State Advisory Groups (SAGs) Capacity-Building Toolkit

• NCJ Number: 309799
• Date Published: April 2023
• Length: 58 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2019-MU-MU-K039
• Agencies: OJJDP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Reference Material

Annotation

This document provides resources for State Advisory Groups (SAGs) to improve their capacity.

Abstract

This toolkit is intended to be used by State Advisory Groups (SAGs) and related state agencies to help gauge their current strengths, identify challenges, and find solutions to help them strengthen their position as juvenile justice and delinquency prevention leaders in their states. In 1974, Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA). As part of the Act, Congress provided for the creation of SAGs, governor-appointed bodies tasked with ensuring that their states comply with the JJDPA’s four core protections for youth involved with the system. The groups are given the authority to help set programmatic goals, to help guide policy, and to administer federal funds received through the JJDPA. This toolkit aims to provide SAG members and related state agencies with resources to help elevate the role they play within their state. These tools include: State Advisory Groups in Action – a detailed explanation of what SAGs are, how they operate, and what role they play in implementing a developmental approach to juvenile justice and delinquency prevention; Five Principles of SAG Effectiveness – an overview of the five characteristics that help make SAGs effective leaders in their state; Challenges and Solutions: Overcoming Road Blocks and Becoming Agents of Change – examples of common challenges and suggestions for how to overcome them; State Advisory Groups as Change Agents: A Step-by-Step Guide to how SAGs can become more actively involved in improving juvenile justice systems in their state; Gauging State Advisory Group Effectiveness – an instrument to help SAGs evaluate their current strengths and areas for growth; JJDPA Provisions on SAG Composition and Duties – excerpts from the statutory provisions related to SAGs and their membership requirements; and Training and Technical Assistance Resources – a brief overview of where SAGs can find training and technical assistance; and additional resources – useful links, examples, and materials.