1. Improving Practices Within Neglect and Delinquent Systems Through Effective Communication and Collaboration

2. 2 Introduction to the Practice Guide  Publication: Addressing the Unmet Educational Needs of Children and Youth in the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Systems: Peter Leone and Lois Weinberg  Partnership: Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University (Shay Bilchik)  Goal: Fostering better educational and related outcomes for youth in juvenile justice and child welfare systems: Title I, Part D

3. 3 Key Principles in Meeting the Educational Needs of Youth in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems  Quality Education Services are Critical  Early Education is Essential  Outcomes that Matter are Measured  Individually Tailored Support Services for Youth are Provided  Interagency Communication and Collaboration is Vital  Change Requires Within-Agency and Cross-Agency Leadership

4. 4 Interagency Communication and Collaboration is Vital  The problem is:  Youth in juvenile justice and child welfare systems face academic difficulties  Systems often struggle to address these youth’s challenges and meet educational needs  There are barriers to communication/collaboration:  Philosophical, structural, language and communication, staff resistance  Interagency communication and collaboration is a continual and evolutionary process:  Great work can be done at every stage  Agencies will likely need to remind themselves of the practices and strategies that promote collaboration

5. 5 Interagency Communication and Collaboration is Vital Practice: Engage in Collaborative Decision Making  Strategies:  Memoranda of Understanding to Share Information  Consolidated/Single Case Management and a “No Wrong Door” Approach  Align Relevant Policies and Corresponding Practices of Child- Serving Agencies

6. 6 Practice: Share Resources and Expertise  Strategies:  Co-location of Staff  Share Databases  Cross-Agency Training Interagency Communication and Collaboration is Vital

7. 7 Practice: Target Services to Meet the Needs of Children, Youth, Parents and Caregivers  Strategies:  Engage Youth and Family as Key Decision-makers and Assets in Determining Needed Supports and Services  Implement Evidence-Based and Best Practice Programming that Supports Individual Student’s Success in School and Life Interagency Communication and Collaboration is Vital

8. 8 Benefits of Effective Communication and Collaboration For Youth and Families:  Enhanced access to supports and services  Decreased disruption, duplication, and fragmentation of services  Improved reentry/transition outcomes  Increased engagement/connectedness to school and community

9. 9 Benefits of Effective Communication and Collaboration For Systems:  Strengthened program sustainability  Improved system relationships  Increased information sharing  Enhanced system coordination  Increased system ownership for its children

10. 10 State and Local Examples Overview:  Reasons for Collaboration  Who is Involved  Collaboration Strategies  Description of Collaborative Activities  Barriers, Challenges, and Lessons Learned  Outcomes