The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change juvenile justice reform initiative partners with selected states to advance reforms that effectively hold young people accountable for their actions, provide for their rehabilitation, protect them from harm, increase their life chances and manage the risk they pose to themselves and to public safety.
The initiative’s goal is to accelerate progress toward more rational, fair, effective and developmentally sound juvenile justice systems in selected states while in the process developing models of successful system-wide reform that can be replicated elsewhere.
National Resource Bank
CJCA has been a founding member of the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change reform efforts, beginning with participation at the early meetings creating the reform strategy, defining model system goals and selecting the states. CJCA has served as a member of the National Resource Bank (NRB) representing the field with staff expertise, experience and bringing the resources of the national organization of state correctional agencies.
CSCI
As part of the Models for Change initiative, CJCA and the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ) have been working since 2003 in Pennsylvania with three counties (Allegheny, Chester and Erie) and a state team to improve coordination of the mental health and juvenile justice systems. CJCA and NCMHJJ are implementing the Comprehensive Systems Change Initiative (CSCI) model to improve access to and availability of mental health services for youths in the juvenile justice system.
CJCA works intensively with the selected counties and the state team to establish a process for integrating and sustaining efforts to identify youths with mental health problems in contact with the juvenile justice system and to divert these youths to appropriate services outside of the juvenile justice system when possible or from deeper involvement in the system. For those who are not diverted, the goal is to provide evidence-based services and ensure continuity of care via aftercare to improve the youths’ lives and ultimately reduce crime.
Click here to learn more about CSCI.
Click here to learn more about the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative.
Click here to learn more about NCMHJJ.