Federal Juvenile Justice Committee Advises More Funding for States; News Roundup

Every week Reclaiming Futures rounds up the latest news on juvenile justice reform, adolescent substance use treatment, and teen mental health. 

Federal Juvenile Justice Committee Advises More Funding for States (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)
"The Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice on Monday voted 8-2 for a slate of recommendations related to the reauthorization of the JJDPA, the law that sets standards for juvenile justice programs."

Juvenile Justice Reform Must Address the Unique Needs of LGBTQ Girls (Huffington Post)
"Far too many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) youth who encounter the juvenile justice system are placed in facilities that fail to address past experiences of trauma or where they are at risk for sexual violence. Juvenile justice initiatives often fail to include the unique challenges confronted by young LGBTQ women of color in their approaches, making issues associated with sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression invisible."

New Orleans Is Locking Up Hundreds Of Traumatized Kids (Think Progress)
"Ten years have passed [...] but in many ways the storm haunts the city’s juvenile justice system to this day. Young people going in and out of the system are still suffering from trauma caused by Katrina."

New Jersey Laws Could Pave Way for More Reforms (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange)
"A juvenile justice reform bill passed by New Jersey’s state legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Christie on Aug. 10 will keep 14-year-olds out of criminal court, regardless of the crime. New Jersey is the first state to have no exceptions in the law surrounding waivers for defendants 14 and under."

Palo Alto students tackle teen suicide and mental health in documentary 'Unmasked' (Marin Independent Journal)
"Produced by a group of 11 students from Palo Alto and Gunn high schools called DocX, the documentary aims to convey a message of hope for those who suffer from depression or lost someone to suicide."

Project AWARE Teens Express Issues That Impact Them [Video] (Guardian Liberty Voice)
"Project AWARE began in 2003 to specifically highlight prescription drug abuse issues among youth. Carl Lakari and Katey Branch shared the belief that if young people created their own presentation about the issue, it would reach the multitude, and be more effective overall. Branch and Lakari began to teach workshops. These workshops taught young people how to make a difference through powerful presentations they put together. Project AWARE works with teens so they can effectively express the issues that impact them the most."

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