This issue highlights a webinar during which youth spoke about their needs during reentry into their communities after confinement, the implementation of an OJJDP grant in Hawaii that provides youth with healthy alternatives to gang membership, and a description of how partnerships between Tribes and states benefit Native youth.
The issue begins with a video statement from Liz Ryan, the Administrator of OJJDP, who speaks on the theme of listening to youth when they are asked or volunteer to talk about their needs and difficulties. She then notes the three priorities she has as OJJDP Administrator: 1) treat children as children; 2) serve children in their communities with their families; and 3) open opportunities for system-involved youth. In all these efforts, OJJDP will focus on pursuing racial equity and fairness. She then advises that a first step in fulfilling these goals is “to ensure that the youth voice is solicited, heard, and amplified.” She reviews the listening sessions OJJDP began in June with juvenile justice practitioners to hear firsthand about their professional challenges and successes. The intent is to hold the same types of conversations with youth to hear from them about their experiences in the juvenile justice system. In this issue, they discuss their experiences of reentry after confinement. This issue also addresses the Juvenile and Family Court Judges Conference, gang intervention, strategies for addressing truancy, the OJJDP Enhancement awards, upcoming events, and new publications.