Teens in the Justice System: the Economy, Disproportionality, and Foster Care

If you work with youth in the justice system, here's four resources from Chapin Hall Center for Children you might find helpful:

• The Center co-sponsored a live audio webcast with the Urban Institute recently on "Children, the Recession, and the Economic Recovery Plan." What will it take to implement provisions for young people successfully, at a time of increasing need and decreasing resources? Follow the link for an audio recording.
• "Can Positive Youth Development Improve Juvenile Justice?" These 2006 conference presentations may provide an answer -- one of the presenters, incidentally, is Dr. Jeffrey Butts, who contributes to this blog. (Click on the word "AUDIO" next to each presenter to hear the presentation.)
• Or check out "Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice," which was "first presented at a symposium cosponsored by Chapin Hall and Georgetown University's Center for Juvenile Justice Reform last spring, [and] is now available in a compendium of the symposium proceedings. The paper offers five intervention strategies, applicable to both child welfare and juvenile justice: (1) increasing transparency, (2) reengineering structure and procedures, (3) changing organizational culture, (4) mobilizing political leadership, and (5) partnering in developing community and family resources." Haven't had a chance to check it out myself, but it sounds meaty.
• As we know, a significant percentage of youth in the justice system are also in foster care. How do we help them when they leave? Dip into this "National Review of Policies and Programs Supporting Youth Transitioning Out of Foster Care," by Amy Dworsky and Judy Havlicek, for some ideas.