Toward a Positive Youth Justice System; News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• Toward a Positive Youth Justice System (Chronicle of Social Change)
  Today, we officially conclude “Positive Youth Justice: Curbing Crime, Building Assets,” a series that imagines an entire juvenile justice system built on the positive youth development (PYD) framework. Central to this series were profiles of five PYD-oriented programs that serve youth at different points along the juvenile justice continuum: prevention, diversion, community corrections, incarceration and re-entry.
• Ohio Juvenile Justice Alliance Fact Sheet Series (Children's Defense Fund-Ohio)
  Each year nearly 100,000 Ohio youth go through Ohio’s juvenile court system for delinquency and status offense cases.  Research over the past decade has shown what works to give these youth opportunities to start and stay on a path to becoming positive members of our communities instead of remaining system-involved. To facilitate a discussion around these youth, the Ohio Juvenile Justice Alliance (OJJA) has created a fact sheet series on Ohio’s juvenile justice system.  Each fact sheet examines a slice of the system and includes 1) national research and best practices on keeping youth on the right track and 2) a snapshot on Ohio’s current practices on various topics.
• After Lock-up, a Question of Care (JJIE.org)
  Rearrest rates for juveniles have been as high as 75 percent. Also, studies show that two-thirds of juveniles released from detention do not return to school. Education in juvenile facilities often fails to meet the needs of youth, about 70 percent of whom have been found to have learning disabilities, according to the NJJN.
  

Jobs, Grants, Events and Webinars

• Please share the Reclaiming Futures Opportunity Board with your colleagues in the juvenile justice, adolescent substance abuse and teen mental health areas. It's free to browse and post!

Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment and Mental Health

• Data for Health: Learning What Works (RWJF.org)
  Recognizing this vast opportunity to use data to improve health, RWJF charged an Advisory Committee of experts to investigate how individuals and communities are already using data to improve health. The Advisory Committee hosted a series of events in five cities across the country and online, where community leaders shared their hopes, concerns, and ideas for using health information. Building upon what they heard from communities during these “listening sessions,” this report outlines their findings and recommendations for how to help communities and U.S. health leaders better harness data to help build a Culture of Health.
• Now is the Time Project Aware Mental Health First Aid Grants (MentalHealthFirstAid.org)
  Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released the announcement for the second phase of the Project Aware Mental Health First Aid grant initiative: Now is the Time Project AWARE-Community Grants. This cycle of grants provides over $8 million in funding to build on local Mental Health First Aid initiatives and develop new partnerships. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 1st, 2015.
  
• Teen Brains and Marijuana: Marijuana Lit Video Series (ATTCNIATX.org)
  ATTC released "Integrating Substance Use Disorder and Health Care Services in an Era of Health Reform", the first white paper for our project on Advancing Integration. And another new item is the latest video in the ATTC Network’s Marijuana Lit series. Just released:  “Effects of Marijuana Use on Developing Adolescents.”