Initiative materials
Research and documents produced by the Models for Change initiative, including overviews, state-based publications, and annual conference documents.
Read the overview report for each annual conference.
Read the Champions for Change awards programs.
Featured
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Final Report from the Models for Change Evaluation
- Jun 24, 2016, Mathematica Policy Research
- The report final report from the Models for Change Evaluation offers an in-depth look at Models for Changes efforts across the Core States and Action Networks. The report offers analysis of what…
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National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems 2017 Report
- Aug 3, 2017, National Campaign
- The National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems supported policy reform efforts aimed at making the juvenile justice system safe, fair, and cost-effective. The Campaign worked to…
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National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems and the National Communications Effort
- May 1, 2016, Grassroots Solutions and Berlin Rosen
- The National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems capitalized on momentum to spread juvenile justice reform beyond Models for Change Core States and made an impact in a total of 37…
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Lessons from Five Years of Accelerating Change
- Dec 14, 2015, National Campaign to Reform State Juvenile Justice Systems
- After two decades of funding cutting-edge research on adolescent behavioral and brain development and pioneering new juvenile justice practice models, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur…
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The Supreme Court and the Transformation of Juvenile Sentencing
- Sep 30, 2015, Elizabeth Scott
- In the past decade, the Supreme Court has transformed the constitutional landscape of juvenile crime regulation. In three strongly worded opinions, the Court held that imposing harsh criminal…
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Juvenile Sentencing in a Developmental Framework: The Role of the Courts
- Sep 30, 2015, Elizabeth Scott
- Three United States Supreme Court decisions in the past decade have delineated the constitutional principle that children are developmentally different from adults in ways that matter for the fair…
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Because Kids are Different: Five Opportunities for Reforming the Juvenile Justice System
- Dec 9, 2014, Models for Change Resource Center Partnership
- As broader acceptance of recent findings in the field of adolescent development has opened the way for change, juvenile justice policymakers, stakeholders, practitioners, and advocates across the…
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Juvenile Justice in a Developmental Framework: A 2015 Status Report
- Dec 11, 2015, Models for Change
- Advances in the understanding of adolescent development have provided a foundation for progress in juvenile justice reform, including changes in state legislation. In accord with the Supreme…
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Models for Change Legacy Phase Evaluation Report
- Mar 12, 2018, Hargreaves, M. B., Coffee-Borden, B., Young, D., Liberman, A., Sabirova, S., Bynum, L., Gonzalez, E., & Schooley, R
- This report summarizes the findings of the Evaluation of the Models for Change Legacy Phase and reviews what has been achieved thus far to create fairer, more effective, and developmentally…
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Policy Brief: Assuring the Future of Developmental Reform in Juvenile Justice
- Apr 24, 2017, Thomas Grisso, PhD
- The mid-1990s saw the beginning of resistance to the punitive reform in juvenile justice that had gripped the nation for about ten years. A new perspective on juvenile justice arose, acknowledging…
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Models for Change 10th Annual Working Conference Conference Highlights
- Feb 29, 2016, Models for Change
- The 10th and final Models for Change Annual Working Conference was a fitting celebration of the Models for Change initiative and its many successes. Nearly 450 people, representing 46 states,…
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The Pennsylvania Juvenile Collateral Consequences Checklist
- Dec 15, 2015, Pennsylvania DMC Youth-Law Enforcement Corporation
- This Checklist was developed with assistance from the MacArthur Foundation Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network to help to explain many of the consequences of being arrested as a juvenile in…
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Pennsylvania Juvenile Collateral Consequences Checklist (Spanish)
- Dec 15, 2015, Pennsylvania DMC Youth-Law Enforcement Corporation
- This Checklist was developed with assistance from the MacArthur Foundation Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network to help to explain many of the consequences of being arrested as a juvenile in…
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The Adolescent Domestic Battery Typology Tool: Executive Summary
- Dec 15, 2015, Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services
- There has been an increase in the number of youth referred to the juvenile justice system for charges related to abusing their parents. The Adolescent Domestic Battery Typologies Tool was developed…
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Champions for Change Awards Program 2015
- Dec 8, 2015, Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities. Champions have helped pave the…
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Adolescent Domestic Battery Typology Tool Manual
- Dec 8, 2015, Wendy Nussbaum, M.A., LCPC, Stuart M. Berry, M.S.W., LISW, Shannon Hartnett, M.A., Gina M. Vincent, Ph.D.
- There has been an increase in the number of youth referred to the juvenile justice system for charges related to abusing their parents. The Adolescent Domestic Battery Typologies Tool (ADBTT) was…
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Trends in Juvenile Justice State Legislation 2011-2015
- Oct 12, 2015, Sarah Alice Brown
- In the past five years, juvenile justice reform legislation in the United States has grown at a remarkable pace. The recent shift in juvenile justice policy marks a clear departure from laws enacted…
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Overview Brief: The U.S. Supreme Court and the Transformation of Juvenile Sentencing
- Sep 30, 2015, Elizabeth Scott, Thomas Grisso, Marsha Levick, and Laurence Steinberg
- Three United States Supreme Court decisions of the past decade have delineated the principle that children are developmentally different from adults in ways that matter for the fair punishment of…
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Practitioner Brief: Applying a Developmental Framework to Juvenile Sentencing-What Forensic Experts and Attorneys Should Know
- Sep 30, 2015, Elizabeth Scott, Thomas Grisso, Marsha Levick, and Laurence Steinberg
- Recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court have severely restricted the use of life without parole for juvenile offenders (JLWOP). Affirming the principle that children are developmentally…
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Building Brighter Futures: Tools for Improving Academic and Career/Technical Education in the Juvenile Justice System
- Apr 30, 2015, Juvenile Law Center
- Across the country, students in the juvenile justice system are struggling in school. Research suggests that many enter the juvenile justice system well behind grade-level. In the absence of…
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Information Sharing Tool Kit-Second Edition
- Jan 20, 2015, Juvenile Law Center and Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice
- The Tool Kit website is designed to assist jurisdictions in creating and implementing information and data sharing initiatives to achieve better outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice…
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Champions for Change Awards Program 2014
- Dec 9, 2014, Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities. Champions have helped pave the…
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Innovation Brief: Using Evidence-Based Intervention with Youth Who Have Committed Sexual Offenses
- Dec 8, 2014, Illinois Models for Change Invitative
- Despite a growing body of research challenging traditional assumptions about youth who sexually offend, few jurisdictions have made a systematic effort to use this research to re-engineer the way in…
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Innovation Brief: Mental Health Screening as a Valuable Tool for Truancy Intervention
- Dec 8, 2014, Center for Children & Youth Justice
- The Clark County Truancy Project (CCTP) was designed to effectively respond to truancy while reducing the need for formal court intervention. Research indicates that one of the most prevalent issues…
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Innovation Brief: Improving Behavorial Health and Community Support in Evening Reporting Centers
- Dec 8, 2014, Illinois Models for Change Invitative
- In Cook County, Illinois, the juvenile court has implemented a strong continuum of alternatives to detention. Evening Reporting Centers, or ERCs, are a key component in this continuum. As an…
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Innovation Brief: Effective Tools for Local/State Probation Officers
- Dec 8, 2014, LSUHSC Institute for Public Health and Justice
- Since the creation of probation services involving youth offenders, juvenile probation has evolved with a fluctuating history involving both rehabilitation and enforcement roles. Even today, juvenile…
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Innovation Brief: A Collaborative Approach to Truancy Reform
- Dec 4, 2014, Center for Children & Youth Justice
- High school dropout rates in Benton and Franklin Counties in Washington State are significantly higher than the national average. Truancy is a clear predictor of high school dropout. The…
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2013 Washington State Targeted Areas of Improvement & Strategic Opportunity for Technical Assistance Data Inventory
- Apr 1, 2014, Andrew Wachter, Gene Siegel, Hunter Hurst
- The 2013 Washington Targeted Areas of Improvement Report is the final in a series of data inventory reports that document Washington Models for Change progress and outcomes. This Endpoints Edition…
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Innovation Brief: Local Detention Reform Leading to State Adoption of Best Practice Detention Standards
- Dec 12, 2013, Dana Kaplan, Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana & Stephen Phillippi, PhD, Louisiana State University School of Public Health: Institute for Public Health & Justice
- Statewide standards for juvenile detention facilities were produced through a collaborative effort utilizing and accelerating local reforms from Models for Change sites in Louisiana. These standards…
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Measurable Progress Series: Redeploy Illinois
- Dec 8, 2013, Jim Bray, Illinois Models for Change
- Redeploy Illinois targets what some juvenile justice advocates have called a “perverse fiscal incentive” to commit youth to the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice. As in many…
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FINS (Families in Need of Services) Reform: How We Got Here (slides)
- Dec 1, 2013, Ninth Judicial District, Louisiana; LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice
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Illinois Measurable Progress Updates
- Dec 1, 2013, Illinois Models for Change, Loyola University Chicago
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Providing and Receiving Technical Assistance
- Dec 1, 2013, Center for Children's Law and Policy; National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice; D. Alan Henry
- Provides a brief overview of key aspects of technical assistance;
Describes the distinctive approaches used to offer technical assistance through the Models for Change initiative;
Discusses the…
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A Call to Action
- Dec 1, 2013, Models for Change
- At the close of 2013, Models for Change is turning to a wider effort to use what has been learned and achieved to expand and spread juvenile justice reform to new jurisdictions and audiences.
This…
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Pennsylvania and MacArthur's Models for Change: The Story of a Successful Public-Private Partnership
- May 3, 2013, Robert G. Schwartz
- At the heart of the Models for Change story in Pennsylvania is the partnership between the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Committee…
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Champions for Change Awards Program 2012
- Dec 3, 2012, Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities. Champions have helped pave the…
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District Attorney Guidelines (Louisiana)
- Dec 1, 2012, Louisiana District Attorneys Association, LSU Institute for Public Health and Justice
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Research on Pathways to Desistance: December 2012 Update
- Nov 30, 2012, Carol Schubert
- This brief reports on four key findings: • The majority of young, serious offenders do not make a career of crime, and the original crime is not a good predictor of future patterns of offending;…
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Models for Change Update 2012: Headlines
- Nov 30, 2012, Hunter Hurst, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Models for Change has been an effort to provide what it takes to support and grow comprehensive, organic change in multiple jurisdictions with varying histories, resources, strengths and…
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Measurable Progress: A Summary of Illinois Juvenile Justice Reforms
- Oct 1, 2012, Various
- This report summarizes some of the key changes in juvenile justice law, policy and practice that have taken place in Illinois during the period 2005 – 2012. These changes have accelerated over…
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Developing Statutes for Competence to Stand Trial in Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings: A Guide for Lawmakers
- Apr 2, 2012, Kimberly Larson, Ph.D., J.D.; Thomas Grisso, Ph.D.; National Youth Screening & Assessment Project
- The purpose of this guide is to assist states in developing legislation that will provide clear assistance for juvenile courts when applying competence to stand trial to juvenile court proceedings.…
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Adding Up Models for Change: Initial Findings from the Models for Change Database
- Dec 9, 2011, Patrick Griffin, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Models for Change was deliberately designed to be wide-ranging—to support state and local reformers in a variety of settings, working in variety of issue areas, and taking a variety of…
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Models for Change Innovations in Practice
- Nov 30, 2010, Patrick Griffin
- This report briefly summarizes four promising practice innovations that have emerged from Models for Change funding and technical assistance in four key partner states, Pennsylvania, Illinois,…
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2010 Overview of Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
- Nov 16, 2010, Models for Change
- Provides an overview of the Models for Change initiative including: Background/Perspective, Framework, Grantmaking Strategy, Advancing the Models, Frequently Asked Questions, National Resource Bank…
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Sustaining Change: A Models for Change Guidebook
- Jun 1, 2010, Janet K. Wiig, Joseph J. Cocozza, John A. Morris, Jennie L. Shufelt, and Kathleen R. Skowyra
- Long-term program sustainability is perhaps one of the most challenging issues facing new and innovative juvenile justice programs today. All too often, programs receive start-up funding from…
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Models for Change Fourth Annual Working Conference Agenda - December 2009
- Jan 8, 2010, Models for Change
- Models for Change Fourth Annual Working Conference Agenda, December 7-9, 2009.
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Models for Change Fourth Annual Working Conference Participants List - December 2009
- Jan 8, 2010, Models for Change
- Models for Change Fourth Annual Working Conference Participants List, December 7-9, 2009.
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Research on Pathways to Desistance
- Dec 9, 2009, Research Update Created for the Fourth Annual Models for Change National Working Conference
- Juveniles can commit serious and sometimes violent offenses, from felony burglary to murder.. But only a minority of these serious offenders will go on to a lifetime of repeated crime; the rest will…
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Champions for Change Awards Program 2009
- Dec 7, 2009, Models for Change
- Champions for Change are individuals working with Models for Change who have positively affected the lives of justice-involved youth, their families, and communities. Champions have helped pave the…
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Models for Change 2009 Update: Core State Progress
- Nov 2, 2009, Patrick Griffin, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Central to the Models for Change strategy is its long-termpartnership with four key states: Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana,and Washington. By supporting comprehensive reformsin these core states,…
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Advances and Innovations Emerging from the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network: 2009 Update
- Nov 1, 2009, National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
- Offers a brief update on the Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network’s strategic innovation group (SIG) projects. Through the SIG process, the Network developed and piloted front-end…
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Adolescent Legal Competence in Court
- Jan 1, 2009, MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice
- This brief details findings from the first comprehensive assessment of juvenile capacities to participate in criminal proceedings using measures of both trial-related abilities an developmental…
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Adolescent Legal Competence in Court
- Jan 1, 2009, MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Adolescent Development and Juvenile Justice
- One of the pillars of the American justice system is the assurance that those who stand accused of crimes be mentally competent to understand and participate in their trials. The conventional…
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Models for Change 2008 Update: Gathering Force
- Dec 9, 2008, Models for Change, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Outlines specific achievements made in each of the four Model States and three Action Networks since December 2007. Over the last year the sense of movement in the field of juvenile justice, of…
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The Second Century: Juvenile Justice Reform in Illinois
- Dec 1, 2008, Mark Soler
- This report illustrates significant achievements with policies and practices in Illinois' juvenile justice system. The report includes information on efforts to utilize data and public education to…
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Overview of The Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Apr 8, 2008, Models for Change Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network
- Provides information on the startup, organization and strategies of the iniative's Mental Health/Juvenile Justice Action Network including background on the issue of mental health in juvenile justice.
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Potential for Change: Louisiana Executive Summary
- Nov 1, 2007, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Presents Louisiana-specific results of public opinion poll conducted in 2007 by Center for Children's Law and Policy (with research firm Belden Russonello and Stewart) to survey public attitudes on…
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Potential for Change: Pennsylvania Executive Summary
- Nov 1, 2007, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Presents Pennsylvania-specific results of public opinion poll conducted in 2007 by Center for Children's Law and Policy (with research firm Belden Russonello and Stewart) to survey public attitudes…
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Potential for Change: Washington Executive Summary
- Nov 1, 2007, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Presents Washington-specific results of public opinion poll conducted in 2007 by Center for Children's Law and Policy (with research firm Belden Russonello and Stewart) to survey public attitudes on…
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Potential for Change: Illinois Executive Summary
- Nov 1, 2007, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Presents Illinois-specific results of public opinion poll conducted in 2007 by Center for Children's Law and Policy (with research firm Belden Russonello and Stewart) to survey public attitudes on…
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Potential for Change: Public Attitudes and Policy Preferences for Juvenile Justice Systems Reform
- Nov 1, 2007, Center for Children's Law and Policy
- Summary of findings from a public opinion poll that included over-sampling in the four Models for Change states to determine attitudes held by the public there. Americans' attitudes about youth, race…
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The Accelerating Pace of Juvenile Justice Reform
- Oct 31, 2007, National Juvenile Defender Center, Justice Policy Institute
- Outlines trends identified by a survey of state-level enactments and policy changes in 2006-2007.
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Models for Change: Illinois Workplan
- Oct 31, 2007, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Outlines reform efforts in the second Model state, Illinois, which focusing on bringing about change in three areas identified as already ripe for improvement: juvenile court jurisdiction;…
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Models for Change: Louisiana Workplan
- Oct 31, 2007, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Outlines reform efforts in the third Model state, Louisiana, which focusing on bringing about change in three areas identified as already ripe for improvement: alternatives to formal processing and…
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Models for Change: Pennsylvania Workplan
- Oct 31, 2007, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Outlines reform efforts in the first Model state, Pennsylvania, which focusing on bringing about change in three areas identified as already ripe for improvement: mental health and juvenile justice…
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Models for Change: Washington Workplan
- Oct 31, 2007, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- Outlines reform efforts in the fourth Model state, Washington, which focusing on bringing about change in three areas identified as already ripe for improvement: alternatives to formal processing and…
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Vision 2008 and Beyond : The Jefferson Parish Children and Youth Planning Board Comprehensive Plan
- Oct 8, 2007, Roy L. Juncker, Jr.
- To put forward a comprehensive plan detailing our Children and Youth Planning Board and our juvenile justice reform efforts. This document is a “living” document and is updated annually.
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Washington State Models for Change Initiative: Selected County Highlights
- Dec 31, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Gregg Halemba, Gene Siegel
- Provides statistics on intake, demographics, mental health diversion/treatment programs for Benton, Franklin, Clark, King, Pierce and Spokane Counties in Washington.
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Louisiana System Snapshot
- Dec 10, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Provides information on the juvenile justice system in Louisiana including key agencies, demographics, framework, statistics, etc.
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Washington: System Snapshot
- Dec 10, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice
- Provides information on the juvenile justice system in the state of Washington including key agencies, demographics, framework, statistics, etc.
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Louisiana Models for Change Initiative: Selected Parish/Judicial District Highlights
- Oct 1, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Gregg Halemba, Gene Siegel
- Provides statistics on intake, demographics, mental health diversion/treatment programs for Caddom Calcasieu, Jefferson, Rapides Parish, and 16th Judicial District parishes in Louisiana.
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Washington Models for Change Initiative Background Summary
- Sep 30, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Gene Siegel, Gregory Halemba, Charles Puzzanchera, Ben Adams
- Contains a broad spectrum of historical and more recent information regarding Washington State's juvenile justice system as well as a wide range of statistics to support the strategic planning…
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2006 Overview of Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
- Jun 30, 2006, Models for Change
- This 2006 edition of the Models for Change overview provides the background and framework (principles) of the Models for Change initiative. Strategies for grantmaking and success are also described…
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Models for Change FAQ
- Jun 30, 2006, Models for Change
- Answers frequently asked questions about the Models for Change initiative including selection of states, initiative structure and measuring progress.
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Models for Change Selected Grants List
- Jun 30, 2006, Models for Change
- Partial list of national organizations and state departments who have received Models for Change grants as of July 2006.
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Louisiana Models for Change Initiative Background Summary
- Mar 22, 2006, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Gregg Halemba, Gene Siegel, Charles Puzzanchera, Patrick Griffin
- Contains a broad spectrum of historical and more recent information regarding Louisiana's juvenile justice system as well as a wide range of statistics to support the strategic planning required at…
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Building Momentum for Juvenile Justice Reform
- Jan 5, 2006, Justice Policy Institute
- Tells the story of how the four Models for Change states—Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington—are already moving to reform and reshape their own state juvenile justice…
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Thinking About Pennsylvania's Vital Signs
- May 24, 2005, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Patrick Griffin
- The Models For Change initiative supports efforts to assemble, merge and reconfigure data to build a set of standard measures or "vital signs" that could serve as broad indicators of overall system…
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Models for Change Framework
- Sep 30, 2003, Models for Change
- Identifies and describes eight core principles essential to a model juvenile justice system: fundamental fairness, recognition of juvenile-adult differences, recognition of individual differences,…