We Welcome lcome to to Be Beyond yond th the e Ta Talking lking Po Points: nts: Pa Part rt 2 We will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Do: Click for audio Choose the option Make sure the call in button turns red like this: To pose a question please use the function Don’t: Click any other buttons before or during the webinar
Wel elco come me to to Bey eyon ond d th the Tal e Talki king ng Poi oint nts: s: Par art t 2 Top Solutions for Florida’s Families
Today’s Agenda • Equity for Girls – The massive inequity in the treatment of girls and young women in Florida. Presented by: Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, D.P.A., President & CEO, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center • Keeping Foster Children Safe and Ensuring their Well-being – The treatment of children in the child welfare system. Presented by: Alan Abramowitz, Executive Director, Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program • Direct File – The key points and timelines for getting children off to a healthy start. Presented by: Scott McCoy, Senior Policy Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Center
Th Than ank k Yo You for u for You Your r Pa Partici rticipati pation! on!
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Ho Hous usekeeping ekeeping De Deta tail ils USE THE CHAT FUNCTION YOUR MIC HAS BEEN MUTED TO POSE A QUESTION
Eq Equit uity y fo for Gir r Girls ls Girls remain the fastest growing population in Florida’s juvenile justice system. What does the evidence show Florida must do to ensure girls’ unique needs are addressed? Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, D.P.A. President & CEO Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center
A Bold New Direction Mission We engage communities, organizations and individuals through quality research, community organizing, advocacy, training and model programming to advance the rights of girls and young women and youth who identify as female, especially those in the justice system. www.seethegirl.org
See the Girl
1 in 3 Referrals to the Juvenile Justice System is a Girl • This trend has remained the same over the last decade. • There has been a decrease in the number of girls arrested/referred and incarcerated in the juvenile justice system over the last 10 years. • In spite of the reduction seen in the number of girls arrested and incarcerated in Florida, disparities for girls continue.
Girls are Entering the System for Less Serious Offenses 2016-2017 Felony Misdemeanor Other Felony Misdemeanor Other Other Other 8% 8% Felony Girls rls Boy oys 36% Felony Misdemeanor 58% 34% Misdemea nor 56%
Warrants Attention: Incarcerated for Less Serious Offenses 2016 2016-20 2017 Felony Misdemeanor Non-Law VOP Other Felony Misdemeanor Non-Law VOP Other Other Other Girls ls Bo Boys 4% Non-Law 3% VOP 10% Non-Law Misdemeanor VOP 30% 11% Felony 50% Felony 77% Misdemeanor 16%
Youth Needs by Gender at Incarceration 2014-15- PACT assessment at Girls Boys Commitment PACT Assessments N=341 N=2,272 Not Enrolled in School 20% 20% Dependency/CINS-FINS Petitions 31% 15% Parent/Household Member Jail/Prison 68% 60% History Parent w/ Mental Health/Drug Problem 36% 30% Placed Out of Home 33% 21% Suspension History 85% 88% Neglect 20% 11% Physical Abuse History 40% 16% Sexual Abuse History 38% 4% Trauma 40% 19% Witnessed Violence 82% 73% Source: Data extract provided by DJJ Research Department, January 2016 Diagnosed Mental Health Problem 57% 33% Self-Mutilation History 5% 1% Suicide Attempted 6% 1% Suicide Ideation 46% 33% Somatic Problems 27% 18% Drug Problem 84% 85% Alcohol Problem 64% 54%
Disparities, Gendered Response by Society & JJ System Toward Girls’ Behaviors • Lower risk of recidivism and lower public risk • More likely to enter the system for more minor offenses • Detained for longer periods of time • Probation violations – return to detention or placement without committing a crime • Charges inside the system (assault on LEO, acting out in detention or program)
Immediate Call to Action • Invest community-based girl-centered alternatives to incarceration aligned with NEED • Provide interventions that address intergenerational trauma vs. investing in lock-up that further traumatizes • Reform probation and reduce overuse of TVOP (1:3 girls for TVOP) (Washington State Opportunity-based model) • Reduce overuse of detention and length of stay • Expand Open Doors Outreach Network to address needs of victims/survivors of trafficking
Moving Forward Justice for Girls Movement • In 2019, the JFG Statewide reform movement will launch. • Actively create the future by aligning leading edge research, sophisticated techniques rooted in political science and expert strategic communication. • At the same time, the Policy Center and The Children’s Campaign will release the 10 year report card on the status of reform for girls in Florida. • Stay tuned for more information and opportunities for involvement.
References • Acoca, L. & Dedel, K. (2002) Educate or Incarcerate. Oakland, CA: National Council on Crime and Delinquency. • Christy, A. & Guenther, C. (2016) Report of 2015 Baker Act Data. Tampa, FL. USF. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) Youth Risk Behavior Survey. • Florida Department of Correction (2017). 2015-2016 Agency Statistics: Inmate admissions: Female offender admissions. • Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (2016b). Delinquency Profile, 2015-2016. • Inniss-Thompson, M. (2017) Summary of discipline data for girls in U.S. public schools: An analysis from the 2013-14 U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights data collection. National Black Women’s Justice Institute. • Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability (2017). DCF and its lead agencies have to resolved issues related to serving commercially sexually exploited children (Report No. 15-06). • Patino Lydia, V. & Baker, P. (2013). A Wake- Up Call: Trends in girls’ involvement in the justice system. www.Seethegirl.org. • Patino Lydia, V. & Moore, A. (2015). Breaking new ground on the First Coast: Examining girls’ pathways into the juvenile justice system. www.Seethegirl.org. • Patino, V. Ravoira , L., Wolf, A. (2006). A rallying cry for change: Charting a new direction in the State of Florida’s response to girls in the juvenile justice system. Oakland, CA. National Council on Crime and Delinquency. • Ravoira, L. & Patino Lydia, V. (2013) Strategic training and technical assistance: A framework for reforming the juvenile justice systems’ treatment of girls and young women. Georgetown Journal on Poverty, Law and Policy 20 (2), 297 -319
Ke Keep eping ing Fo Fost ster er Ch Chil ildre dren n Safe and Saf e and Ens Ensuring the uring their ir We Well ll-being being Why the rapid increase in children entering foster care? Alan F. Abramowitz Executive Director, of GAL Program
Increases in Out-of-Home Care
Complexity of the Issue More children than money available to serve Limited: • Federal Law: Family First Prevention and group home funding impact • Florida’s Unique Challenge: Funding Formula • Turnover: Lack of Services Unlimited : • Opioid Problem
Decisions About Youth How should we make these decisions? • Who are experts? • What do experts say? • Look at evidence and research • Advocacy must be unique to the child • Federal funding policy • State funding policy: formula
Solutions and Discussions • Capacity issues • Understanding trauma informed advocacy • Funding formula state selects to reflect values and outcomes desired • Address turnover • Dramatic changes needed: foster home licensing
Re Refe ferences rences • Felitti, V. J. (1998). Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14 , 245-258 • Family First Prevention and Safety Act. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/im1802.pdf • Florida Opioid Summary. (2018, February 28). Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs- abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/florida-opioid-summary • The Force for Families. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.youthvillages.org/ • Kaleidoscope Interventions Children's Therapy Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.thepiecefits.com/ • Sarasota YMCA. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.sarasotaymca.org/safechildrencoalition-about/ • Florida Guardian ad Litem. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.guardianadlitem.org/
Dir Direc ect File t File Why are the numbers so high and how can it be best rectified? Scott McCoy, Senior Policy Counsel Southern Poverty Law Center
Ho How w Th The e Sy System stem Wo Works: rks: Juvenile Delinquency System v. Adult Criminal Justice System 1. Under FL law, a child = person under the age of 18 2. Children that run afoul of the law will be held accountable in the juvenile justice system before a juvenile judge in a delinquency proceeding 3. Sanctions in juvenile court = DJJ community-based programs or various levels of residential programs where kids are not “incarcerated” but are separated from the community 4. Adult system is before the circuit court judge
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