OJJDP News @ a Glance, September/October 2007

• NCJ Number: 219940
• Date Published: September 2007
• Length: 0 pages
• Publication Series: OJJDP News @ a Glance
• Agencies: OJJDP
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report describes recent activities in which the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has been involved.

Abstract

It first covers the ninth annual National Leadership Conference (August 2-4, 2007), which focused on underage drinking. Conference discussions focused on the nationwide efforts of the Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws Program (EUDL). A highlight of the conference was the presentation by the Acting U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Kenneth P. Moritsugu, who cited facts on the prevalence and dangers of underage drinking and the need to develop a comprehensive multifaceted approach in addressing this problem. This report also describes features of the U.S. Justice Department's announcement (August 2, 2007) of $17 million in EUDL block grant awards for the enforcement of State and local underage drinking laws. Also outlined are the main points of First Lady Laura Bush's address to the fourth regional conference on Helping America's Youth (August 2-3, 2007, in St. Paul, MN). It featured recommendations and support for efforts to address the challenge for caring adults to help youth develop healthy and productive lives. There is also an account of OJJDP's efforts in helping the United Kingdom launch Europe's first peer panel, which is modeled on OJJDP's youth court program in the United States. This report also mentions the OJJDP administrator's involvement in National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15). Another part of the report lists the topics covered in a training conference (October 22-24, 2007) sponsored the OJJDP's State Relations and Assistance Division. The conference theme was "Creating a Shared Vision for Juvenile Justice." Other activities covered in this report are the findings of a Tribal youth focus group on "Building Brighter Futures in Indian Country" and a youth performance of "Romeo and Juliet" in Richmond, VA, which launched an arts-centered youth employment and development program for youth in low-income households.