In light of current events, we want to inform you that we have decided to postpone several of our programs, including our upcoming Youth in Custody Certificate Program (originally scheduled for July 20-24, 2020).  While disappointing, we believe this is the best course of action given public health considerations. 

The Youth in Custody Certificate Program is designed to help leaders implement or accelerate systemic change to improve outcomes for youth in custodial settings. Most efforts to date have focused on ensuring that low and moderate-risk youth are not committed to juvenile justice facilities. Less attention has been paid to best practices for serving the high-risk youth who are in the custody of the juvenile justice system. Also, while research has shown the juvenile justice field “what works” for this population, it is often difficult for juvenile justice systems to reform their practices to be in line with best practices.

The training provides an interactive and dynamic learning environment with instruction from national experts on cutting edge ideas, policies and practices from across the country. Specifically, the program focuses on the serious, high-risk juvenile offender population and utilizes modules that review and integrate best practices around culture change and leadership, addressing racial and ethnic disparities, family engagement, assessment, case planning, facility-based education and trauma-informed treatment services, strength-based approaches and reentry planning and support.

Upon completion participants receive an Executive Certificate from Georgetown University, membership into CJJR’s Fellows Network and ongoing support from its staff.

CJJR has partnered with the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators to provide this professional development opportunity, which was developed with support from the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Division of Youth Services.

Capstone Project
Tuition & Application
Application Guidelines
Curriculum & Instructors 
What our participants are saying 

Capstone Project

As part of the program, participants are required to develop and implement a Capstone Project – a set of actions designed to initiate or continue collaborative efforts related to improving outcomes for youth in the post-adjudication custody of the juvenile justice system. Participants develop and implement the Capstone Project during the twelve-month period following the completion of their certificate program session. During that time, they are offered technical assistance from instructors.

Examples of Capstone Projects include: developing a more robust array of services for youth in secure settings, reducing the use of large congregate placements for youth in custody, incorporating a variety of best practices into residential facilities in the participant’s jurisdiction, a concerted effort to improve mental health services for youth in care, and more.

Learn more about Capstone Projects.

Tuition & Application

The next Youth in Custody Certificate Program has been postponed for public safety. The application period will be extended, but is closed at this time. Check back to this space to see when the application period will be reopened.

Tuition subsidies are available through CJJR’s Janet Reno Scholarships. These competitive scholarships of up to $1,000 per person will be provided to teams that show a heightened readiness to utilize the curriculum to undertake changes in their local community, as determined by CJJR’s review of the individual and team applicants. There will also be a separate category of need-based subsidies available through CJJR to support the participation of individuals and teams with demonstrated need.  Read more about tuition.

Please direct any questions to jjreform@georgetown.edu.

 

Application Guidelines

While there are no minimum education or experience requirements to apply, a preference will be given to those in a professional position to move reform efforts forward upon completion of the program. Participants can be individuals working on youth in custody issues at the local, state, or national level.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as a team of up to eight individuals from the same jurisdiction. While each application will be reviewed on an individual basis, the value of this team approach will be considered in our review of applicants. CJJR particularly encourages teams comprised of both public and private agency leaders.

Teams should be comprised of applicants with demonstrated readiness for implementing reforms, especially efforts that engage leaders in other systems, and their agency’s relationship with other child-serving agencies. Team members can be senior level professionals in the juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, substance abuse, education, and other related systems of care.

Required team members include: Juvenile justice agency director / most senior juvenile justice leader in the jurisdiction, and/or key juvenile justice management staff, such as Program Directors, Deputy Directors, facility management, etc.

This program is NOT accepting applications from students who do not also hold a professional role in a child serving organization.

Submit an Application

 

Curriculum & Instructors

The curriculum will focus heavily on the change process that is needed to move forward reforms for youth in the custody of the juvenile justice system after case disposition. Case studies and other interactive learning techniques help participants apply the learning to situations they are likely to encounter. The program will also feature an expert panel of leaders that have successfully reformed or supported the way the juvenile justice system serves youth in custody. The curriculum includes the following modules:

Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Implicit Bias

Examines how to better serve youth of color in custodial settings, including talking about race and addressing implicit bias, examining data disaggregated by race and ethnicity, and identifying underlying causes of inequities and developing strategies to eliminate them.

Culture Change and Leadership 

Discusses the importance of a clear vision, mission, and guiding principles of an agency; internal and external communication strategies, collaborative leadership for working across systems and with communities, and strategies for promoting accountability.

Assessment

Discusses risk and need assessments, individualized treatment planning and coordination of care, and the matching of youth to placement and services that address their risk and needs. Addresses the challenges associated with proper use of assessment tools to connect youth to appropriate services and treatment modalities while in placement.

Education

Discusses comprehensive planning in juvenile corrections, long-term consequences associated with inadequate education and support, how to build capacity to develop the array of services, placements, and educational programming required by youth in juvenile custody, and educational and vocational supports that are critical to effective reentry.

Case Planning, Treatment and Services: Creating Safe, Trauma-Responsive, Healthy Environments 

Discusses how to build capacity to develop the array of services and placements required by youth in juvenile justice custody. Explores effective treatment practices for addressing substance abuse and mental health treatment needs. Discusses elements of trauma-informed-care, best practices for working with youth in residential centers, and more.

Transition and Reentry

Looks at the need to provide continued support during transition out of residential placement and upon return to the community, including development of comprehensive reentry planning, engaging families throughout the reentry process and providing continued support once a youth is released from custody.

Family Engagement

Encourages participants to explore their own assumptions about the families of the youth with whom they work and analyze the challenges associated with effective family and youth engagement. Presents strategies for engagement in residential settings.

Expert Panel

Provides perspectives from a panel of leaders that have successfully reformed or supported the way the juvenile justice system serves youth in custody in order to provide participants with real-life examples and an opportunity for an interactive dialogue.

Core program instructors have included:

• Shay Bilchik, J.D., Director Emeritus, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
• Susan Burke, M.A., Former Director, Utah Division of Juvenile Justice Services
• Hernan Carvente, National Youth Partnership Strategist, Youth First Initiative
• Michael Dempsey, Executive Director, Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators 
• David Domenici, J.D., Executive Director, Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS) (tentative)
• Monique Marrow, Ph.D.,  Juvenile Justice Consultant/Trainer, Youth Trauma and Justice Solutions 
• Mack McGhee, M.A., Superintendent, New Beginnings Youth Development Center
• Michael Umpierre, J.D., Director, Juvenile Justice System Improvement and Communications, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform
• Christina Riggs Romaine, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, Wheaton College; Associate, National Youth Screening and Assessment Partners (NYSAP)