Improving The Lives of Maryland’s Dually Involved Girls June 11, 2014 A project generously funded by the Abell Foundation & the Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation.

CHILD WELFAREHEALTH EDUCATION JUVENILE JUSTICE Every child’s ally Improving the lives of children for generations to come Independent research and proven best practices Conveners and leaders ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (ACY)

PROJECT BACKGROUND RESEARCHING THE ISSUE CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS RECOMMENDATIONS NEXT STEPS TODAY’S PRESENTATION

Crossover Youth Youth who experience maltreatment & engage in delinquency. They may or may not be known to the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Dually-Involved Youth Youth with some level of concurrent involvement with the child welfare and/or juvenile justice systems. Dually-Adjudicated Youth Youth with formal involvement in the child welfare system and juvenile justice systems. Herz, et. al. (2012). Addressing the Needs of Multi-System Youth: Strengthening the Connection Between Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice. Washington, DC: Center for Juvenile Justice Reform WHAT IS “DUAL INVOLVEMENT”?

UNIQUE RISK FACTORS SIGNAL DUAL INVOLVEMENT FOR FEMALE YOUTH Out of Home Placements History of Trauma & Maltreatment Environmental & Social Instability Abuse During Adolescence Three or more out of home placements double offending behavior in boys. ANY out of home placements doubles offending behavior in girls. Girls in DJS out of home placements report experiencing physical or sexual abuse at three times the rate of boys. 90% of girls in DJS out of home placements have “high family- related needs.”

PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH ▪ Interviewed 20 young women, aged 18 – 24 ▪ Histories of involvement in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems ? WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM? ? WHAT WERE YOUR EXPERIENCES IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM? ? HOW CAN WE BETTER SERVE DUALLY INVOLVED GIRLS?

LISTENING TO OUR STORIES IS THE FIRST STEP. ” “

PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH % WITH MULTIPLE OUT OF HOME PLACEMENTS 80 percent % THAT RAN AWAY TO BE W/FRIENDS OR FAMILY 50 percent % THAT SELF REPORTED SUBSTANCE ABUSE 30 percent

WE WANT TO BE HEARD. ”“

PERSPECTIVES FROM MARYLAND'S DUALLY INVOLVED FEMALE YOUTH % THAT REPORTED MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS 55 percent % THAT FELT UNHEARD BY THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES 70 percent % THAT WANTED INCREASED ACCESS TO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES 75 percent

DUALLY INVOLVED GIRLS STRATEGY SESSIONS PARTICIPANTS Advocates for Children & Youth Staff and Board Members Baltimore City Public Defender’s Office Baltimore City School Police Baltimore County DSS Baltimore County LMB/DMC Community Law in Action Court Appointed Special Advocates The Family League Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit MD Assoc. of Resources for Families & Youth MD Department of Juvenile Services MD Chap. of the National Assoc. of Social Workers MD Disability Law Center MD Foster Youth Resource Center MD JDAI/DMC Initiative MD Legal Aid Bureau MD Police Training Commission New Lens ▪ October 14 th, October 16 th, & December 9 th of 2013 ▪ Collaborative process guided by a variety of stakeholders ▪ Identify the needs of dually involved girls in Maryland ▪ Develop recommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS IMPROVED DATA COLLECTION CROSS-SYSTEMS COLLABORATION TRAUMA INFORMED POLICY, PRACTICE, & PROGRAMS PLACEMENT STABILITY & PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS AGE & GENDER APPROPRIATE SERVICES INCREASE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

VALUE YOUTH VOICE IN ALL PARTS OF THE PROCESS

WHAT’S NEXT WRITE & PUBLISH REPORT ADVOCATE & EDUCATE State agencies Elected officials Public IMPROVED OUTCOMES FOR GIRLS Fewer referrals to DJS Increased access to girls’ services Improved treatment delivery

“” WE ARE RESILIENT & YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON US.

8 Market Place, Suite 500 Baltimore, Maryland We are every child’s ally. Megan Lucy Melissa Rock A project generously funded by the Abell Foundation & the Jewish Women’s Giving Foundation.