2023 Center for Youth Justice Transformation

The purpose of the Center for Transforming Youth Justice is to strengthen state- and territory-level compliance with the Formula Grants Program, authorized under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) by developing and implementing training and technical assistance (TTA) that support state, territorial, Tribal, and community-level juvenile justice system reform efforts in addition to designing and implementing an online education program for best practices in juvenile justice reform. American Institutes for Research (AIR), along with partners Youth MOVE National and National Partnership for Juvenile Services, brings a coordinated TTA structure that integrates evidence-based strategies and youth and family partnership centered innovations that advance justice transformation. AIR will reach this goal through three objectives: (1) design and provide comprehensive TTA to strengthen state and territory compliance with the Title II Formula Grants Program of the JJDPA and implementation of Formula Grants Program state plans; (2) respond to TTA requests that support state, territorial, Tribal, and community-level juvenile justice system improvement and reform efforts; and (3) establish a Youth Justice Transformation Institute that provides on-demand learning in best practices regarding youth delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment. The center’s principles include continuous quality improvement; individualized site-specific TTA that focuses on local innovation and data and delivery in collaboration with other experts; and establishing the inclusion of diverse perspectives across the Center for Transforming Youth Justice.