Breaking the Cycle of System Failures: Jessica

Jessica, 17, appeared before the Juvenile Court following a Care and Protection (C&P) petition citing serious concerns about her mental health and serious neglect at home. The judge referred her for a Juvenile Court Clinic evaluation. Four months earlier, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) had removed her three younger siblings due to neglect. When DCF attempted to remove Jessica as well, she refused to leave her home.

Records showed Jessica was raised in an unstable environment marked by domestic conflict related to her mother’s substance use. Her father had been a consistent caregiver until his conviction for molesting her half-sister, which led to his incarceration and deportation. Afterward, Jessica and her siblings moved in with their great-grandparents.

Difficult Grade School Years

Jessica’s functioning had declined sharply in fifth grade. She experienced bullying, school refusal, and worsening depression and anxiety. Her overwhelmed great-grandparents resisted mental health services and allowed her to stay home with unrestricted electronics use. They also permitted her mother, whose parental rights had been terminated, to visit while intoxicated and be verbally abusive. Jessica’s symptoms intensified.

At age 13, a Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) Truancy petition had been filed due to chronic school refusal, but despite DCF involvement and service recommendations, little changed. The Certified Juvenile Court Clinician’s interviews revealed Jessica’s belief that no adult or system had ever meaningfully helped her, contributing to deep distrust and a sense that adults were unreliable. The Clinician understood Jessica’s refusal to leave her great-grandparents’ home as a trauma-based response rooted in disrupted attachment, loss, and repeated system failures.

Realistic Recommendations for Services

The Court Clinician noted that forcibly removing Jessica would likely provide only short-term gain; she would most likely return home at age 18. Instead, the Clinician recommended services to stabilize the home and support Jessica’s emotional needs. These included in-home family therapy to address conflict and structure the environment; trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy; a psychiatric evaluation to address her depression and anxiety; engagement in prosocial activities that interested her; and a therapeutic mentor to help rebuild trust and social connections.

By the end of the evaluation, Jessica’s situation had significantly improved—she had begun attending school more consistently and enrolled in pottery classes. Though hesitant, she was trying therapy and mentoring and showed hope for her future. 

To protect confidentiality, MAJCC does not use real names or identifying features in case examples.

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1 Care and Protection: a matter filed in Juvenile Court alleging that a child under age 18 is at risk of neglect or abuse. (See full definition in the Glossary).

2 Child Requiring Assistance (CRA) Truant is a status offense (a civil, non-delinquent matter) which brings a child before the Juvenile Court due to excessive school absences: failure to attend school (unexcused absences) for more than 8 school days in a school quarter.

3 To work in the Juvenile Court Clinics, clinicians must become Certified Juvenile Court Clinicians through a DMH-directed specialized training with on-site supervised clinical work conducted at the Juvenile Court Clinics.