The Information Sharing Network Committee is comprised of a representative from each school district in Lucas County plus personnel from Juvenile Court, Parents Helping Parents, and the Lucas County Sheriff's Office. The committee is charged with oversight of the Information Sharing Network, which began operation in March 1998. The ISN is designed to bridge the gap between the courts, schools and parents and to help provide prompt, specific intervention services to students in crisis. Committee members work to improve communication between schools and agencies, share intervention strategies and find better ways to meet the special needs of at-risk students.
Click here for a list of Information Sharing Network Committee Board Members

The idea for the Information Sharing Network was first conceived in 1990 by a group of concerned agencies who felt too many students were failing to receive needed services and support. Early attempts to gather and share juvenile offense data failed due to attempts to rely on volunteers for the work involved.

In 1997, the Lucas County Community Prevention Partnership took on the task of making the Information Sharing Network a reality by securing funding to support a full-time staff member. With a combination of funding sources, the Network began operations in March of 1998.

Parents Helping Parents, a local parental support group, an integral part of the Information Sharing Network, took on the task of personally contacting each family which had a child re-enter the juvenile court system prior to the adjudication of a first offense.

How does the Information Sharing Network operate?

• Juvenile offense data is gathered from the Juvenile Court booking desk, Juvenile Court Clerk's office, and from Juvenile Probation. The information is stored in a database by student name/ID and home school.
• Schools are notified via fax each morning of juvenile court activity in involving their students. Police officers assigned as school security and the student's home police jurisdiction (if not the arresting agency) are also notified via fax.
• A letter is mailed to the parent/guardian of each student informing them of the offense and of intervention/counseling/support services available throughout the county, with literature enclosed describing the same.
• The schools use the information to begin intervention and offer counseling in a timely manner. School police officers are able to target those students who need immediate attention, enabling the officers to better utilize their time and resources.
• Schools are provided periodic summary reports of juvenile court activity in the county, with customized reports available as needed.

Funding for the Information Sharing Network comes from the schools, Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, Lucas County Sheriff's Office, and local criminal justice grants.

For more information on the Information Sharing Network, contact Amy Russell at the Community Partnership.