This report presents the views of focus group participants requarding the processes they developed to build Juvenile Integrated Information Sharing (JIIS) systems.
JIIS is a program of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) designed to improve outcomes for at-risk youth through improved cross system and sector information sharing. The Center for Network Development (CND) launched OJJDP’s JIIS initiative in 2001 by conducting the first national focus group on Integrated Information Sharing to Prevent Juvenile Delinquency, which was convened in Denver, CO. The focus group included 15 participants representing 14 jurisdictions at the local and State levels. Participants focused on their experiences and processes developed to build successful JIIS systems. A summary of their main findings are presented here and focus on why their jurisdictions are building JIIS systems; how their jurisdictions address information sharing components of partner collaboration, confidentiality, and technology; their observations of the most critical gaps in the system; strategies that have worked; helpful resources; necessary skills for doing JIIS work; and how evaluations are accomplished. Some successful strategies include leveraging laws and grants to mandate multiple system partnerships, making sure the decisionmakers are involved in each step of the process, and promoting an atmosphere respectful of the confidentiality issues of partnering agencies. Technological issues were generally resolved by calling in experts, providing adequate training to staff, and by having vendors provide demonstrations. Overall, the successful operation of the JIIS system was considered important in order to enhance information, provide data for evaluation, and to improve case management and service delivery for at-risk youth. The appendix lists the focus group participants. Appendix