Concerns Grow About Medical Marijuana's Impact on Teens; News Roundup

Juvenile Justice Reform

• Baltimore’s Newly Approved Youth Curfew Among Strictest in Nation (JJIE)
  Baltimore’s newly approved youth curfew will provide an effective way to keep kids off the streets late at night, making them less likely to become victims or perpetrators of violence. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said: "I am not willing to gamble on the lives of our children. ... This is about taking them out of harm's way."
  
• Webinar Next Thursday: PDSA - The AAA Method for Change (Reclaiming Futures)
  Next Thursday's webinar will address process improvement when implementing a new evidenced based practice, improving staff retention, engaging meaningful family and youth participation, or improving interagency communications.
• Juvenile Recidivism Measurement Inconsistent Across States (JJIE)
  “You get what you measure. If you’re not measuring something or if you’re unable to measure it, you don't know if your policies, programs and practices are having the intended impact,” said Adam Gelb, director of the Public Safety Performance Project at the Pew Charitable Trusts.
• West Virginia to Study Juvenile Justice System (WTRF.com)
  West Virginia is joining the Pew Charitable Trusts to study its juvenile justice system and find better ways to keep youthful offenders out of detention centers.

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

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Shortcomings Highlighted by Coroner (ABC News 24)
  Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel has pointed to shortcomings in the state's mental health service for young people in his findings on a teenager's death.
• Concerns Grow About Medical Marijuana's Impact on Teens (WCVB.com)
  "Kids who use marijuana heavily during adolescence are less likely to complete their education, to have a good job, to establish their own family," said Dr. Sharon Levy. "Heavy marijuana use during adolescence is associated with drops in IQ."
• Mental Health Task Force Releases Its Findings (Fox CT)
  Between August of 2013 and April of 2014, a 20-member task force met to examine how the state treats and supports young adults with mental health issues. Yesterday, they released their final report.
• Hardin County’s Second Annual 5K Run for Recovery (Reclaiming Futures)
  Khrystal Wagner, Project Director, shared that "having an event like this to bring the community together in support of recovery from mental illness, substance abuse and school credit recovery is exciting and gives me hope that our youth will have sustained support and guidance."

Cecilia Bianco is an account executive for Prichard Communications. She contributes to the Reclaiming Futures blog regarding topics of juvenile justice reform and substance abuse prevention.