Families in Need of Services (FINS)

 

What is FINS?

FINS is an informal process designed to focus on the family unit, rather than just the child. The program is designed to assist troubled youth ages 5 – 17. FINS goals are to promote early intervention and help facilitate the receipt of needed services, rather than imposing a punishment. (*made effective in all courts having juvenile jurisdiction on July 1, 1994, as Title VII of the Louisiana Children’s Code.)

 

Purpose:

FINS goals are to reduce juvenile court involvement whenever possible while generating appropriate community services to benefit the child and improve family relations.

 

When should FINS assistance be requested?

  • A child is ungovernable

  • A child is truant or has willfully and repeatedly violated school rules;

  • A child is a runaway;

  • A child has repeatedly possessed or consumed intoxicating beverages or has misrepresented or deceived their age for the purpose of purchasing or receiving such beverages from any person or has repeatedly loitered around any place where such beverages are the principal commodities sold or handled;

  • A child under ten years of age has committed any act which if committed by an adult would be a crime under any federal, state, or local law;

  • A caretaker has caused, encouraged, or contributed to a child’s behaviors enumerated in this above, or to the commission of delinquent acts;

  • A caretaker, after notice, has willfully failed to attend a meeting with the child’s teacher, school principal, or other appropriate school employees to discuss the child’s truancy, repeated violation of school rules, or other serious educational problems; or

  • A child has committed an offense applicable only to children.

 

Who is the FINS Officer?

The FINS officer (or Coordinator) serves as a neutral third party, which helps to resolve the individual/family conflict, by identifying problem areas and coordinating services without formal court intervention.

 

REFERRAL FORM

Anyone can file a FINS complaint form. Most common, however, complaints are made by parents/guardians, law enforcement, or school officials.

*** FINS REFERRAL FORM ***

For more assistance, please contact the Bossier/Webster FINS office.

26th JDC Bossier/Webster FINS Office

1513 Doctors Drive, Bldg. 1 Bossier City, LA 71111

318-470-9959 (o) 318-221-6142 (f) jacob.mccarty@vyjla.org