April 11, 2024 - Harrisburg, PA
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to announce the federal Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success funding awarded to state and local projects, including $825,000 to PCCD and $450,000 to the City of Philadelphia. This initiative helps states and local communities evaluate their current practices to develop evidence-based prevention and intervention services to prevent young people from entering the juvenile justice system and give them the tools to lead safe and healthy lives. "At its core, the continuum of care framework is a holistic approach that is community-driven, leverages local insights and addresses youth needs through mentoring, after-school programs and other prosocial activities," said Liz Ryan, OJJDP Administrator. "Serving youth well strengthens communities and contributes to public safety." Thanks to more than a decade of reforms and efforts at the state and local levels, Pennsylvania has seen steady and sustained decreases in the number of young people involved at every level of the juvenile justice system. However, skyrocketing mental and behavioral health needs, gun violence, racial and ethnic disparities, underutilization of pre-arrest diversion, and workforce challenges continue to be serious concerns impacting youth safety and well-being.List of Speakers:Liz Ryan, Administrator - U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency PreventionLisa Varon, Deputy Director - Philadelphia Office of Criminal JusticeMike Pennington, Executive Director - PA Commission on Crime and DelinquencyLori Toscano, Director, Justice Technical Assistance - WestEd Justice & Prevention Research CenterWill Kiefer, Founder/Executive Director - Bench Mark ProgramShylah & Trevor - Youth Participants at Bench Mark Program
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