Certificate Programs

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform offers a Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Public Sector Leaders. The Certificate Program is a weeklong program of intensive study for public agency leaders responsible for policy/practice development and implementation in their jurisdictions. The program utilizes a multi-systems approach in focusing on policies, programs and practices that relate to children and youth who are known across systems of care, particularly juvenile justice and child welfare; also known as “crossover youth.”

The purpose of the Certificate Program is to bring together current and future leaders in public agencies to increase their knowledge about multi-system reform efforts related to crossover youth, provide an opportunity for development or collaborative leadership skills, and create a mutually supportive network of individuals across the country committed to systems reform.

Previously referred to as the Certificate Program for Individuals, the Certificate Program for Public Sector Leaders requires participants to develop a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is a set of actions each participant will design and undertake to initiate or continue multi-systems reform efforts. After the Capstone Project is developed and approved by Georgetown University, participants receive an Executive Certificate of completion from the university and are offered technical assistance from faculty to aid in the implementation of their project. Additionally, alumni of the Certificate Program become part of the CJJR Fellows Network. For information on past experiences, please visit the Testimonials page.

In the past, the Center offered a Certificate Program for Individuals and one for Teams. These two programs are now combined as one program and maintain the same curriculum and focus as the previous ones. Instead of completing a Capstone Project, participants in the Certificate Program for Teams (2008) were responsible for undertaking small tests of change in their jurisdiction using the Breakthrough Series Collaborative methodology. While there is now no program focused specifically on teams, applicants are encouraged to apply with others from their jurisdiction to bring a “mini-team” to the program.

Please see the links to the right for more information about the Certificate Program for Public Sector Leaders, including how to apply for the upcoming program to be held in July 2010.