CYPM Testimonials
We have worked with nearly 130 communities across 23 states to implement the Crossover Youth Practice Model, each with their own unique identities, strengths, and challenges. With the innovative collaboration of our partners, the CYPM has been adapted to a wide variety of jurisdictions, hosting a diverse array of geography, urban and rural areas, socioeconomics, and racial and ethnic populations. Within the CYPM’s national footprint, you are likely to find a jurisdiction similar to yours that we have worked with.
You can find below a brief sample of a few of the testimonials from our partners.
State of Kansas
CJJR does a great job of coaching, modeling and mentoring our teams here in Kansas! I have learned so much over the last four years and continue to learn from them. I can always count on the CJJR team when I have questions or could use some guidance. On top of their coaching, modeling and mentoring they also encourage me to take a hands on approach to implementing the CYPM. CJJR is definitely the experts on implementing the CYPM, but they also remind our various local and state teams that we are the experts for the children and families we serve. Communication barriers between agencies are an issue in many states, but with the help of CJJR we are overcoming those barriers at the state and local levels!
Ashley Brown
Crossover Youth Policy and Practice (CYPM) Coordinator
Kansas Department for Children and Families
Orange County, California
The overarching goal of the Crossover Youth Practice Model is to improve outcomes for dual status youth by breaking down silos between systems, by fostering collaboration amongst stakeholders, and by providing more effective and coordinated services to our youth and families. The multi-system work is essential to addressing the complex and interconnected needs of these youth while promoting their well-being and positive development. Collaborating with the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform was a gift. With their guidance, the Orange County CYPM Leadership and Implementation Teams were able to establish working groups that were responsible for developing protocols, providing training to our stakeholders and capturing data. Their follow-through and commitment to our program made developing our collaborative court more manageable as well as successful.
Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Craig E. Arthur,
Superior Court of Orange County in California
City of Alexandria, VA
Having had the opportunity to engage with the professionals from CJJR and our community leaders here in Alexandria, VA. Has helped me begin a new journey giving my family hope for better outcomes for all youth. By engaging families and youth in the process while developing new policies was extraordinary. By introducing the family and youth voice into the cross system collaboration was a game changer for the City. As for my family we had not only a seat at the table, but our voices, concerns, and ideas were heard. The goal of improving outcomes and reducing legal involvement of youth that were multi agency involved. By using our families lived experiences has helped developed family friendly policies. My own grandsons outcome has been improved by our involvement. I continue as a family leader in my community and encourage other caregiver’s to become involved in the community by sharing their voices, concerns, needs, and ideas in many different platforms.
Sonnja Brown, RPRS, CPRS;
Family Support Partner
City of Alexandria, Virginia
Child & Family Behavioral Health Services
Partnering with CJJR to develop and commit to Alexandria’s Crossover Youth Practice Model has been a highlight of my career. With CJJR’s team we have been able to take a deep dive into the experiences of youth and families in our systems and learn what we musttogether do to ensure quality and equitable outcomes. The talented and deeply committed CJJR staff draw upon research and the experience of families, youth and CYPM communities as they guide us with a mindset and proven tools that helps us improve our systems at the local and state level. This is lifetime work, and they have given us a roadmap to keep coming back to.
Tricia Bassing, LCSW,
Chief of Child & Family Behavioral Health Services
City of Alexandria, Virginia
Department of Community and Human Services
San Diego County, California
“Crossing Over a New Path”
Da’Von was 14, in and out of trouble for most of his young life, and headed down the wrong path as he neared adulthood. Then, he entered into a unique partnership between the San Diego County Departments of Probation and Health & Human Services that helped turn his life around.
“San Diego County has had a Dual Status option for youth that cross over from Child Welfare Services (CWS) to Juvenile Probation for a number of years. However, since we adopted the Crossover Youth Practice Model (CYPM), the process has become increasingly more collaborative, not only between CWS and Probation staff, but also with the Juvenile Court, the D.A.’s office, County Counsel, the youths’ attorneys, local law enforcement, Behavioral Health Services and education providers. Our CYPM Guiding Coalition has core representation from all of the above and continues to meet monthly to problem-solve and to maintain a high level of communication. It is our belief that this enhanced collaboration and communication has led to improved outcomes for the youth and families that we mutually serve.”
Debra Zanders-Willis | Director of Child Welfare Services, San Diego County, CA
Prince George’s County, Maryland
“Prince George’s County CYPM Implementation”
The video captures the voices of members of the Prince George’s County, MD Crossover Youth Practice Model (CYPM) team as they discuss their roles in institutionalizing this system change process for the benefit of crossover youth in their community.
Allegheny County, PA
“Crossover Youth Project: Toward a Better Understanding”
An opportunity to bridge the divide between CYF and JPO was created in a shadowing exercise between Mark Kerr (JPO – Probation Officer) and Mallory Miller (CYF – Caseworker). This video chronicles their experience and lessons learned along the way.
The Crossover Youth Practice Model is being implemented in Allegheny County by the Department of Human Services (DHS) Office of Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) and the Juvenile Probation Office (JPO). The Allegheny County DHS Office of Community Relations produced this video to cross train CYF and JPO staff on the CYPM and bring greater collective understanding of the work being done by the professionals in each system.