Roadmap for Change

Professionals working in juvenile justice weigh in one last time on why they do this work, what trauma informed interventions have worked well, and what comes next. CTRJJ Co-Director Keith Cruise explains how we can support juvenile justice professionals who are trying to make change. Related Resources Mental Health Providers & Juvenile Justice Resource Guide | CTRJJ The National Child Traumat...

In order for juvenile justice institutions to restore trust between youth and adults and to transform the lives of justice-involved youth, they will need a multi-system, preventative, Public Health approach. Youth need more than just punitive accountability. They need integrated support from every system they interact with that addresses their needs and traumas and helps prepare them for a brighte...

According to education professionals in the juvenile justice system, to help justice involved youth imagine and actualize new futures for themselves, the whole system needs to prioritize providing education funds, resources, and committed teachers and staff who believe in their students. Related Resources Complete episode guide for youth and families on Equitable Education in Juvenile Justice Cont...

Youth involved in the juvenile justice system are not just individuals; they are part of complex families who are uniquely impacted by the justice system alongside them. In this episode, siblings and caregivers explain the financial, emotional, physical, and social challenges of the juvenile justice system and the ways practitioners in the system can support them. Related Resources Complete episod...

Many neurodivergent youth get caught up in the juvenile justice system as a response to their moments of crisis, or simply because of differences in their behavior. This episode considers the experiences of neurodivergent youth and their families in the juvenile justice system, and how crisis intervention on their behalf should focus on preventing harm, not punishing difference. Show Notes & R...

Trauma is stored in the body and expressed through the senses, so professional interventions need to look beyond behavior to take care of the whole person through a biopsychosocial approach. Show Notes & Related Resources: Complete episode guide for youth and families on Trauma in the Body Drug and Alcohol Use Reported by Youth in Juvenile Facilities, 2008–2018 – Statistical Tables -  Bur...

In the juvenile justice system, context is everything. Whether as professionals we show up with a deep understanding of the socio-political context of the youth, or we bring in and support “credible messengers” with shared lived experience as the youth, authenticity is key. "Irrationally caring adults," as Professor Kristin Henning describes them, can make all the difference in youth outcomes. Sho...

Making change in the juvenile justice system can be as simple, and as difficult, as making time to describe in plain language why a decision was made, pausing a meeting to ensure everyone at the table agrees with what a word means, and reflecting on the impact our word choice may have on a youth or families conception of themself. This episode provides examples and reflections on how to improve co...

This episode covers the layers of grief and generational trauma that youth in the juvenile justice system might be carrying, as well as the ways professionals can help these youth honor the memory of their ancestors and loved ones as they navigate their vision for the future. Additional Resources Complete episode guide for youth and families on Addressing and Acknowledging Grief

The long term success of youth involved in the juvenile justice system depends on professionals seeing them as whole people, with families and goals and complicated circumstances, and understanding the broader social context in which these youth ended up in the system. In this episode, mental health experts, social workers, and other juvenile justice professionals describe the tools and inter...

Investing in the people who work in the juvenile justice system is a vital component of system-wide improvement. Learn how juvenile justice professionals are using implementation science, reflective leadership, and other tools to make trauma-informed practices the standard for working with youth in the system. Show Notes & Related Resources Episode listening guide for youth and families on Imp...

Experts at every level of the juvenile justice system - from caseworkers and trauma psychiatrists to country judges and state-level decision-makers - weigh in on how to facilitate system-wide change through collaboration and trust, and how to communicate to youth at every step that someone is on their side and won't let them fail. Related Resources Episode listening guide for youth and families on...

For a decade, the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice has led conversations on the necessity of trauma-informed care for youth involved with the juvenile justice system. Now, the conversation has shifted.  Most in the field no longer need to be convinced that a trauma-informed approach is necessary. How then do we take what we know about the prevalence of trauma for justice-involv...

Roadmap for Change dives into the pressing need for transformation within the juvenile justice system—a system that often falls short in meeting the needs of youth. Many of us working in and around the field understand the power of trauma-informed care, but breaking old mindsets and creating true, system-wide change is no easy feat. Join us as we examine historical and cultural roadblocks that cha...

During safety overviews before a flight, we’re instructed to put on our own oxygen masks first before assisting others. In the same way, as professionals and parents, we have to take care of ourselves before we can continue to care for the children in our lives. To close out this audio series, we’ll hear from several guest experts on what they do to support their own well-being as trauma-care prov...

With our guest experts, we discuss why we need policies that support trauma-informed training and care and what’s at stake if we don’t. We’ll hear from guest experts speaking to specific policy needs in contexts such as medical care, mental health, and online spaces.  Ultimately, we’ll discuss the foundational need for these laws and policies to be rooted in the community. Whether we’re legis...

Communities and collective action are vitally important in maintaining and strengthening our mental health and resilience. In this episode, we hear from several experts on the essential role communities play in fostering resilience in children who experience stress and trauma. Learn more about our guest experts on this episode: Dr. Apryl Alexander Hernán Carvente-Martinez Jessica Feierman Dr. Viol...

As a parent, supporting your child day-in and day-out is a lot of work -- especially if your child has experienced or is experiencing stress and trauma. Our guest experts speak to the big and small ways parents and caregivers can help foster resilience in children. Learn more about our guest experts on this episode: Dr. Archana Basu Dr. David Corwin  Dr. Michael Salter Karen Zilberstein Explo...

In this episode, we’re focusing on the experiences of youth before, during, and after their interactions with the legal system. We’ll hear from trauma-focused behavioral healthcare professionals who have worked extensively with the legal system: with judges, lawyers, justice-involved youth, and their families. We’ll also hear from a lawyer and a community organizer and their work to reduce and pre...

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at clinical training programs for healthcare professionals in many fields: how to make the training more trauma-informed, and how students can best navigate those programs if they’re interested in providing trauma-informed care. Learn more about our guest experts on this episode: Dr. Archana Basu Dr. David Corwin Dr. Brooks Keeshin Nicole LaPlena Yehudis...

Three healthcare experts weigh in on how healthcare providers, including pediatric, family medicine, nursing, and other medical and allied health professionals, can practice and implement trauma-informed healthcare on an individual and systemic level. Learn more about our guest experts on this episode: Dr. David Corwin Dr. Brooks Keeshin Yehudis Stokes Explore resources mentioned in this episode:...

Now that we’ve examined key concepts to understand the many ways that children experience trauma -- and the many ways that they and their families are resilient, it’s time to get a bit more practical. How can we as mental health providers help foster resilience in children? Plus, hear from trauma-care providers what you can expect if you’re looking for trauma-informed therapy for yourself or your...

We can’t protect children and support their resilience if we overlook the traumas that are embedded in the fabric of their communities and society. In this episode, we speak to several guest experts about how global and collective traumas such as racism, war, community violence, and pandemics impact children. Learn more about our guest experts on this episode: Dr. Apryl Alexander Dr. Archana Basu...

No child exists in a vacuum. And the stress or trauma they experience doesn’t either. All of our individual behaviors, mindsets, and experiences are intertwined with our cultural contexts -- that is, the customs, language, geography, politics, and beliefs that shape our lived experiences. In this episode, you’ll hear from several guest experts who speak to the importance of recognizing cultural in...

According to data from U.S. crime reports, about 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner, whether that’s a current or former spouse or dating partner. In the wake of these tragic deaths are the victims’ loved ones -- including children. Dr. Bianca Harper shares her expertise in supporting these child and adolescent survivors of intimate partner homicide. Learn more about our gues...