This issue of OJJDP News @ a Glance addresses the SMART System, the observation of Missing Children's Day 2007, First Lady Laura Bush's hosting of the third regional conference on Helping America's Youth (HAY), a conference that featured research panels on youth issues, Tribal youth issues, recent news, and new OJJDP publications.
The SMART system is a geographic information system and Web-based mapping application that illustrates specific geographic areas of crime and delinquency and the nearby governmental and community resources that are available to prevent and control it. Along with maps, SMART creates tables and graphs that illustrate a wealth of data on socioeconomic factors such as housing, population, crime, health, and mortality. Examples are provided to illustrate how different groups can benefit from using SMART. The U.S. Department of Justice held its 24th annual commemoration of National Missing Children's Day in May. The commemoration recognizes law enforcement personnel and private citizens for outstanding efforts on behalf of missing and exploited children. First Lady Laura Bush delivered the keynote address at the third regional conference on Helping America's Youth on April 12, 2007. The HAY Initiative is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the challenges facing the Nation's youth, particularly at-risk boys, and to motivate caring adults in connecting with youth in the key areas of family, school, and community. The National Institute of Justice will hold its annual conference on July 23-25, 2007, where participants will share the latest information on research findings and technological advances. OJJDP recently conducted a Tribal youth focus group that encouraged dialog among tribal youth about their communities, families, and life experiences. News is provided on recent activities of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice. Two new OJJDP publications are profiled.