Holidays in the Juvenile Justice System; News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• At Thanksgiving, Reflecting on Justice for Native Americans (YouthToday.org)
  “Native Americans and Juvenile Justice: A Hidden Tragedy,” is an article from the 2008 issue of Poverty and Race, and covers the intersection of this historically disadvantaged group with the modern justice system.
• OP-ED: Life-Saving Suicide Prevention Resources Address Critical Need in Juvenile Justice System (JJIE.org)
  When it comes to high risk for suicide, youth in contact with the juvenile justice system stand out. It is alarming. Fortunately, staff within the system can play a crucial preventive role by working collectively to provide guidance, support and access to needed care.
• Holidays in the Juvenile Justice System (JJIE.org)
  "My wife, Mary Jo, and I were snowbound in Michigan while working on a building project so we lost Thanksgiving with our families in southern Illinois. Missing a holiday with the dozens of brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles got me to wondering – what is the holiday experience for a kid in detention?"

Jobs, Grants, Events and Webinars

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Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health

• Providing Help to Adolescent Girls (CentralJersey.com)
  Princeton House Behavioral Health has long been known for being a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare, offering relief at times when life becomes clouded by mental illness, emotional difficulties or addiction. In October, the health services organization launched Supporting Adolescent Girls Emotionally (SAGE), a new program aimed at girls aged 13 to 18 who are dealing with mood and behavioral issues at the PHBH Princeton/Women outpatient center, 1000 Herrontown Road, Princeton.
• Commentary: Molly – What You Need to Know (Drugfree.org)
  What’s in a (drug) name? The now-popular party drug named “Molly” sounds friendly and safe, and young people know that the name is supposed to refer to the pure crystalline powder form of 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine or MDMA—what used to be taken in pill form as Ecstasy.
• STUDY: Rate Of Mental Health Treatment Increasing Faster For Kids Than Adults (HuffingtonPost.com)
  The use of mental health treatments in children has increased in recent years much more than it has among adults, a new study finds. The trend signals a growing attention to mental health problems in children, but could also be a source of concern about unnecessary medication use in children, the researchers said.

David Backes writes the Friday news roundup for Reclaiming Futures and contributes articles about juvenile justice reform and adolescent substance abuse treatment to ReclaimingFutures.org. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Santa Clara University. David works as an account executive for Prichard Communications.