Children And Youth Justice Center

JUVENILE JUSTICE, CHILD WELFARE AND RELATED SYSTEMS REFORM.

CCYJ MANAGES TWO PROJECTS SPECIFIC TO CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM REFORM: STRENGTHENING EARLY RELATIONSHIPS IS A PORTFOLIO THAT MANAGES THE STATEWIDE EXPANSION OF THE SAFE BABIES COURT TEAM (SBCT) APPROACH IN WASHINGTON. BY 2021, THIS APPROACH WAS IMPLEMENTED IN FOUR COUNTIES. THE SBCT APPROACH IS A THERAPEUTIC COURT MODEL THAT UTILIZES A COMMUNITY WIDE, SYSTEMS-CHANGE APPROACH THAT LEVERAGES COLLABORATION AMONG COURTS, CHILD WELFARE, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THIS APPROACH HAS A STRONG FOCUS ON REDUCING TRAUMA AND PROVIDING MORE EQUITABLE AND HOLISTIC SUPPORTS TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF THREE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN, OR AT RISK OF ENTERING, THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. MORE FREQUENT ENGAGEMENT OCCURS WITH FAMILIES TO ELEVATE THEIR VOICES, IDENTIFY NEEDS, TRACK GOALS AND PROGRESS, AND PROBLEM-SOLVE THROUGHOUT THE CASE. THE SBCT APPROACH ALSO FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTING THEM TO APPROPRIATE, TIMELY SERVICES. CCYJ SUPPORTS THIS WORK THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS WITH MULTIPLE COURT SITES WHO UTILIZE THIS APPROACH IN THEIR COURT SYSTEM, AND PROVIDES ONGOING TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO EACH COURT SITE, AS WELL AS PEER LEARNING AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES. CCYJ ALSO MAINTAINS CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT DEVELOPED THE MODEL, ENSURING FIDELITY TO THE APPROACH. CCYJ ALSO FACILITATES A STATEWIDE ADVISORY BOARD THAT ADDRESSES ONGOING, SYSTEMIC NEEDS IDENTIFIED AT THE COURT SITES, AND WORKS TO DEVELOP POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO IMPROVE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE IN DEPENDENCY SYSTEMS, WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF REUNIFICATION FOR FAMILIES.LAWYERS FOSTERING INDEPENDENCE (LFI) WAS LAUNCHED BY CCYJ IN 2008 AND STOPPED ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS IN LATE 2019. FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE, LFI WAS THE ONLY PRO BONO ATTORNEY PROGRAM IN WASHINGTON STATE FOCUSED ON SERVING CURRENT AND FORMER FOSTER YOUTH AGES 17-25. LFI ALSO SERVED YOUTH WHO HAD BEEN, OR WERE AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. LFI SUPPORTED YOUNG PEOPLE IN KING, SNOHOMISH, AND PIERCE COUNTIES, BY CONNECTING THESE YOUNG ADULTS WITH ATTORNEYS WHO PROVIDED FREE LEGAL SERVICES TO HELP THEM REACH FOR THEIR FUTURE WITHOUT BEING BLOCKED BY THEIR PAST. LFI VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS HELPED YOUTH ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING STABILITY, AND SUCCESSFUL PARENTING. IN 2021, LFI PROVIDED DIRECT LEGAL SUPPORT TO YOUTH IN THREE REMAINING CASES.

CCYJ MANAGES THREE PROJECTS TARGETING YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM REFORM:THE WASHINGTON STATE BECCA TASK FORCE WAS FOUNDED IN 2002 TO HELP SUPPORT SCHOOLS, COURTS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CARRYING OUT THE INTENT AND GOALS OF THE MANDATORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES (CHINS), AND AT-RISK YOUTH (ARY) LAWS, COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE "BECCA LAWS." STAFFED BY CCYJ SINCE 2008, THE TASK FORCE PROVIDES A FORUM TO FOSTER STATE WIDE COLLABORATION BETWEEN COURTS, SCHOOLS, AND SERVICE PROVIDERS; FACILITATE THE INITIATION OF RESEARCH AND TRAINING ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF PROVEN PRACTICE MODELS TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ENSURE SUCCESS OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES BEFORE, DURING, OR AFTER A CRISIS; AND LEAD EFFORTS IN WASHINGTON STATE TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE FUNDING, ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS, AND EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE PROCESSES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INTENT AND GOALS OF THE BECCA LAWS ARE IN PLACE. THE BECCA TASK FORCE MEETS MONTHLY TO REVIEW CURRENT RESEARCH AND BEST PRACTICES; EXAMINE SYSTEM OUTCOMES AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN CARRYING OUT THE BECCA LAWS; IDENTIFY ISSUES REQUIRING REFORM OF THE STATE'S BECCA LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES; AND STRATEGIZE AND COORDINATE EFFORTS AMONG ITS MEMBERS TO PROMOTE THE INTENT, GOALS AND OUTCOMES OF THE WASHINGTON STATE BECCA LAWS. SINCE 2004, THE BECCA TASK FORCE ALSO HAS CO-HOSTED AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN COLLABORATION WITH A JUVENILE COURT AND/OR EDUCATION PARTNER. CONFERENCE ATTENDEES LEARN ABOUT CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN BECCA-RELATED RESEARCH, LAW, AND POLICY; RECEIVE INFORMATION AND TRAINING ON MODEL PROGRAMS AND PRACTICES USED IN WASHINGTON AND NATIONALLY; AND NETWORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVING AGENCIES. THE 2020 BECCA CONFERENCE WAS OUR FIRST VIRTUAL CONVENING AND BY FAR THE LARGEST. NEARLY 600 PARTICIPANTS GATHERED UNDER THE THEME OF "RE-ENGAGEMENT". EXPERTS REPRESENTING EDUCATION, JUSTICE, AND COMMUNITY PROVIDED INFORMATION, TRAINING, AND DEVELOPMENT TO PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO SUPPORT YOUTH IN THEIR PURSUIT OF SUCCESSFUL POSTSECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE LINC (LEADERSHIP, INTERVENTION & CHANGE) STEERING COMMITTEE (FORMERLY THE SUBURBAN KING COUNTY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON GANGS (SKCCCG)) WAS CONVENED BY CCYJ IN 2011. THE STEERING COMMITTEE IS A GROUP OF HIGH-LEVEL DECISION MAKERS FROM ACROSS KING COUNTY INCLUDING COUNTY OFFICIALS, MAYORS, POLICE CHIEFS, SCHOOL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE STEERING COMMITTEE WAS DESIGNED TO BREAK DOWN THE SYSTEMIC AND PROCEDURAL BARRIERS THAT DISSUADE CROSS-SYSTEM COLLABORATION, COORDINATION, AND INTEGRATION. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE NATION, MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS COME TOGETHER TO PROMOTE A REGIONAL SOLUTION TO THE GROWING PROBLEM OF YOUTH VIOLENCE IN KING COUNTY'S COMMUNITIES. IN 2013, THE STEERING COMMITTEE FINALIZED AND ADOPTED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REDUCE GANG AND GROUP VIOLENCE, AND FUNDING WAS OBTAINED TO ADVANCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION. WITH A MIX OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CONTINUES, AND BEGINNING IN 2015, INCLUDES YOUTH LINC A MULTIDISCIPLINARY INTERVENTION TEAM FACILITATED BY CCYJ. THE YOUTH LINC INTERVENTION TEAM WAS LAUNCHED AS A MODEL THAT COULD BE REPLICATED THROUGHOUT THE KING COUNTY REGION. IN 2016, THIS WORK WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE CITY OF SEATTLE. TODAY, THREE GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED LINC INTERVENTION TEAMS PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO COORDINATE EXISTING COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT SERVE SHARED CLIENTS. THESE TEAMS INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURT STAFF, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM STAFF, STREET OUTREACH WORKERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THE LINC INTERVENTION TEAMS ACCEPT REFERRALS FROM PROBATION, SCHOOL COUNSELORS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND CREATE COORDINATED SERVICE PLANS FOR GANG/GROUP INVOLVED AND AT-RISK YOUNG PEOPLE. SINCE INCEPTION, THE YOUTH LINC TEAMS HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN 724 REFERRALS AND PROVIDED COORDINATED SERVICES FOR MORE THAN 549 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS ACROSS THE PROJECT REGION. THE LINC STEERING COMMITTEE AND LINC INTERVENTION TEAMS ALSO WORK TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF GANG/GROUP VIOLENCE AND MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES.GIRLS COURT IS A THERAPEUTIC COURT MODEL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE GENDER-RESPONSIVE SERVICES TO COURT-INVOLVED GIRLS. CCYJ INITIATED RESEARCH ON GENDER RESPONSIVE JUSTICE IN 2013 TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PILOT GIRLS COURT PROGRAM. IN 2019, CCYJ LAUNCHED A 3-YEAR PILOT, ESTABLISHING WASHINGTON STATE'S FIRST GIRLS COURT PROGRAM IN KITSAP COUNTY. A DEDICATED PROBATION COUNSELOR, ENGAGED COMMUNITY SERVICES PROVIDERS, AND A CONSISTENT COURT TEAM ARE ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM. GIRLS COURT SERVICES ARE RESEARCH-BASED AND INCLUDE REFERRALS TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES, MEDICAL CARE, EDUCATION AND JOB TRAINING SUPPORTS, AND A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. THE GIRLS COURT TEAM RECEIVES ONGOING TRAINING TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE GENDER-RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED, AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE. CCYJ SUPPORTS THE PROGRAM WITH TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STAFF AND SERVICE PROVIDERS AND OVERSEES A RIGOROUS INDEPENDENT EVALUATION TO ASSESS THE IMPACT AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GIRLS COURT INTERVENTION. IN 2021, PROGRAM OPERATIONS CONTINUED WITH ADAPTATIONS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WHICH INCLUDED: REMOTE COURT HEARINGS, LIMITED (OR NO) IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH PROBATION STAFF, AND LIMITED ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THE JUDICIAL OFFICER AND PROGRAM STAFF WORKED TO CREATIVELY RESPOND TO NEEDS, INCLUDING ZOOM-BASED HEARINGS, GROUP ACTIVITIES FACILITATED ONLINE, AND IF/WHEN POSSIBLE, IN PERSON MEETING WITH THE PROBATION OFFICER IN OUTDOOR LOCATIONS. THE PILOT HAD AN ACTIVE CASELOAD OF ABOUT 20 GIRLS DURING 2019 AND 2020. THE CASELOAD SIZE SIGNIFICANTLY DROPPED IN 2021, AS THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE CHARGED WITH CRIMES SIMILARLY DECREASED. EVALUATION EFFORTS WERE ONGOING IN 2021, THOUGH SIMILARLY TASKS AND EXPECTATIONS WERE ALTERED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

CCYJ MANAGES TWO PROJECTS THAT COMBINE YOUTH JUSTICE AND CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS REFORM: PROJECT RESPECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2011 WITH A COMBINATION OF STATE AND PRIVATE FUNDING. PROJECT RESPECT IS A COMPASSIONATE AND CONSISTENT RESEARCH-BASED STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO COMMERCIALLY SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILDREN (CSEC) THAT ENSURES VICTIMS ARE IDENTIFIED AND GIVEN PROTECTION, NOT PUNISHMENT, BY PROVIDING A MODEL PROTOCOL AND A TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. COUNTY TASK FORCES/REGIONAL RESPONSE NETWORKS PARTICIPATE IN A STATEWIDE, COORDINATED, AND VICTIM-CENTERED RESPONSE TO CSEC FACILITATED AND/OR SUPPORTED BY CCYJ. IN 2021, PROJECT RESPECT SUPPORTED 11 REGIONAL TASK FORCES THROUGH ATTENDANCE AT ZOOM-BASED MEETINGS; INDIVIDUAL CONSULTATIONS; TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES; AND THE FACILITATION OF A STATEWIDE CONFERENCE, HIGHLIGHTING SALIENT TOPICS IMPACTING YOUNG PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CSEC. 2021 ALSO SAW THE CONTINUATION OF A PILOT DATA COLLECTION EFFORT TO COUNT THE NUMBER OF CSEC REFERRALS IN SELECT REGIONS.EQUALITY WAS LAUNCHED BY CCYJ IN 2013 AS A MULTI-PHASE PROJECT AIMED AT CREATING LASTING SYSTEMS REFORM AND PATHWAYS TO HEALTHY STABLE ADULTHOOD FOR LGBTQ+ YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMS. EQUALITY WORKS TO IMPROVE TREATMENT OF AND OUTCOMES FOR SYSTEMS INVOLVED LGBTQ YOUTH. IT IS THE FIRST STATEWIDE EFFORT IN WASHINGTON TO HELP LGBTQ+ YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE AND THE YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEM FIND SAFETY AND SUPPORT FOR THE UNIQUE ISSUES THEY FACE. IN PHASE ONE, EQUALITY GATHERED FIRST-HAND ACCOUNTS FROM LGBTQ+ SYSTEM ALUMNI, COLLECTED THE OBSERVATIONS OF SYSTEMS PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH LGBTQ+ YOUTH, AND CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE REVIEWS OF EXISTING RESEARCH, LAWS, POLICIES, AND PRACTICES OVER 500 INDIVIDUAL VOICES WERE INCLUDED. THE STORIES THAT WERE SHARED CULMINATED IN THE 2015 REPORT, "LISTENING TO THEIR VOICES: ENHANCING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES FOR LGBTQ YOUTH IN WASHINGTON STATE'S CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS." IN 2016, PHASE TWO, EQUALITY DEVELOPED THE PROTOCOL FOR SAFE & AFFIRMING CARE, A GUIDE FOR YOUTH-SERVING PROFESSIONALS IN THE FOSTER CARE AND YOUTH JUSTICE SYSTEMS TO ENGAGE AND SERVE LGBTQ+ YOUTH WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY COLLECTING DATA ON THEIR NEEDS, EXPERIENCES, AND OUTCOMES. EQUALITY BEGAN PILOT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOCOL FOR SAFE & AFFIRMING CARE IN THREE SITES IN 2017, KING COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, SPOKANE COUNTY JUVENILE COURT, AND THE SPOKANE OFFICE OF CHILDREN'S ADMINISTRATION. IN 2020, EQUALITY EXPANDED IMPLEMENTATION IN CLARK, WHATCOM, PIERCE, WALLA WALLA, PEND ORIELLE, KLICKITAT, AND SKAMANIA COUNTIES, AND BEGAN PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY BASED PROVIDERS AS WELL AS FOSTER CARE AND JUVENILE COURTS. AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS, EQUALITY HAS SPEARHEADED THE COLLECTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND GENDER EXPRESSION DATA IN ITS PARTNER SITES. IN 2021, CCYJ CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO IMPLEMENTATION SITES BY FACILITATING PEER SHARING AND OFFERING FORMAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES EVERY OTHER MONTH, WORKING ACROSS WASHINGTON TO ADDRESS NEW ISSUES AS COMMUNITY RESOURCES REMAINED IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE EQUALITY PROJECT ALSO HOSTED AN ANNUAL STATEWIDE MEETING, BRINGING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS WASHINGTON TO LEARN ABOUT NEW INTERVENTIONS, SERVICES, AND RESOURCES.