Today, OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan and Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston from the Administration for Children and Families' Children's Bureau issued a joint letter highlighting the challenges faced by dual system youth, and inviting child welfare and juvenile justice professionals to establish cross-systems collaborations to address their complex needs.
The letter also describes the results of the OJJDP Dual System Youth Design Study. Findings from the research indicate that over half of the youth in the juvenile justice system have prior involvement with child welfare services, underscoring the need for investment and intervention to support these youth.
“By centering our work on young people and families with lived experience, supporting initiatives that address disparities, and supporting family stabilization efforts, we contribute to a brighter future for our youth,” Ryan and Gaston write.
RESOURCES:
- Read the OJJDP literature review "Intersection of Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems."
- Read about OJJDP's commitment to youth and family partnerships.
- Follow OJJDP on X formerly known as Twitter and Facebook.