Roundup: Proven Practices for Improving Education and Employment for Disadvantaged Young Men - and More

Juvenile Justice Reform News

• One of the two juvenile court judges involved in the Pennsylvania kids-for-cash scandal pleaded guilty on April 29th. (Missed the story? We linked to a story in The New York Times last year about the two judges who apparently accepted money to funnel kids into a private juvenile detention facility.)
• It doesn't really cover juvenile drug courts, but the Organization of American States (OAS), American University, and others have just published an overview of a survey of drug courts in 12 countries, giving an interesting (and positive) international picture of the intervention.
• Helping kids in trouble with the law be successful means helping them be successful in school and on the job. So you might be interested in this paper from The Urban Institute, "Improving Education and Employment for Disadvantaged Young Men: Proven and Promising Strategies."  It reviews the "evidence base on programs and policies such as youth development for adolescents and young teens; programs seeking to improve educational attainment and employment for in-school youth; and programs that try to 'reconnect' those who are out of school and frequently out of work, including public employment programs." Next, it reviews promising and proven strategies for helping affected youth. (Hat tip to @isaac_outcomes.)

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Behavioral Health Care News

• I've written before about the amazing, free, 1-hour online cours NIATx offers to help behavioral healthcare agencies make lasting improvements in the efficiency, quality, and profitability of their client services. Once you learn the basics of rapid cycle testing, you can use the tools here to help you measure your success at engaging clients -- how many make it to session four?  Check them out.
• Need to brush up on cognitive behavioral therapy? The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network has published two parts (so far) of a great introduction. Part 1 is an overview of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); part two covers CBT strategies and methods, and includes links to seven practice manuals and articles on CBT.
• David Rosenbloom, PhD, who directs Join Together, has recently been recognized for his contributions to addiction treatment and medicine by the American Society for Addiction Medicine (ASAM).
• Faces & Voices of Recovery is accepting nominations for its Board of Directors. Faces & Voices is a national organization that organizes individuals in recovery to advocate on treatment-related issues. The deadline for applications is Saturday, May 15, 2010.

Webinars, Conferences, and A Chance to Comment on the Impact of Health Reform 

• May 11, 2010, 10 am PST/ 1 pm EST. The Research and Training Center at Pathways to Positive Futures at Portland State University will host a webinar, “Whose Life is It? Supporting Self-determination & Transition of Youth with Disabilities Aging-out of the Child Welfare System." The presenters will share research findings on the efficacy of My Life, an intervention designed to enhance the self determination and adult outcomes of young people in foster care and special education. This presentation will also focus on the transition experiences of foster youth with disabilities and review information about current services for supporting their transition, such as Chafee and the Independent Living Program.
• May 13, 2010 - "From Data to Decisions: What is Needed for Planning Public Services?" This event is co-sponsored by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago and the Urban Institute. Catch it in person in Chicago, or attend the live audio webcast, 7 am PST / 10 am EST.  
• July 14-18, 2010. The "New Horizons for Systems of Care" conference will be sponsored by the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development in Washington, D.C. The subtitle is, "Effective Practice and Performance for Children and Youth with Mental Health Challenges and their Families."
• Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, wants to hear from you. In the wake of the passage of the health reform bill, what are the implications for the Foundation, for health care and health-related fields -- adolescent substance abuse is a public health problem, after all -- and for the country? Your comments will remain private, but could help the foundation shape its funding priorities in the years to come.