Reclaiming Futures in 2014

What Will Reclaiming Futures Look Like in 2014?

No one knows, of course, not for certain. But a group of people passionately interested in juvenile justice reform and improving adolescent substance abuse treatment -- many of whom were involved in the creation and implementation of Reclaiming Futures -- met recently in Washington, D.C. to make some educated guesses about what's in store.
They also offered their hopes and opinions about what it should look like in five years.

 
The Guiding Question

Actually, the group's guiding question was a little more specific than what Reclaiming Futures would look like. Our guiding question was,  "What will be the National Program Office's role [my emphasis] in helping communities successfully overcome drugs, alcohol and crime in the year 2014?"
The meeting was part of a larger, multi-month planning process undertaken by the Reclaiming Futures National Program Office under the guidance of Mark Fulop, our new Partnership and Development Director, with the assistance of MissionWise, an outside firm that specializes in building healthier nonprofits. 
 
Just a Step In a Longer Process

A key result of the meeting was that we developed scenarios, or stories, about Reclaiming Futures in 2014 as a result of projected changes in key variables (such as funding availability, the degree to which implementation sites successfully adopt the model and remain committed to it for the long term, and so on), and what strategies we might adopt as a result. 
No definite strategic decisions were made, however, as there are other audiences who must be consulted, and additional steps to take in the process.  But it was a fun, challenging day, made more so because it was well-planned and facilitated. 
For more pictures of the day, check out the album on the Reclaiming Futures Facebook page (no log-in necessary, though please do consider becoming a fan of our page).
P.S. I wonder if treatment itself will change significantly by 2014? For a reference point of how it works now, check out these databases of evidence-based treatment for teens abusing alcohol and drugs.
 
Looking Back

• As Reclaiming Futures peers into the future, it also remembers to look to the past. Check out these reports of what the Reclaiming Futures Fellowships learned at the end of their pilot phase.