1. Youth Advocacy Project
Defenders in the Courtroom | Partners in the Community
10 Malcolm X Boulevard
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617)
9/22/2018

2. Youth in Massachusetts
In 2006, over 14,000 young people in MA were indicted or charged with delinquency complaints
In 2006, over 4,800 youth were detained by the Department of Youth Services (DYS)
In 2006, over 2,300 children were committed to DYS
“Every year hundreds of thousands of young people with serious mental health and substance abuse problems wind up in the juvenile justice system.”
- National Mental Health Association
9/22/2018

3. YAP Mission Statement
The mission of the Youth Advocacy Project is to protect and advance the legal and human rights of children, and to promote their healthy development through active partnerships with the community.
We strive to ensure that every child has access to zealous legal representation, essential community-based services, and a quality education
9/22/2018

4. YAP’s Clients Boston area children from indigent families Ages 7 to 17
Over 95% children of color
Over 70% from Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan
cases annually
9/22/2018

5. Youth Development Approach
A practical application of research-based concepts outlining the vital role that adults play in the development of youth
Five domains
Resources for physical and mental health
Nurturing adult and positive peer relationships
Safe places to live and learn
Educational and economic opportunity
Structured activities and civic participation
Advances in five domains lead to positive youth development and life outcomes
9/22/2018

6. Best Possible Best Possible
Paradigm Shift
Achievement
Outcomes
Problem-Free
Developmental
Best
Possible
Life Outcomes
Nurturing
Adults
Adults
Problem-Free
Outcomes
Current Model: Adults attempt to have a direct influence on court outcomes without understanding of underlying factors; “carrot & stick”
YDA Model: Positive court outcomes happen in conjunction with positive achievement and developmental outcomes; nurturing adults support entire process
Best Possible Best Possible
Life Outcomes Legal Outcomes =
9/22/2018

7. A Multidisciplinary Team
Client
Community
Outreach
Family
Education
Lawyers
Delinquency
Forensic
Psychologists
Social
Workers
9/22/2018

8. YAP Structure
YAP
9/22/2018

9. Youth Advocacy Foundation
501(c)(3) non-profit created to help support YAP’s mission and initiatives
Supports one third of YAP’s staff members
Huge impact of private funding: overhead costs mostly fulfilled by state funding; almost all of funding support goes directly to initiatives
9/22/2018

10. YAP’s Initiatives The EdLaw Project The Juvenile Defense Network
The Equal Justice Partnership
Community Outreach
Community Notebooks
9/22/2018

11. - Brown vs. Board of Education
The EdLaw Project
Created in 2000 in partnership with the Children’s Law Center of Massachusetts to address the unmet need for education advocacy among Boston’s indigent students and families
Staff of two attorneys and an AmeriCorps Fellows, all of whom are privately funded
Represents over 200 students a year in school discipline, academic failure, and undetected special needs
“It is doubtful that any child may be reasonably expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education.”
- Brown vs. Board of Education
9/22/2018

12. Juvenile Defense Network
Vast majority of juvenile cases handled by Bar Advocates, who are underpaid, under-supported, and under-trained
The juvenile courts act as a gateway to adult prisons, with as many as 50% of adult offenders having been adjudicated delinquent
Competent counsel can help stop the flow of juveniles into the adult system
“Lawyers Helping Lawyers Helping Kids”
9/22/2018

13. Equal Justice Partnership
Forum for organizations and agencies involved in MA juvenile justice to meet and discuss top-level policy
Inclusive of all institutional stakeholders
Common interest of improved outcomes for system-involved children and families
Non-adversarial, non-blaming
Expanding use of the Youth Development Approach
Commissioner of Probation
Committee for Public Counsel Services
Executive Office of Health & Human Services
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Department of Social Services
Massachusetts Department of Youth Services
Massachusetts Juvenile Court
Massachusetts Juvenile Court Clinic
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
Youth Advocacy Project
9/22/2018

14. Community Outreach Grassroots public education and empowerment
Access to justice in court and community
Deep, sustainable relationships
Fabric of the community
Connecting to the outside world
Emphasis on 5 domains of the Youth Development Approach
Nurturing Adults and Youth Participation
9/22/2018

15. Community Notebooks
Resource guides to help professionals who deal with at-risk and court-involved youth
Articles, guides, lists of organizations and resources
Four separate editions
Out-of-School Time
Girls
Heath & Counseling
Education
9/22/2018

16. YAP in the Future Growth and continuation of current programs
Sharing the YAP model statewide
Consistent voice in the juvenile justice system and policy decisions
Advocating for a Youth Development Zone
Continuing innovative programs and developing new initiatives to improve youth health and development in Greater Boston
9/22/2018