Youth Justice Transformation in Action

In this episode, Executive Director John Tuell speaks with Gary Ivory, President and CEO at Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. (YAP) about its transformative role in youth justice over the past 50 years. Together, they explore YAP's primary goals, its evolution since its inception, and the personalized services it offers to youth and families. Through individualized treatment, YAP helps youth stay out of the justice system, with a focus on reducing recidivism by tailoring services to each individual's needs. They also discuss the critical factors that contribute to YAP's success, including collaboration with local communities and key stakeholders like probation, child welfare, and education systems. The episode highlights inspiring success stories, showcasing how the program has made a lasting impact on reducing recidivism rates. Join us to learn how YAP is making a difference and shaping the future of youth justice.To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

In this episode, Executive Director, John Tuell, interviews Dr. Keith Cruise, Professor and Director of Clinical Training for the Department of Psychology at Fordham University. Dr. Cruise introduces the groundbreaking projects underway at the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice, showcasing how trauma-informed care is reshaping youth justice. Together, they will explore the vital role of screening for active trauma symptoms and why this early identification is a key step in addressing the unique needs of youth within the justice system. They will discuss the critical importance of trauma awareness and education for juvenile justice systems and how initiatives like T-Care, T-Care Plus, and R-TIP are building a more trauma-informed workforce. We will discuss trauma-specific treatment models, such as TARGET/T4 and MGT, designed to support youth and families. At the system level, we'll dive into the Trauma-Informed Juvenile Court Self-Assessment (TI-JCSA). Finally, we'll tackle how trauma-informed approaches align with the Risk-Needs-Responsivity model, emphasizing that these frameworks complement each other to create holistic and effective systems. Featuring transformational efforts in Nebraska, this episode highlights actionable strategies for integrating trauma-informed care into youth justice.To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

In this episode Executive Director John Tuell interviews Mark Werner, Director of Juvenile Redeploy Services for the Circuit Court of Cook County Juvenile Justice Division. Juvenile Redeploy Services, in partnership with probation, offers an alternative to incarcerating youth in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. Through collaboration with community-based organizations, the program employs a trauma-informed, public safety approach to deliver intensive, evidence-based services and individualized treatment to high-risk youth. Join John and Mark as they explore the initiative's successes, challenges, and its positive impact on youth and the community.To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

In this episode, complementing the release of the GFCM Guidebook, Executive Director John Tuell engages in a discussion with Jonathan Cloud, the creator of the GFCM approach and co-author of the guidebook. Their conversation explores how GFCM transforms youth justice practices by prioritizing support for youth during their critical developmental stages, fostering positive identity formation, and promoting desistance from future offending behaviors. Jonathan outlines how GFCM acts as a guiding framework for youth justice practitioners, emphasizing its principles, practices, and transformative outcomes detailed in the GFCM Guidebook. Join us as we explore how the GFCM framework, rooted in research, drives profound and lasting behavioral changes among youth within the justice system. To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

What is an emerging adult? In our season premiere of Youth Justice Transformation in Action, our Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Lisa Jacobs, Associate Director of Legislation and Policy Clinic at Loyola University Chicago, School of Law about the critical distinctions between adolescence, emerging adulthood, and full adulthood, and why legal and youth-serving systems must adapt to support emerging adults effectively. Don't miss out as we discuss ways to support young people navigate this pivotal stage of life!To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

In this episode of "Youth Justice Transformation in Action,” our Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Julie Austin, Director of Youth and Family Program, and Staci Denney, Director of Case Management, for the Greene County Juvenile Office in the 31st Judicial District of Missouri. Through their conversation, Julie and Staci delve into the critical topic of fostering success within youth justice through transformative organizational change. Join us as we explore the power of effective communication at every level of an organization and among key partners. Our experts emphasize the significance of sharing a unified philosophy, shedding light on how it can drive meaningful change within the youth justice system. From their experience with the System Review, Julie and Staci share their key strategies and insights that paved the way for improving their system's performance leading to better outcomes for youth and families in their community.To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

In this episode of Youth Justice Transformation in Action, our Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with John “Jack” Martin, Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice Services for Clark County, Nevada. Through their conversation, Jack shares the challenges and successes in his journey to lead the youth justice system in Clark County. Jack speaks about "The Harbor," a nationally recognized juvenile assessment center that diverts youth from formal court processing while offering community-based support and services to youth and families, and the need to develop continuous quality improvement capacity through collecting, managing, and reporting data on youth outcomes and system performance measures. He also shares his inspiring belief that by instilling hope and resilience in the hearts of troubled youth, we can help them navigate through challenging circumstances and empower them to shape a brighter future for themselves.To learn more about the RFK National Resource Center and how we may be able to serve your community, please visit our website, contact our team, or follow us on social media: Website: www.rfknrcjj.org Contact Us: www.rfknrcjj.org/contact-us Social Media: Twitter/X - @RFKYouthJustice | LinkedIn

The role of the manager is critical to successful youth justice transformation efforts. In this podcast,  Robert Gant and Aaron Parker, two program managers from King County, Washington, discuss the steps they took to effectively reform the youth justice system during a tumultuous period of transition. From COVID to leadership transitions to building a new facility amidst community pressure to eliminate the need for secure detention for youth, Robert and Aaron share how their experience in community-based organizations and knowledge of implementation science supported them in successfully implementing the Juvenile Therapeutic Response and Accountability Court (JTRAC).

In this episode, RFK National Resource Center's Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Judge Thomas P. Sotelo, Chief Judge of Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Through their conversation, Judge Sotelo shares his perspective on judicial leadership, hope and redemption, the importance of transparency, and embracing research and best practices to improve youth outcomes and system performance.

In this episode, RFK National Resource Center's Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Bev Hoagland, Chief Probation Officer for the District #3J in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Through their interview, Bev highlights the key elements that led to improved system performance and youth outcomes in Lancaster County. John and Bev discuss the importance of incorporating brain science research in training and policies, the critical role of a program coordinator in probation and youth justice system reform, specific probation and court practices that produced impressive reductions in recidivism with associated positive behavior change among their probation population, and how implementation science assisted Nebraska with improving outcomes and ensuring sustainability of their reforms.

Diversion is a key tool for supporting youth outside of the formal justice system.  When done well, it supports public safety and youth accountability while involving victims and stakeholders in the decision-making process. In this episode, Robert (Bob) Bermingham delivers his first-hand account on how Fairfax County, Virginia implemented and sustained successful diversion practices and offers takeaways for how other jurisdictions can do the same.  The outcomes achieved in Fairfax County are impactful, including decreased court dockets, reduced recidivism, and increased collaboration amongst stakeholders.  

Implementation Science supports successful youth justice system transformation.  When implementation is done well, it influences positive change by providing a way to manage reforms through creating readiness and embedding evidence-based practices into daily activities.  In this episode, Dr. Robin Jenkins teaches us how to reframe our existing leadership skills and practices to apply them in a more deliberate way to create better outcomes, realize a more satisfied workforce, and achieve a higher functioning organization that will deliver on the vision for improving the futures of the youth we serve.To access the resources that are referenced in this episode, please visit our website:  https://rfknrcjj.org/resources/implementation-science/

Traumatic event exposure impacts the way that the brain processes information and disrupts the body's regulation system.  For youth, this can mean increased contact with the juvenile justice system.  In this episode, Dr. Keith Cruise discusses different traumatic event exposures and how prevalent these occurrences are for youth in the justice system.  You will hear the importance of implementing trauma screening, how trauma can change a youth's thought and behavior pattern, and intervention strategies to better case plan for these youth.

In this bonus episode of One Youth, Dual Systems, Jessica Heldman and Judge Johnson discuss why dual status youth are at greater risk for sexual exploitation, ways to collaborate with system partners, creative solutions to prevent youth from entering deep end services, and ideas for how to improve our systems with impassioned advocates.

Who are dual status youth and why do they experience the poorest outcomes among system involved youth? How can we work together to improve results for these youth? To answer these questions, we interview the Honorable Kristen Johnson, Judge from Hancock County (OH) Probate and Juvenile Court, and Jessica Heldman, Fellmeth-Peterson Professor in Child Rights at University of San Diego School of Law, about the current research and its importance to jurisdictional success and collaborative steps that must be taken to improve outcomes for these vulnerable youth.

Assessments provide valuable information for multiple decision points in the youth justice system. In this bonus episode of Youth Justice Transformation in Action, our Executive Director & host John Tuell and Dr. Gina Vincent discuss critical drivers for successful implementation, including the importance of developing policies and procedures, collaborating with stakeholders and building a strong data infrastructure. 

What is a juvenile risk assessment and a risk-need-responsivity approach? What are the benefits of using them? How can they assist us in decision making? When is the best time to assess a youth? And how can we as youth justice stakeholders, drive successful implementation? To answer these questions, host John Tuell interviews Dr. Gina Vincent, Associate Professor and Co-Director of the Law and Psychiatry Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMASS); and President of the National Youth Screening and Assessment Partners (NYSAP), about the evidence- and research-based tools and practices that can change the system-related trajectories for youth.

In this episode, RFK National Resource Center's Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Adolphus Graves, Court Administrator of the Cobb County Juvenile Court. Through their interview, Adolphus shares his perspective on how to successfully lead a youth justice system transformation and gives tips on staying motivated through the change process. John and Adolphus also discuss leading change, building collaboration, and identifying priorities. Listen in to feel inspired and learn about the meaningful outcomes achieved in Cobb County, Georgia!