Other Juvenile Matters

Family Recovery Court

The Wayne County Juvenile Court founded the Family Recovery Court docket in 2017 through a partnership with the Supreme Court of Ohio, the Wayne County Children Services Board, and several local social services agencies. Family Recovery Court is a certified specialized docket within the abuse, neglect, and dependency caseload. The purpose of Family Recovery Court is to provide additional services and support to parents seeking assistance with substance use treatment in an effort to maintain children in their home or return children to their care in a safe and swift fashion.

Family Recovery Court consists of weekly court hearings and meetings with a multidisciplinary treatment team, consisting of representatives from the Court, Wayne County Prosecutor, Wayne County Public Defender, Wayne County Children Services Board, OneEighty, and A New Day. The treatment team provides consistent wraparound services to participants in an effort to support sobriety. Family Recovery Court receives grant funding at the state level, which can assist participants with housing and utility payments until sobriety and financial independence can be achieved.

Several participants graduate each year from Family Recovery Court. As a result, dozens of Wayne County families have been reunified safely through intensive work of the parents and the Family Recovery Court treatment team members.

Juvenile Court Protection Orders

Juvenile courts have exclusive jurisdiction over civil protection orders and domestic violence protection orders where the respondent is a minor. Protection orders are for circumstances in which a petitioner is in immediate and present danger of harm caused by a respondent. Instructions, details, and forms for protection orders can be found below.

Bridges

Bridges is a voluntary program through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that assists young adults ages 18, 19, or 20 and who recently exited foster care. Bridges provides supportive services to qualifying young adults and can provide financial assistance in the areas of housing, education, and employment. The Juvenile Court reviews voluntary participant agreements at the start of Bridges services and subsequently conducts annual reviews of services and need. For more information on the Bridges program, please visit the Job and Family Services website here.