juvenile justice systems to become more responsive to family needs. As a response to the National Families Report, the NYC Department of Probation met with CCFY family members and responded by establishing funding for the Parent Support Program. Peer coaches are on site at the Bronx Family Court Probation Office from 9:00 AM to 5PM on weekdays. Peer coaches are responsible for training parents who are currently navigating the juvenile justice system in self-advocacy and also connecting those families to parent support groups and family strengthening programming.