§367D-7 Model programs; office of youth services. Subject to funding by the legislature, the director of the office of youth services shall foster a gender-responsive environment by providing model gender-responsive programs for female adjudicated youth that are responsive to statewide needs and geographical areas and shall award contracts for the programs. The gender-responsive environment and programs shall:
(1) Respond in a rehabilitative way to the type of offenses female adjudicated youth generally commit and address pathways to crime;
(2) Respond to the problems of female adjudicated youth with dependent children;
(3) Respond to the importance of developing self-determination through education; employment training; special education to the learning disabled; and social, cognitive, communication, and life skills training;
(4) Assist female adjudicated youth in overcoming their own extreme degree of dependency by developing and fostering strong and healthy relationships without losing self-esteem;
(5) Respond appropriately to the specific health care needs of girls and women, including but not limited to mental health and substance abuse services;
(6) Offer transitional support for female adjudicated youth and their families to promote successful reentry into their families, schools, and communities; and
(7) Offer technical assistance and training toward the implementation of other similar programs. [L 2006, c 258, pt of §2]