Best Practices
Below is a list of national best practice models, resources and articles.
Reducing Recidivism
What Works and What Doesn’t in Reducing Recidivism: The Principles of Effective Intervention by Edward J. Latessa, Ph.D.
[Download/View Powerpoint Presentation]
The Promising Practices Network
Promising Practices Network (PPN) is dedicated to providing quality evidence-based information about what works to improve the lives of children, youth, and families.
The PPN site features summaries of programs and practices that are proven to improve outcomes for children. All of the information on the site has been screened for scientific rigor, relevance, and clarity.
Model Programs Guide
The MPG contains summary information (program description, evaluation design, research findings, references, and contact information) on evidence-based delinquency prevention and intervention programs. Programs are categorized into exemplary, effective, and promising, based on a set of methodological criteria and the strength of the findings. The MPG database can be queried through these three methods.
Models for Change
Models for Change initiative (MfC) is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice system reform through targeted investments in key states. MfC partners with selected states to advance reforms that effectively hold young people accountable for their actions, provide for their rehabilitation, protect them from harm, increase their life chances, and manage the risk they post to themselves and to public safety. The goal of MfC is to accelerate progress toward a more rational, fair, effective and developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system.
National Alliance For Drug Endangered Children Resource Center
The NADEC resource center provides a variety of tools, information and articles focused on protecting drug endangered children.
National Juvenile Justice Network
NJJN provides information on advocating for juvenile justice.
Other Publications by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Whatever It Takes: How Twelve Communities Are Reconnecting Out-of-School Youth
This report documents what committed educators, policymakers, and community leaders across the country are doing to reconnect out-of-school youth to the social and economic mainstream. It provides background on the serious high school dropout problem and describes in-depth what twelve communities are doing to reconnect dropouts to education and employment training. It also includes descriptions of major national program models serving out-of-school youth.
Youth Court: A Community Solution for Embracing At-Risk Youth–A National Update
The report builds upon research previously conducted by the Urban Institute and an extensive survey of youth court programs conducted by the National Youth Court Center. It provides up-to-date data to give policymakers and the public an overview of youth court programs, their characteristics, and benefits. The report’s survey to programs garnered a 40% return rate, which has yielded a successful view of the current youth court landscape. The report’s findings cover topics such as: program completion, cost, returns on investment, impact on youth offenders and volunteers, educational and civic opportunities, program sustainability, and recommendations to policymakers.