2016 Juvenile Justice and Youth Voice

Integrating Meaningful Engagement with Youth and Families Into Your Work

OJACC ConferenceOctober 13, 2016

Agenda:1. Engaging with youth in the juvenile justice system ~ Erin

Davies2. Engaging with foster care youth and young adults ~ Lisa

Dickson and Doris Edelmann3. Engaging youth and young adults in advocacy efforts ~

Mark Mecum4. Brainstorming in small groups5. Participants report out, and leave with concrete Action

Steps to move forward

Juvenile Justice Coalition’s Voices of the Unheard

Youth Program:

• Goal: To empower youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system and their families to have a voice in decisions about the system and how it works.

Through the VOU group, JJC has worked with over 60 youth in the Columbus area, including about 30 who are identified as leaders. Voices of the Unheard youth have:

•Contributed their perspective on a shackling rule that was approved by the Ohio Supreme Court.•Participated in a legislative education day for Ohio legislators on criminal justice reform issues.•Participated in various direct actions, rallies, and trainings.•Attended a national juvenile justice advocacy conference.•Testified in front of the Ohio Senate Education Committee about school discipline policies and are planning a media event around these policies later this month.

Legislative Education Day

Holiday Party

Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio(OHIO YAB):• We exist to be the knowledgeable statewide

voice that influences policies and practices that effect all youth who have or will experience out of home care.

Collective Identity:

• Collective identity refers to a person's sense of belonging to a group. The identity of the group, or the 'collective,' becomes a part of the person's individual identity.

Consumer Movements:

• The idea behind consumer movements is that the consumers of a service should be involved in its design and delivery, and should be given opportunities to evaluate their experience.

Changing the Paradigm:Youth Serving Agencies Youth Led Agencies

Youth are viewed as the recipients of programs, services, tools and resources.

Youth act as developers , facilitators and evaluators of programs and services.

Youth are showcased as a “Success Story” to promote a program.

Youth act as agency representatives, and promote positive impact to community.

Youth receive pre-packaged issues and topics.

Youth have the opportunity to research multiple issues and decide on final projects

Youth do not receive formal education or training about advocacy movements and systemic change.

Youth receive strategic education and training about advocacy and its impact on larger social issues and systems.

Ladder of Youth Engagement:

Must-Have Elements of Youth Preparation:

1. Protocol to ensure youth preparation2. Strategic sharing training3. Tips on advocating without alienating 4. Preparing with youth (in person or by phone)

before the event5. Debriefing with youth after the event

Effective messaging:

1. What do you want to accomplish?

1. What meaning did this experience have for you?

2. Sharing Best Practices and success stories (not just horror stories)

3. Telling your story from a place of strength, not blame

Questions to ask yourself and your organization:

1. Benefits of young engagement2. Barriers to youth engagement3. How to overcome those barriers4. A vision for improving policy and practice by

including the voices of youth and families5. Action steps to move forward

Why do it?Gain InsightDiscover information by delving into their unique perspectives on public policy issues, such as systemic problems and potential opportunities and solutions

AuthenticityAuthentic and personal experiences are highly influential to government policy makers

Why do it?

EmpowermentOften, youth sought to advocate on policy issues are ones who have been victimized, struggled, or challenged in some other way – connecting them with peers or an advocacy group and teaching them leadership skills can be very beneficial to their healing and/or growth as a young adult

Ohio House Bill 50 Fostering Connections Act

Community forum participation Panel presentations Focus group Advocacy task force participation Letters to state lawmakers Interviews in newspapers and TV news Interviews in informational PSA videos Testimony to state legislative committees Participation in bill signing ceremonies

Real Life Examples


Community forum participation


Youth focus groups


Advocacy task force participation


Letters to state lawmakers


Interviews in newspapers


Interviews in TV news


Interviews in informational PSA videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4yVbMU4rck


Direct meetings with state policy makers


Testimony to state legislative committees


Participation in bill signing ceremonies

2016 Juvenile Justice and Youth Voice

Education

Transcript of 2016 Juvenile Justice and Youth Voice