The following summaries illustrate the types of TA requested and delivered recently.

Purpose Area 10—Information Sharing

Requesting state/agency: Hawaii, Office of Youth Services
Date: December 2003
Request: Technical assistance in preliminary development of an information-sharing process among five state agencies.
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 2-day event to provide decisionmakers with information about elements of integrated information sharing; facilitate discussions about perceived benefits, fears, and expectations; begin to build trust between agencies; and help agencies assess their readiness for planning. The event focused on gaining commitment of the agencies involved and covered developing trust for exchanging information, developing clarity and assurance for certain information-sharing activities, and ascertaining the agencies' readiness to plan and implement integrated information sharing.
Attendees: Stakeholders from Hawaii's Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Family Court System, and Office of Youth Services; and the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.

Requesting state/agency: Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention
Date: September 2003
Request: Technical assistance in establishing community assessment centers (CACs) throughout the state.
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 2-day event to provide state officials with information on establishing and operating CACs that target juvenile offenders. Topics included establishing community boards to manage the development of CACs in local communities, identifying appropriate screening and assessment instruments, using cost-efficient management information systems, matching appropriate services to target populations, and assuring that local practices and protocols adhere to federal and state confidentiality requirements.
Attendees: Representatives of local management boards, the Maryland Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Maryland Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention; local stakeholders; and representatives from four counties.

Requesting state/agency: Alaska, Division of Juvenile Justice
Date: February 2004
Request: Training of trainers on balanced and restorative justice (BARJ).
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 5-day event to present the concepts and values of the BARJ approach for a training of trainers. Topics included an overview of BARJ that demonstrated training techniques and skills, adult learning theory, and the development of training methods; instruction in leading restorative dialog processes; and skills development in strategic planning tools.
Attendees: Youth counselors and juvenile probation officers.

Purpose Area 15—Juvenile Courts and Probation

Requesting state/agency: Alabama, Boys and Girls Club of South Alabama, POINTE Academy
Date: December 2003
Request: Develop a comprehensive education model for juveniles attending POINTE Academy, an alternative school for adjudicated youth in Mobile County, Alabama.
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 3 1/2-day event to assess the current status of the school and develop a comprehensive education model. NTTAC conducted interviews and a needs assessment and debriefed and provided recommendations to staff. Topics included developing a transition program for youth, information sharing among school sites working to transition adjudicated youth, demonstrating the need for additional classes and services, and enhancing collaboration between juvenile justice agencies and local educational programs.
Attendees: Educators, security staff, probation officers, judges, and administrators.

Requesting state/agency: California, Project ESCAPE
Date: November 2003
Request: Redesign a gender-responsive curriculum for Project ESCAPE.
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 2 1/2-day event to assist in revising the existing gender-responsive curriculum so it is developmentally appropriate for girls ages 10 to 14 and to produce measurable behavioral outcomes for each lesson plan. Topics included developing a list of behavioral outcomes and assets for each unit, creating a lesson plan template, assessing lessons and activities for developmental appropriateness and gender responsiveness, establishing evaluation measures for each module, and developing overall process and outcome measures for the project.
Attendees: Program staff, including manager, operational manager, specialist, practitioner, and administrative assistant.

Requesting state/agency: Iowa, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning
Date: September 2003
Request: The American Probation and Parole Association's "Survival Spanish for Probation and Parole Officers."
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 2-day event to improve staff written and oral communication with Hispanic juveniles and families who have limited English proficiency. Topics included false cognates (easily misunderstood words) common to the legal system; pronunciation, grammar, translation, and use of intake and social history questionnaires in Spanish; techniques for improving bilingual skills; and an open discussion on culture.
Attendees: Juvenile court officers, intake staff, and administrative personnel.

Requesting state/agency: Ohio, Morrow County Plea Court
Date: September 2003
Request: Provide an overall evaluation of court services and identify potential resources.
TA provided: NTTAC arranged a 4 1/2-day event to provide the court with a system evaluation that would identify areas of improvement and to help the site obtain resources for identifying improvements. Topics included developing a clearer organizational structure and strategic plan with measurable outcomes, encouraging staff enthusiasm, clarifying responsibilities to the public, introducing a broader array of interventions, developing a community-based approach, increasing the number of staff working from homes and with families, increasing staff accountability, developing a compensation system to obtain and retain quality staff, and increasing docket timelines.
Attendees: Judges, probation officers, detention officers, and court personnel.

OJJDP Home | About OJJDP | E-News | Topics | Funding | Programs
State Contacts | Publications | Statistics | Events