NCJ Number
241900
Date Published
April 2012
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This briefing paper describes the policy context, rationale and design of the Sierra Health Foundation's Positive Youth Justice Initiative (PYJI) for California, which combines positive youth development with an innovative behavioral health approach known as trauma-informed care; and it delivers both approaches using a service model known as "wraparound."
Abstract
The PYJI aims to remove systemic deficiencies and bias that have long exacerbated the over-representation of youth of color in county juvenile justice systems across California. One of the four design elements is "positive youth development," which seeks to engage youth, including those in the juvenile justice system, in positive developmental supports and opportunities that include the participation of family, community providers, faith leaders, and others who are interested in children's health and well-being. This framework prioritizes local interventions that contribute to youths' developmental needs around education, workforce, healthy relationships, and community/civic engagement. The PYJI's second design element is "trauma-informed care." This design element recognizes that many youth have experienced trauma. In California, as communities examine the incorporation of gender-responsive, trauma-informed care into local reform efforts, training, technical assistance, and financial resources will be required. The third PYJI design element is "wraparound" service delivery, which aims to achieve positive outcomes by providing a structured and individualized team planning process that results in plans that are relevant to the child, family and community. This is done by being more holistic than traditional care plans. The PYJI's fourth design element is "improved operational capacity," which proposes to advance juvenile justice system policy and operational practice. By implementing these four design elements, it is anticipated the juvenile justice systems can better meet their public safety and rehabilitative goals. An evaluation will review and document outcomes and lessons learned at each pilot site.