Breadcrumb
- Federal Resources
Federal Resources
3 Bold Steps for School Community Change
Based on the lessons learned from the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative, the toolkit cultivates an approach that has left a legacy of success in schools and communities. This toolkit will show you how partnerships with representatives from sectors including education, law enforcement, mental health, juvenile justice, children’s services, families, and faith-based associations can take Three Bold Steps to create positive lasting change among our nation’s students.
Safe Schools/Healthy Students (SS/HS)
The SS/HS Initiative is a unique Federal grant-making program designed to prevent violence and substance abuse among our nation's youth, School, and communities.
The Guide to Community Preventive Services
Conducts intensive reviews to help determine which program and policy interventions have been proven effective, conducted a systematic review of youth development interventions with an impact on adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The Guide found evidence to recommend interventions that are coordinated with community service to reduce sexual risk behaviors in adolescents.
Youth Advisory Councils
Youth Advisory Councils (YACs) provide ongoing advice and support to school districts on policies and practices that affect students. This webpage provides a detailed overview of Youth Advisory Councils (YACs). It describes the role YACs play in improving the schools and communities they serve, discusses how they can use data to make decisions and create action plans, and outlines the structure of a YAC.
Administration for Children and Families/Family and Youth Services Bureau Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
Eligibility: Youth aged 16 to 22 who are unable to return to their homes
Focus: Life skills training
Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs that serve transition-age youth include the Transitional Living Program and the Maternity Group Homes Program.
The Transitional Living Program for Older Homeless Youth promotes the independence of youth between 16 and 22 years old who are unable to return to their homes. Grantees provide housing and a range of services, including life skills training, financial literacy instruction, and education and employment services. Youth might live in group homes or in their own apartments, depending on the program and each young person's independent living skills.
The Maternity Group Homes Program, part of the Transitional Living Program, supports homeless pregnant and/or parenting young people between the ages of 16 and 22, as well as their dependent children. Services are provided for up to 21 months.
Homelessness Resource Center
The Homelessness Resource Center is an interactive community of providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at federal, state, and local levels.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Centers
This resource provides technical assistance to runaway and homeless youth programs.
The Equal Access to Housing Rule and Youth
This Q&A from the Department of Health and Human Services explains how the federal rule, “Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity,” will benefit youth.
Transitional Living Programs and Relationships with Landlords
This article from The National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth (NCFY) asks the question: "How Can Transitional Living Programs Keep Landlords Happy?” This Q&A offers advice to those who run transitional living programs on what they can do to make sure their youth are good tenants.
John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood
The John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (the Chafee program) provides funding to support youth/ young adults in or formerly in foster care in their transition to adulthood. The program is funded through formula grants awarded to child welfare agencies in States (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and participating Tribes. Chafee funds are used to assist youth/ young adults in a wide variety of areas designed to support a successful transition to adulthood. Activities and programs include, but are not limited to, help with education, employment, financial management, housing, emotional support and assured connections to caring adults. Specific services and supports are determined by the child welfare agency, vary by State, locality and agency, and are often based on the individual needs of the young person. Many State or local agencies contract with private organizations to deliver services to young people.
Facilitating Cross-System Collaboration: A Primer on Child Welfare, Alcohol and Other Drug Services, and Courts
Reviews the population, framework, legislation, funding sources, and services of the child welfare, substance abuse service, and court systems and their capacity to support cross-system coordination within state, county, and tribal jurisdictions.
Intensive Parole Model for High-Risk Juvenile Offenders
This report discusses results from Washington state's adoption of OJJDP's Intensive Aftercare Program regarding recidivism as well as steps for moving forward.
National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day 2013 Short Report, May 9, 2013
This report discusses the prevalence of mental health and other related challenges among children and youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, as well as trauma-informed SAMHSA programs, services, and initiatives that support the recovery and resilience of these young people.
Native American Traditional Justice Practices
“Expert Working Group Report: Native American Traditional Justice Practices” (PDF, 35 pages) summarizes discussions and recommendations from a meeting about federal efforts to support the use of traditional Native American justice interventions to respond to criminal and delinquent behavior. The meeting was held in April 2013 and included 14 experts from multidisciplinary communities.
OJJDP’s Model Programs Guide Adds Three Literature Reviews
OJJDP's Model Programs Guide, an online resource of evidence-based juvenile justice and youth prevention, intervention, and reentry programs, has added three new literature reviews that address risk/need assessments for youth, disproportionate minority contact, and family therapy.
Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Assessing Exposure to Psychological Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress in the Juvenile Justice Population
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Assessing Exposure to Psychological Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress in the Juvenile Justice Population (PDF, 16 pages)
This resource discusses the importance of the screening and assessment of youth involved in the justice system for trauma exposure and related negative consequences. It provides information on screening tools, additional disorders related to the experience of trauma, legal and clinical considerations for trauma screening and assessment, and sources for more information.
Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System; Trauma Among Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
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Trauma Among Girls in the Juvenile Justice System (PDF, 11 pages)
This resource describes the prevalence of trauma exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among girls involved in the juvenile justice system, potential consequences of trauma for girls, the impact of involvement with the justice system on girls who have been traumatized, and models of gender responsive programming.
Resources on Trauma and Youth in the Juvenile Justice System: Evidence-Informed Interventions for Posttraumatic Stress Problems with Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System
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Evidence-Informed Interventions for Posttraumatic Stress Problems with Youth Involved in the Juvenile Justice System (PDF, 14 pages)
This resource provides an overview of key issues to consider before providing therapeutic interventions to traumatized youth involved in the juvenile justice system. It also includes information on evidence-based interventions, interventions with an evidence-base, and promising evidence-informed interventions for treating traumatized adolescents.
Trauma-informed Care and Outcomes Among Youth
This report released by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration illustrates that children and youth participating in community-based programs, who are involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, demonstrate improved outcomes after receiving trauma-informed services.
Trainings: Substance Abuse Treatment, Child Welfare, and Court Professionals
NCSCW offers free online tutorials for a wide variety of professionals related to substance abuse disorders, treatment, and recovery. NCSACW requires users to register online before access these courses:
- Understanding Child Welfare and the Dependency Court: A Guide for Substance Abuse Treatment Professionals
- Understanding Substance Use Disorders, Treatment, and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals
- Understanding Substance Use Disorders, Treatment, and Family Recovery: A Guide for Legal Professionals
Resource: Updated Model Indian Juvenile Code
This resource (PDF, 3 pages) serves as a framework to help tribes interested in creating or enhancing their own codes that focus on juvenile justice. This model code encourages the use of alternatives to detention and confinement while focusing on community-based, multi-disciplinary responses to juvenile delinquency, truancy, and child-in-need services.
Resource: Building a School Responder Model
This website guides local leaders and stakeholders through the process of establishing a School Responder Mode (SRM), a behavioral health response to school infractions that provides an alternative to exclusionary school discipline and justice system referral. Launched by the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice, this site outlines key steps in setting up a successful SRM and provides tools and resources to implement an SRM and gauge its progress.
Report: National Juvenile Probation Office Survey
This report (PDF, 3 pages), developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, details the results of a national survey of probation officers on their roles, what they know about trauma and youth, and what they want to learn about trauma and trauma-informed practices.
Support for Child Victims and Witnesses of Human Trafficking
This set of graphic novels is now available to help young trafficking survivors, ages 2–18, navigate the justice system as a victim or witness. These resources help youth understand the justice system, their rights, and roles of different practitioners. Practitioner and Caregiver Guides and excerpts of support from individuals with lived experience are included.
ADHD Treatments for Children: Be Sure They Get What’s Best
This blog post provides guidance to parents with children who have been recently diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including information on medication and therapy. The blog also provides a list of recommended resources.