Georgetown chooses our county for big justice project
HCJFS has been given a huge honor by being chosen, with other agencies and school districts in Hamilton County, to work with Georgetown University on important juvenile justice issues.
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Chief Clinical Director Margie Weaver
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Leaders here have worked with Georgetown before, but never before have experts from the university traveled to Cincinnati. They're working on a big issue: how to improve disparities in school discipline, equity and diversion from the justice system.
According to data
City Beat got from Hamilton County Juvenile Court, the numbers of arrested juveniles are down significantly from past years, but black juveniles still are disproportionately locked up. That's a trend around the country as well.
The local team, which also includes Legal Aid, Cincinnati Public Schools, Princeton C
ity Schools and Northwest Local Schools, will launch a project that addresses the disparities and the impact these have on juveniles.
"Young people who come from backgrounds of abuse or neglect are often in survival mode from their traumatic
experiences," Director Moira Weir said. "We must approach them with that understanding. When we work together and treat them in a holistic manner, we become part of the long-term solution
and not just another problem they must overcome. This program will help us design new ways of helping these children
reach better tomorrows."
Attending from HCJFS: educational liaisons Megan Perdue and Todd Forrester; Monique Kemper, section chief; Chandra Mathews-Smith, assistant director of community strategies and engagement; and Chief Clinical Director Margie Weaver.
Perdue was impressed with the involvement of so many different entities. She feels it helped to learn more about their perspectives. She's looking forward to the capstone project.
We are looking for one home where these siblings can live together forever.
Please consider joining us this Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at this cool place called the 
At our annual National Adoption Day ceremonies this year, we will be helping unite 14 children with eight forever families.
Last year was our first independent living party in years and it worked out so well that we're excited to do another this year for these older kids who are transitioning out of foster care to live on their own. We are grateful for Amber Gray and her Where2Next foundation for putting together such a great event.
GreenLight Fund Cincinnati and Hamilton County Job and Family Services have teamed up to bring First Place for Youth to Cincinnati and have chosen St. Joseph and Pressley Ridge through a competitive bidding process. First Place for Youth will provide housing, education and employment services to former foster youth transitioning from the public children's services system. It will serve about 100 young people a year.