Community Engagement Strategies Building Authentic System-Community Partnerships through CCFY’s 3-Day Alternative-to-Incarceration (ATI) Training Institute

2 Definition of Community Engagement  Community engagement in Juvenile Justice Reform is a structured and intentional process through which juvenile justice stakeholders and non-traditional community partners build ongoing, permanent relationships for the purpose of applying a collective vision for the benefit of young people.

3 Philosophy Punitive “Doing To” Paternalistic “Doing For” Partnership “Doing With” Community Engagement is a philosophy built on a different paradigm of how the justice system and the community relate to one another.

4 Essential Components Community Engagement in Juvenile Justice Reform includes three essential components: 1.Building authentic relationships between system stakeholders and community partners 2.Co-creating a vision and strategy for serving youth 3.Sharing knowledge, power, and resources in all aspects of juvenile justice planning, evaluation, and program implementation

5 Benefits of Authentic Engagement Community Engagement has several benefits for juvenile justice reform, including:  Better relationships between system stakeholders and community partners  Local wisdom and knowledge informs program design and delivery  Long-term engagement for young people in informal community support systems

6 What is Community? Youth & Families Neighborhood Residents Schools Community Based Orgs Faith Civic Leaders

7 Who is Responsible for Youth System Service Providers Community

8 Definitions: System Stakeholders  The term SYSTEM stakeholders typically refers to individuals or agencies employed by government entities responsible for youth in the juvenile justice system, and may include:  Probation  Prosecutors  Judges  Law Enforcement  Juvenile Detention Facilities  Juvenile Placement Facilities  Child Welfare Systems  Education Systems

9 Definitions: Service Providers  The term COMMUNITY stakeholders typically refers to individuals or non-governmental organizations that youth interact with on an ongoing basis and may include:  Community-Based Alternatives –ATD Programs –Placement Alternatives –Aftercare Services –Alternative Schools –Job Programs  Non-Profit Service Providers –Mental Health –Substance Abuse –Family Services –Educational Services –Employment Services

10 Definitions: Non-Traditional Community Partners  The term NON-TRADITIONAL Community Partners refers to individuals or organizations in the neighborhood who are not typically contracted to provide services, but often have the most natural contact and connection with youth by virtue of their presence in the community:  Other Youth  Family Members  Faith Leaders  Grassroots Organizations  Youth Development Orgs  Formerly Incarcerated Mentors (“Credible Messengers”)  Neighborhood Activists & Advocates

11 Strategies to Engage Non-Traditional Partners  Access the state database of approved non-traditional community partners that is regularly updated with contact information and provides detailed description of what each non-traditional community partner provides IT DOESN’T EXIST!  But they are out there. You’ve got to go out and find them.

12 Youth  Find out if there are any youth leadership organizations in the community that prepare system-involved youth for leadership.  Find out if there are any youth development programs that cultivate youth leaders  Tip: it doesn’t have to be juvenile justice related  Ask agency staff: “is there a young person formerly system-involved who is now doing really well and wants to help others who was in his or her situation?”

13 Family Members  Find out if there are any parent advocacy organizations in the community  Find out if there are any groups that provide leadership training and development for parents/family members  Find out if there are any parent/family support groups  Tip: it doesn’t have to be juvenile justice related  Ask agency staff: “is there a parent/family member who has been especially active and naturally mentors/support/assists other family members?”

14 Faith Leaders  Find out if there are any faith-based coalitions that address justice-related issues  Find out if there are any faith-based programs that specifically target system-involved youth, perhaps via chaplaincy, visitation, religious services  Ask people in the community: “is there a church, mosque, or temple that is especially active in helping youth in the community, particularly tough-to-reach youth?”  Ask people: “is there a faith leader who is really passionate about helping youth in the justice system?”

15 Grassroots Neighborhood Organizations  Find out if what grassroots organizations are working with youth at the neighborhood level  Ask people: “are there any organizations in the neighborhood where you would send a young person who’s getting into trouble?  Ask people: “is there a grassroots community leader who is really passionate about helping youth in the streets/in the justice system?”

16 “Credible Messenger” Mentors  Find out if there are any organizations working to build the leadership of formerly incarcerated individuals / returning citizens / “credible messenger” mentors  Ask staff at parole/aftercare programs, “Are there any individuals who have really excelled in their transition home to the point where they are helping and mentoring others?”  Ask community members: “is there a a formerly incarcerated individual in the neighborhood who is actively mentoring youth on their own?”

17 Conducting Outreach  Survey your own staff first to find out if anyone can identify potential partners.  There are often agency staff who live in the neighborhood, or are part of a faith-based organization, who are tapped in to non-traditional community partners.  Delegate someone to go to the neighborhood and ask: “Who is doing good work with the toughest young people in the neighborhood?”  Make site visits to community organizations/neighborhood partners on their turf  Ask each individual “Who else should we be talking to?”

18 Pitch the Following Points about the Training  It’s a certification training: people who complete the 3- Day Training will be certified as having completed the Alternative-to-Incarceration (ATI) Training Institute  Training participants will meet system stakeholders who are interested in partnering with community members to develop additional support for youth  There is the potential of future funding available for initiatives like parent peer coaching, credible messenger mentoring that will come from system- community partnerships. This training will help them get in the loop for those initiatives.

19 Identify Funding for Community Engagement  Recognize that most System Stakeholders and Service Providers are paid to participate in meetings, trainings, programming, etc.  Offer financial incentives for community member involvement in working groups/trainings, etc. (stipends, gift cards, transportation support, food, child care)  If no funding currently exists for community organizations in existing budgets, commit to include it in future funding cycles

20 Conclusion Remember the following:  Develop AUTHENTIC relationships  Co-Create a VISION and STRATEGY for serving youth  Share KNOWLEDGE, POWER, and RESOURCES