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JJ Monitor
March 2017
Iowa Juvenile Justice Specialist, Dave Kuker, Testifies Before Congress

Iowa Juvenile Justice Specialist, Dave Kuker, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Feb. 28 to talk about the importance of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) . Kuker testified alongside Jake Horowitz of the Pew Charitable Trusts, Yasmin Vafa of Rights for Girls, and Jinique Blyden, an alumna of Florida's PACE Center for Girls.
 
"The JJDP Act has been the cornerstone of Iowa's progressive, and ever-evolving, juvenile justice system," Kuker said.
 
The hearing was held to educate members about the JJDPA. A similar hearing was held just two weeks earlier, during which former CJJ Executive Board Member Meg Williams testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee's Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
 
For additional information about these hearings, click here to read CJJ Intern, Ellen Richert's blog.

It is anticipated that the JJDPA will be considered for reauthorization in the 115th Congress. Stay tuned for updates! 

CJJ Announcements
Calling All Youth: Apply Today for Police-Youth Engagement Institute
CJJ encourages young people ages 16-23 to apply to participate in our upcoming institute on police-youth engagement. The event is being held July 18-20 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This two-day institute will bring together youth and law enforcement from across the country to share their stories and improve police-youth dialogues. 
 
This project is funded through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and is being undertaken in partnership with the International Association of Police. 

Click here to learn more. 
2017 Annual Conference: Registration is Open!
The 2017 Annual Conference, " Access, Accountability, & Advocacy: Addressing Educational, Physical, and Mental Health Needs in the Juvenile Justice System" will take place June 14-17 , 2017 at the Washington Hilton Hotel, in Washington, D.C.  This conference will bring together stakeholders from across the country to talk about ways to better address children's needs before they become involved in the system and to make sure that children receive quality care if they do become involved with the juvenile justice system.
 
Register by April 28!
Register between now and April 28th before late registration costs take effect! All participants that register as non-members will receive a complementary 2017 CJJ membership. 

Become a Sponsor
CJJ invites all individuals and organizations to sponsor the Annual Conference. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; therefore, sponsorship may be partly or wholly tax-deductible. Sponsors will be acknowledged in the conference program and on CJJ's website, and eligible to receive a complementary or discounted CJJ membership. 
 
Exhibit at the Conference
This year, CJJ also has a limited number of exhibitor spaces available. Exhibiting at CJJ's Annual Conference allows your organization an even greater opportunity to reach CJJ's members, partners, and other juvenile justice stakeholders. Exhibitors receive exhibit space, waived conference registration(s), acknowledgement in the conference program and on CJJ's website, a complementary or discounted CJJ membership, and additional benefits depending on their support level.
 
Hotel Accommodations
A conference room block is available at the Washington Hilton Hotel . The group rate is $242/night, the federal per diem lodging rate for Washington, DC.   
 
Questions?
Please click here or email info@juvjustice.org. 

CJJ Releases "Principles for Change"
On Feb. 28, CJJ released " Addressing the Intersections of Juvenile Justice Involvement and Youth Homelessness: Principles for Change." This report provides stakeholders with key policy recommendations to ensure that young people do not experience homelessness as a result of their involvement with the juvenile justice system, and likewise, that they do not become system-involved because they are experiencing homelessness. 

This report was created by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, in partnership with the  National Network for Youth   and the  National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education, and Families . A group of national, multi-sector advisors also provided input. The project was made possible through funding from the  Raikes Foundation , the  Tow Foundation , and the  Melville Charitable Trust .
New Report Highlights Importance of JJDPA Funding
On March 15, CJJ released " Protecting Our Children and Communities: The Essential Role of Funding under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. " This report highlights the way states use federal funds to help improve juvenile justice systems in their communities. It is based on contributions from State Advisory Groups across the country.
Want to see news that's important to you in the CJJ Members and Partners section? 

Join CJJ as a member today! 
Member and Partner News
New Hampshire State Advisory Group
Each issue, CJJ is pleased to highlight the latest news and innovations of its members!
The mirror project works to improve police-youth relations in New Hampshire.
 
Designed to help law enforcement officers learn about youth development and youth behavior, and to equip young people with tools to better interact with law enforcement, New Hampshire's Mirror Project uses police officer instructors to teach school-aged youth. Interim Portsmouth Chief David Mara says the message of the program resonates with all involved.
 
The program was designed to give youth a look into police training, and why officers do what they do. It provides a bridge to understanding why an officer, for example, asks a suspect to show them their hands. The training mirrors the training police officers receive. Presented in an age-appropriate format for youth, the hour-long training is designed to help youth better understand what they can expect if or when they encounter a law enforcement officer.
 
Geared toward eighth graders, this program engages youth through role playing, asking them to assume the role of a police officer with a need to 'move the kids along.' Training is coupled with a video presentation, enabling the youth to see what happens when these types of situations go well, and when they do not.
 
The Mirror project is one exam ple of many ways New Hampshire is exploring innovations in police-youth engagement. For more information about the program, contact DMC Coordinator Andrew Smith at (603) 419-0242, or via email at andrew.smith@dhhs.nh.gov.

Federal Policy Updates
President Donald Trump released the outline for his FY 2018 budget proposal on Wednesday, March 15. If approved, it would reduce the Department of Justice's funding by approximately 3.8 percent. The proposal does not specifically mention the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. It does, however, eliminate federal funding for 21st-Century Community Learning Centers, after-school programs that exist in high-poverty areas. To read the full budget blueprint click here. 
Other News and Announcements
AN UPDATE TO OUR MEMBERS:  
CJJ has served as the non-profit association for the state advisory groups since 1984, bringing their issues to Congress and translating federal policy to the states. As co-chair of the Act 4 Juvenile Justice Coalition, we have played a leadership role in championing the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and appropriations to fund the Act. We have communicated to state-level juvenile justice stakeholders about new and emerging issues and reform movements, and fostered connections wherever possible. We have been proud and longtime partners of some the most impactful reform initiatives in the field over the past 20 years. Additionally, since our inception, CJJ has hosted an annual one-of-its-kind gathering for the chairs of all the State Advisory Groups in the states and territories to share-and gather-information about juvenile justice trends on the ground.
 
That work continues thanks to the support and dedication of members like you. In the first three months of 2017 alone, CJJ members have testified before committees in both the House and Senate about the importance of the JJDPA. CJJ has also released two new reports, one on the intersections of juvenile justice and youth homelessness, and the other on the essential role of JJDPA funding in the states.
 
We have more planned for the coming months. In June, we will host members of the national juvenile justice community at our Annual Conference. The following month, we, along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, will host youth and law enforcement leaders from across the country as they engage in a conversation on ways to enhance police and youth relations.
 
We will continue to stand as your voice in Washington, and to serve our members across the country. We look forward to your continued support and partnership as we build towards a brighter tomorrow for our children and communities.

CONFERENCE: 
The Governor's Office of Crime Control & Prevention is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2017 Maryland Crime Victims' Rights Conference on April 7, 2017 at the Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland.  At the conference, Governor Hogan will present the Governor's Victim Assistance Awards to three Marylanders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to assist crime victim.  
 
To view the agenda and register, please visit: https://victimsrights.eventbrite.com . If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Herndon, Director of Victim Services, at kimberly.herndon@maryland.gov or at 410-697-9312.  

YOUTH IN CUSTODY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM: 
The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) recently released a Request for Applications for its 5th Annual Youth in Custody Certificate Program, which will be held at Georgetown University July 10-14, 2017.  The training is designed for juvenile justice system leaders and partners working to improve outcomes for youth in post-adjudication custody. Upon approval of a Capstone Project Proposal initiating or building on local reform efforts, participants receive an Executive Certificate from Georgetown and join the CJJR Fellows Network of over 750 individuals.
 
This year, CJJR has partnered with the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA) to run the program, which will highlight services and approaches for post-dispositional youth and their families that are: research-based; developmentally appropriate; family-centered; individually focused and predicated on validated assessments; strength-based; trauma-informed; data-informed and outcome-driven; culturally responsive; and coordinated. The program will also include an optional tour of Washington DC's New Beginnings Youth Development Center.
Applications are due Friday, April 7, 2017.  Join the movement and apply today!

YOUTH JUSTICE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE:
Know an advocate or organizer who wants to set the youth justice world on fire? Tell them to apply to the National Juvenile Justice Network's 2017-2018 Youth Justice Leadership Institute. 
 
The Institute is a robust, year-long fellowship program run by the National Juvenile Justice Network that focuses on elevating and supporting advocates and organizers who reflect the communities most affected by youth justice system practices and policies.  Our program is geared for individuals of color working as professionals in the juvenile justice field, who may also be young adults who are system survivors themselves, or family members of someone in the system.
 
Anyone interested in the Institute can:
·  register for one of the two informational webinars on March 23, 2017 and March 28, 2017; or
·  contact the Institute's coordinator, Diana Onley-Campbell, at diana@njjn.org
NEW PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES: 
CJJ invites you to share news from your SAG, organization, state, or region! Inclusion and editing of submissions are subject to CJJ editorial guidelines.