OJJDP Funds Initiative To Help Identify Children and Youth Whose Remains Have Been Located
OJJDP and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have launched the Children’s Justice Project, a 2-year effort spearheaded by OJJDP Administrator Liz Ryan to accelerate the identification of children and youth who have been found deceased but never identified. An estimated 1,000 children and youth remain unidentified, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
Helping Border Youth Heal From Violence and Build Resilience
With OJJDP funding, the Border Youth Resiliency Project is working to help youth in El Paso, TX, recover from exposure to violence, including mass violence and a myriad of other stressors many young people experience in their daily lives. Nearly one-third of the city’s children live in poverty, putting them at increased risk for violence and numerous other problems.
From the Administrator's Desk
Young People Need Us Now More Than Ever
“This year, we mark the 50th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act—the JJDPA, the landmark legislation that established OJJDP. This golden anniversary is an opportunity to highlight advances we have made in youth justice over the past 50 years and to underscore the need to continue our momentum. Young people need us now more than ever. This is my charge to you—continue to improve outcomes for youth in your communities and beyond.”
—Administrator Liz Ryan, speaking June 25 in Charleston, SC, at OJJDP’s convening of Strategies To Support Children Exposed to Violence grantees
From the Field: The "Reflections on Reentry" Podcast Series
"It doesn't matter where you come from. It matters where you go. It matters what you do—and sometimes you're gonna slip, you're gonna fall. Just keep going. Get back up. Work harder. Work smarter. Go farther."
Emma shared her personal reentry story during the second episode of "Reflections on Reentry," a podcast series produced by Youth Reentry Training and Technical Assistance Center, an OJJDP training and technical assistance provider. The series includes four episodes, each featuring interviews with OJJDP grantees funded under the Second Chance Act Youth Reentry initiative. Several also included interviews with youth.
Tribal Connections: Deepening Cultural Ties Through Art
The We Are Living Arts (WALA) program strives to help Indigenous and Alaska Native youth strengthen their cultural identities and sense of belonging, providing peer mentoring, outdoor activities, and opportunities to explore a variety of art forms—including traditional singing, dance, and storytelling; poetry, comedy, and photography; and rap and hip hop. The program encourages youth to discover their voices and talents, and live authentically. Launched in 2016, WALA now serves young people in more than 30 Tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Native youth organizations. A partnership with OJJDP’s Tribal Youth Resource Center enabled WALA to develop virtual resources for Tribal youth programs and youth healing to wellness courts.
News In Brief
- Save the Date! OJJDP’s National Conference on Youth Justice Takes Place November 19–21
- Coordinating Council Discusses Trauma-Informed Support for Youth
- OJJDP Training Aims To Strengthen Ties With National Sheriffs’ Association
- Toolkit for Leveraging Youth Perspectives Debuts at OAYI Youth Advisory Board’s Summit
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The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) turns 50 in September—and so does OJJDP! The JJDPA established OJJDP and charges the Office with providing national leadership, resources, and funding to states, Tribes, and communities to protect children, prevent delinquency, and improve juvenile justice systems nationwide. The law also established the Title II Formula Grants program, which OJJDP administers. With bipartisan support, the JJDPA was reauthorized and substantially amended in 2018 under the Juvenile Justice Reform Act.