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-- ShakespeareBrevity on the NetWednesday, May 31, 2006 A weekly newsletter about juvenile justice
from the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges,
Brevity brings you news and information from around the country and on the Internet.
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When an Ex Moves, Do the Kids Go Too?
NPR reports on a custody/visitation case now before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The decision could be one of the nation’s first high-court decisions on when and whether to allow a divorced parent to move out of town with the kids when the other parent objects. A decade ago more divorces ended with one parent getting sole custody. But with a growing number of parents today sharing custody and new research showing the importance to children of staying connected to both parents, things are changing. ++++++++++ Parents Often Fool Themselves About Firearm Safety
A new study involving 201 parents and an equal number of their children has found that 39% of kids knew the location of their parents’ firearms, while 22% said they had handled the weapons – despite their parents’ assertions to the contrary. The study is the first to compare the responses of parents and their children ages 5 to 14. A study from last fall by researcher at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that more than 1.7 million children live in homes with loaded, unlocked guns. More than 500 children die annually from accidental gunshots. Some shoot themselves while others kill friends or siblings, often after discovering a gun. ++++++++++ Making a Difference in the Lives of Youth
The National Collaboration for Youth has published descriptions of 10 successful out-of-school-time programs that show how these programs are making a difference. I picked these two to bring to your attention simply because they caught my eye. The other eight are just as interesting to read about. P.A.V.E. (Project Anti-Violence Education) – Grants contribute to healthy development of girls ages 5-17 by providing funding to Girl Scout councils to create programs that help girls learn how to stay safe, reduce their vulnerability to crime, and/or decrease their risk of becoming perpetrators of violence against themselves or others.
Seeds to Success: Youth Farmstand Programs – classroom and on-the-job training for at-risk 14- to 18-year-old special needs students with the goal of preparing them to be productive members of the workforce. The program is a statewide, interdisciplinary program operating 7 farmstands in 4 counties of New Jersey.
++++++++++ NCJJ Updates State Juvenile Justice Profiles Website
This section of the National Center for Juvenile Justice web site is one I refer to often for answers to questions about the nation’s juvenile justice system. The website provides detailed profiles of each state’s juvenile justice system. Each profile contains information ranging from who can refer a juvenile to court to who decides to release a juvenile from a correctional facility. A new section focuses on significant graduated sanctions initiatives and the activities of the NCJFCJ Juvenile Sanctions Division’s demonstration sites. A special “National Overview” section summarizes information across states. ++++++++++
Financial Firms Team With Law Enforcement Against Child Porn
The new Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography will team with law enforcement to report child porn sites it discovers on the Web to a central tip line, slated to expand next month to receive the information. The companies will block transactions for online child porn or, if law enforcement opens an investigation, help track sellers and buyers. ++++++++++ Adolescent Brain Development
Powerpoint presentations from the recent Coalition for Juvenile Justice Conference on the implications of adolescent brain development for juvenile justice are available to look at the CJJ web site. At the “Conferences & Events” page scroll past the DMC conference information. ++++++++++
New GAO Report: Child Welfare – Federal Oversight of State IV_B Activities Could Inform Action Needed to Improve Services to Families and Statutory Compliance
This study discusses how states used Title IV-B dollars to serve families under subparts 1 and 2; the extent that federal oversight ensured state compliance with spending requirements under subpart 1; and what the research said about the effectiveness of service states have provided to families using Title IV-B funds. 26 page pdf file. Good bedtime reading. +++++++++++ Tribal Court Clearinghouse
This link will take you to Tribal Law and Policy Institute Publications, including tribal code development resources, tribal healing to wellness courts publications including a judge’s bench book, and tribal domestic violence case law. ++++++++++ Children of Immigrants – Facts and Figures
The Urban Institute makes this report available as a pdf file on its web site. It includes sections on immigration trends; poverty, family structure, and economic hardship; and school performance. 4 page pdf file. From the report: Children of immigrants comprise over 20% of the U.S. population. Four-fifths of them were born in the United States. Over 5 million children live with unauthorized parents. Children of immigrants live in lower income families than children of natives. Children of immigrants are more likely than natives to live with both parents.
++++++++++ Dog-assisted Reading Programs
This article describes a number of programs for kids learning to read in which they read to a dog, the most uncritical audience one could have. The programs work on several levels, building confidence, giving children the opportunity and relax and focus on reading without stress. ++++++++++ Guide to Federal Resources for Youth Development A group of federal departments with funding for youth come together in this catalog of financial resources for children and youth. It lists more than 100 federal programs cross-referenced to five core resources regarded as crucial to effective youth development. About 50 pages. pdf file. ++++++++++ Conference, Webcasts and Weed and Seed Grants NCJFCJ’s 69th Annual Conference – July 16-19, 2006 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Click on the link above for conference details. Preventing Gangs in Our Communities – June 6, 2006 – 2:00 – 3:30 PM EDT
This is the 2nd part of a two part OJJDP satellite broadcast on gangs. It will include a panel discussion by gang specialists and a discussion about what law enforcement and communities are doing to share gang prevention responsibilities.
For northern Nevada and eastern California readers, NCJFCJ will be a downlink site for this broadcast next Tuesday in Room 104 of the Continuing Education Building on campus at UNR. A Washoe County gang specialist in the school district police department will be in attendance and will be part of a post-broadcast discussion for participants. Need more information? Contact Cheryl Lyngar at clyngar@ncjfcj.org Don't forget you can watch this live on your computer too, if you sign up. Preventing Sexual Abuse of Children and Youth in Custody – June 28, 2006 – 12 PM – 3 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Three hour broadcast to introduce those persons working with juvenile offenders to the requirements of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). More information at the link above. Weed and Seed Guide and Application Kit – Notice of Intent due by June 29, 2006
At the link above you will find guidelines for the grant program, an application, and appendices and additional references.
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Joey Binard, Senior Program Manager
Technical Assistance Resource Center
Juvenile & Family Law Department
NCJFCJ
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