Slide 1 Using Developmental Evidence and Youth Assets to Design Juvenile Justice Systems: Can it be Done? Jeffrey A. Butts, Ph.D. University of Chicago Presentation to the Annual Meeting of the Coalition for Juvenile Justice Bethesda, MD May 6, 2006

Slide 2 Before 2000, most research on the developmental effects of youth assets focused on middle-class, non-delinquent youth More recent research suggests that the effective development of youth asset has broader applications

Slide 3 Assets Make a Difference for all Youth Survey of Youth Assets, funded by Centers for Disease Control Study based at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy and the University of Oklahoma N > 1,000 youth and parents from 2 midwestern, urban areas 69% in high school; 31% in middle school 48% cacuasian; 23% african-american 51% single-parent households 65% families with households $35,000 or less

Slide 4 Effect of Assets on Drug/Alcohol Use CDC’s “Youth Asset Survey” examined association between 9 youth assets and adolescent drug/alcohol use in low-income, inner-city population (N=1,350 youth) Finding: Youth with more assets were more likely to report no use of drugs/alcohol Youth with particular asset……more likely to report no drug use Positive peer role model3 times Positive non-parental adult role model2 times Involved in community activities2 times Involved in groups/sports1.6 times Effects cumulative: if all 9 youth assets present5.4 times Oman, Roy F., Sara Vesely, Cheryl B. Aspy, Kenneth R. McLeroy, Sharon Rodine, and Ladonna Marshall (2004). “The potential protective effect of youth assets on adolescent alcohol and drug use.” American Journal of Public Health, 94(8):

Slide 5 Effect of Assets on Fighting/ Weapon Carrying CDC’s “Youth Asset Survey” examined association between youth assets and fighting or weapon carrying in low-income, urban population (N=1,098 teen-parent respondent pairs) Finding: Youth with more assets were more likely to report no previous carrying of weapons Youth with particular asset……more likely to report no weapon carrying Positive peer role model1.8 times Positive non-parental adult role model1.6 times Involved in community activities2.1 times Report future aspirations1.9 times Able to exercise responsible choices1.6 times Report good family communication1.7 times Aspy, Cheryl B., Roy F. Oman, Sara Vesely, Cheryl B. Aspy, Kenneth R. McLeroy, Sharon Rodine, and Ladonna Marshall (2004). “Adolescent violence: The protective effects of youth assets.” Journal of Counseling and Development, 82: * 14% of sample reported some weapon carrying

Slide 6 Effect of Assets on Fighting/ Weapon Carrying CDC’s “Youth Asset Survey” examined association between youth assets and fighting or weapon carrying in low-income, urban population (N=1,098 teen-parent respondent pairs) Finding: Youth with more assets were more likely to report no physical fights Youth with particular asset……more likely to report no physical fights Able to exercise responsible choices2 times Report good family communication1.5 times Aspy, Cheryl B., Roy F. Oman, Sara Vesely, Cheryl B. Aspy, Kenneth R. McLeroy, Sharon Rodine, and Ladonna Marshall (2004). “Adolescent violence: The protective effects of youth assets.” Journal of Counseling and Development, 82: Note: Youth involvement in religious activities was not statistically significant for either fighting or weapon carrying * 37% of sample reported some physical fighting

Slide 7 Other analyses from the Survey of Youth Assets suggest that the effects of assets are stronger for youth in one- parent households than for youth in two-parent homes… … this has obvious implications for juvenile justice

Slide 8 How Do We Ensure Youth Have Assets? by focusing on POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Slide 9 Positive Youth Development Youth policy that looks beyond risk reduction Policies that help young people to establish sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and empowerment Prevention & intervention services that are part of a broader system of supports and developmental opportunities Intervention approaches that focus on youth attachment and engagement Allow more adolescents to experience developmental opportunities that youth from wealthy communities take for granted Allow youth to gain confidence and skills, and begin to shift their decision making from short-term to long-term perspective Risk reduction and problem avoidance can result naturally from developmentally focused programs Source: Administration for Children and Families, HHS (2005).

Slide 10 Traditional Service Delivery Positive Youth Development View of youth ProblemResource Focus of services Deficits / symptomsStrengths / potential Goal of services Amelioration of symptoms Acquisition of developmental assets Locus of services Specialized treatment settings Multiple developmentally appropriate contexts Mechanisms of change Treatment interventions by clinicians and professionals Positive interactions with adults and community Different Perspectives on Youth Services

Slide 11 Juvenile JusticePos. Youth Dev. Role of youth in community Target of changeAgent of change Role of youth in justice system ClientParticipant Mission of juvenile justice system Public safetyCommunity wellness Key strategy of juvenile justice Control youth behaviorConnect youth with social and developmental resources Target of services Youth problems and deficitsYouth strengths and assets Purpose of services Supervision and controlAttachment and engagement Different Perspectives on Juvenile Justice

Slide 12 Juvenile Justice InterventionsPYD-Oriented Interventions Probation supervision to ensure youth compliance with court orders Case management to ensure youth access to range of social resources Individual and family counseling, group therapy (insight-based) Peer counseling, leadership development, family living skills Job counseling, community service as punishment Work experience, community service as job preparation, career exploration Youth and family crisis informationYouth trained as conflict mediator Outdoor challenge programsConservation projects, community development projects, recycling and community beautification projects Mentoring, Big Brother/Big SisterYouth/adult mentors work together on community service projects, intergenerational projects with elderly, etc. Remedial educationCross-age tutoring (juvenile offenders teach younger children), educational action teams, decision-making skills training

Slide 13 Exactly Which Assets Should be the Focus of Juvenile Justice?

Slide 14 Which of these make sense for youth in the juvenile justice system? If you had to pick just 10, which would be the most applicable?

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Slide 16 How Can We Design Juvenile Justice Programs That Help Youth Become Engaged and Attached to Appropriate Developmental Assets?