The Important Change to Juvenile Justice You Have Not Heard About; News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• Juvenile Justice Reform is Moving Forward in Kentucky
  A bill has started moving through the legislative process to reform juvenile justice in meaningful ways for kids, families and communities.
• Justice Department Seeks to Stop Ohio Solitary Confinement of Mentally Ill Boys
  The U.S. Justice Department says it has asked a federal court to prevent the Ohio Department of Youth Services from unlawfully placing boys with mental health disorders in solitary confinement at the state’s juvenile detention facilities.
• For Troubled Teens, Making and Sharing Poetry May Be Unexpected Source of Happiness
  The Pongo Teen Writing Project has been working with troubled teens in detention centers, mental health facilities and homeless centers for nearly two decades, taking their stories and turning them into poetry.
• The Important Change to Juvenile Justice You Have Not Heard About
  The Washington Legislature this year passed the most important juvenile-justice reform in two decades.

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

• Commentary: Eliminating Barriers IS Smart Drug and Crime Policy
  Smart drug policy is inextricably linked to smart crime policy. When treatment of substance use disorders (SUD) is the primary response to criminal behavior tied to untreated addiction and use, it has a profound impact on reducing not only costs to the public safety system but also to the health care system.
• Report Finds Family Visits Improve Behavior and School Performance of Incarcerated Teens
  A report from the Vera Institute of Justice, Ohio Department of Youth Services and the Public Welfare Foundation underscores the importance of family involvement for incarcerated youth.

Ashley Heinonen writes the Friday news roundup, opportunity board roundup, and contributes articles featuring information about juvenile justice reform to ReclaimingFutures.org. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University and is currently an assistant account executive for Prichard Communications.