NACo expands Smart Justice Initiative to address juvenile justice reform in partnership with MacArthur Foundation

NY Governor Pledges To Change State's Outdated Juvenile Justice Laws

The next JDCAP Standards Committee

is Thursday Jan 16 at 10:00 AM at the Abraxas Academy in Morgantown PA. During this upcoming meeting, we will review the Staff Development standards.

The next JDCAP Training Committee meeting

is scheduled for Thursday March 13, 10A-2P at the Lancaster Youth Intervention Center. The training committee will be sent a proposed agenda in advance of this meeting.

Employment Opportunities

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice is hiring an Associate, Policy and Government Relations and an Associate, Training and Technical Assistance. 

The Associate, Policy and Government Relations will assist in the development, management and implementation of nationwide initiatives in juvenile justice leadership and reform with CJJ's state members as well as state and national partners. The Associate will tap and develop the expertise and resources of CJJ and its members and develop policy products that build on current momentum for juvenile justice reform. Click here for a full job description.

The Associate, Training and Technical Assistance, working with the other staff plans, develops and manages the overall provision of national and regional training and technical assistance to the organization's members and allies. The Associate works within parameters set by public and private grants and represents the organization with partners, funders and the public. The Associate is responsible for creating and conducting needs assessments, creating and conducting training and technical assistance (TA) programs for state/local members and partners, matching training and TA to identified needs, and evaluating the effectiveness of CJJ's training and TA. Click here for a full job description.

Additional Information

Webinar To Discuss Youth Diversion Strategies for Law Enforcement

On January 23, 2014, at 2 p.m. ET, OJJDP, in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, will present "Effective Youth Diversion Strategies for Law Enforcement." This 90-minute Webinar will focus on youth diversion programs, including program development, implementation challenges, and successes. Panelists will discuss strategies for law enforcement agencies starting or improving a youth diversion program.

Resources:

Register and learn more about this Webinar.

New Resource Center on Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Established

The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice at Policy Research Associates is pleased to announce the official launch of its new online Resource Center. The Mental Health and Juvenile Justice Collaborative for Change is one of four new Resource Centers supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as part of the new Models for Change Resource Center Partnership.

The Collaborative for Change promotes the mental health reforms that came from Models for Change by actively supporting their adaptation, replication, and expansion in the field. Its primary areas of focus include critical topics such as:

• Mental health screening within juvenile justice settings
• Diversion strategies and models for youth with mental health needs
• Adolescent mental health training for juvenile justice staff and police
• Guidance on implementing evidence-based practices
• Training and resources to support family involvement in the juvenile justice system
• Juvenile competency

The Collaborative for Change provides juvenile justice and mental health system administrators, policymakers, program providers, and direct care staff with:

• 24/7 access to information and resources on the new website
• A help desk staffed with professionals ready to answer questions and provide information
• Consultation and assistance for complex requests
• On-site training opportunities

To learn more about the Collaborative for Change, please visit http://cfc.ncmhjj.com or contact the Help Desk directly at 1-866-962-6455.

To learn more about the other Resource Centers in the Resource Center Partnership, please visit: 

Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice

National Juvenile Defender Center

Status Offense Reform Center

Departments of Justice and Education Release School Discipline Guidance Package

On January 8, 2014, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education released a school discipline guidance package to help states, districts, and schools enhance school climate and improve discipline policies and practices. The guidance package is a product of the Supportive School Discipline Initiative (SSDI), a collaboration between the two agencies. SSDI, which is a priority for the Department of Justice, coordinates the Department's work with Education and other federal agencies to keep children and teens in school, engaged in learning, and out of courts. The initiative addresses overuse of harsh and exclusionary school disciplinary policies and practices and supports the development of safe and productive education environments and training for the adults who interact with students in and out of school. The guidance package provides resources for creating safe, supportive, and inclusive school climates and a compendium of federal laws and regulations regarding school discipline.

Webinar to Discuss Isolation Practices with Vulnerable Populations

On January 22, 2014, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) in collaboration with the National Center for Youth in Custody (NCYC) will present "Isolation Practices With Vulnerable Populations: Impact and Alternatives," the first Webinar in the series "Improving Conditions of Confinement for Vulnerable Populations." While isolation is harmful and traumatic for any youth, it can be particularly traumatic for youth with disabilities and for youth who have experienced physical, sexual, or other forms of abuse. This Webinar will look at the impact of isolation practices on these vulnerable populations and identify appropriate alternatives being implemented in several jurisdictions.