The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Awards Local Coalition Funds to Address Juvenile Substance Abuse

DAYTON, Ohio - A Montgomery County coalition is one of 11 communities selected out of 280 national applicants to join an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called Reclaiming Futures. The five-year program will address substance abuse treatment and other services for young people in trouble with the law. The $249,052 planning grant to Dayton's coalition is one of $2.59 million awarded nationwide.

The coalition plans to work with 500 first-time offenders in the Montgomery County Juvenile Court and 50 high-need youth returning from secure detention beginning in 2003.

In the year 2000, approximately 6,000 of the 10,000 young people formally adjudicated by the Montgomery Juvenile Court had substance abuse problems. "We know that youth who abuse alcohol and drugs will need support and help from the community in order to remain drug free," says Judge Michael Murphy of Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

"Youth in Montgomery County's juvenile justice system are reflecting the trends of our region, with alcohol and drug use on the rise and starting at younger ages," says Richard Rapp, MSW, assistant professor of community health in Wright State's School of Medicine and director for the project.

"America's juvenile justice system faces a public health crisis," says Laura Burney Nissen, Ph.D., director of Reclaiming Futures, a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "As many as four out of five of the two million young people who enter the justice system each year have an alcohol or drug problem. Even though research shows that treating alcohol and drug abuse reduces crime, saves money, and builds stronger communities, the majority of young offenders receive no treatment."

"We want to change this," says Nissen. "The grants we are awarding today will create model programs in Montgomery County and elsewhere in the United States to show how we can reinvent treatment, judicial and social services to meet this need."

Dayton's project, called Mobilizing Natural Helpers, redefines three major components of the juvenile justice system and substance abuse services. The first is how youth are assessed when they enter the juvenile justice system. Although a large amount of information is gathered during the assessment process, it is primarily problem focused. The coalition's partners will work to create an alternative assessment scheme that focuses more on youth assets and abilities.

The second component will examine the potential value of increasing the use of "natural helpers," members of the youth's community to assist in his or her rehabilitation. While agency-delivered treatment will remain a critical part of the services youth receive, an increasing reliance will be placed on the role that mentors, the faith community, and neighbors can play in assisting youth and their families.

The last component will emphasize restorative justice practices, combining the assets of youth and their involvement with natural helpers in court dispositions. Youth will be expected to give back to the community and, in so doing, establish a closer relationship with that community.

"This grant will help Montgomery County bring together those resources that exist in a cohesive way to help keep young people away from drugs and alcohol," says Judge Murphy.

Reclaiming Futures officials say judicial leadership will play a critical part in these efforts. Local judges in each community will participate in a two-year fellowship. Michael B. Murphy, Judge with the Juvenile Division of the Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County, will represent Montgomery County in the national program.

Local partners of the Montgomery County Natural Helpers Coalition include: Montgomery County Juvenile Court; the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; the Center for Interventions, Treatment and Addictions Research, Wright State University School of Medicine; Good Samaritan Hospital's Samaritan CrisisCare; Eastway Corporation; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Project Impact; Dayton Rotary; Shiloh Church; Mt. Calvary Church; and The Dayton Foundation. As the coalition formulates plans for the coming five years, other community youth service providers will be asked to participate. In four following years, the coalition will apply for up to $250,000 annually to support the project.

Reclaiming Futures is a five-year $21 million initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation based at the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was established as a national philanthropy in 1972 and today is the largest U.S. foundation devoted to health and health care. To learn about its mission and work, see www.rwjf.org.

DAYTON, Ohio, March 12 (Ascribe Newswire) – A Montgomery County coalition is one of 11 communities selected out of 280 national applicants to join an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called Reclaiming Futures. The five-year program will address substance abuse treatment and other services for young people in trouble with the law. The $249,052 planning grant to Dayton’s coalition is one of $2.59 million awarded nationwide. The coalition plans to work with 500 first-time offenders in the Montgomery County Juvenile Court and 50 high-need youth returning from secure detention beginning in 2003.

In the year 2000, approximately 6,000 of the 10,000 young people formally adjudicated by the Montgomery Juvenile Court had substance abuse problems. “We know that youth who abuse alcohol and drugs will need support and help from the community in order to remain drug free,” says Judge Michael Murphy of Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

“Youth in Montgomery County’s juvenile justice system are reflecting the trends of our region, with alcohol and drug use on the rise and starting at younger ages,” says Richard Rapp, MSW, assistant professor of community health in Wright State’s School of Medicine and director for the project.

“America’s juvenile justice system faces a public health crisis,” says Laura Burney Nissen, Ph.D., director of Reclaiming Futures, a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “As many as four out of five of the two million young people who enter the justice system each year have an alcohol or drug problem. Even though research shows that treating alcohol and drug abuse reduces crime, saves money, and builds stronger communities, the majority of young offenders receive no treatment.”

“We want to change this,” says Nissen. “The grants we are awarding today will create model programs in Montgomery County and elsewhere in the United States to show how we can reinvent treatment, judicial and social services to meet this need.”

Dayton’s project, called Mobilizing Natural Helpers, redefines three major components of the juvenile justice system and substance abuse services. The first is how youth are assessed when they enter the juvenile justice system. Although a large amount of information is gathered during the assessment process, it is primarily problem focused. The coalition’s partners will work to create an alternative assessment scheme that focuses more on youth assets and abilities.

The second component will examine the potential value of increasing the use of “natural helpers,” members of the youth’s community to assist in his or her rehabilitation. While agency-delivered treatment will remain a critical part of the services youth receive, an increasing reliance will be placed on the role that mentors, the faith community, and neighbors can play in assisting youth and their families.

The last component will emphasize restorative justice practices, combining the assets of youth and their involvement with natural helpers in court dispositions. Youth will be expected to give back to the community and, in so doing, establish a closer relationship with that community.

“This grant will help Montgomery County bring together those resources that exist in a cohesive way to help keep young people away from drugs and alcohol,” says Judge Murphy.

Reclaiming Futures officials say judicial leadership will play a critical part in these efforts. Local judges in each community will participate in a two-year fellowship. Michael B. Murphy, judge with the Juvenile Division of the Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County, will represent the coalition in the national program.

Local partners of the Montgomery County Natural Helpers Coalition include: Montgomery County Juvenile Court; the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; the Center for Interventions, Treatment and Addictions Research, Wright State University School of Medicine; Good Samaritan Hospital’s Samaritan CrisisCare; Eastway Corporation; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Project Impact; Dayton Rotary; Shiloh Church; Mt. Calvary Church; and the Dayton Foundation. As the coalition formulates plans for the coming five years, other community youth service providers will be asked to participate. In four following years, the coalition will apply for up to $250,000 annually to support the project.

Reclaiming Futures is a five-year $21 million initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation based at the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was established as a national philanthropy in 1972 and today is the largest U.S. foundation devoted to health and health care. To learn about its mission and work, see www.rwjf.org.

Media contact: National Contact: Mac Prichard, 503-725-8921. Local Contact: Judi Engle, 937-775-2951. NOTE TO EDITORS: For a list of the 11 communities receiving grants, an electronic copy of this news release, or more information about Reclaiming Futures, visit www.reclaimingfutures.org.

Community Solutions to Substance Abuse and Delinquency

DAYTON, OHIO — A free community forum on community solutions to substance abuse and delinquency will be held on February 21, at the Crowne Plaza Dayton, 33 East 5th Street. The event begins with a continental breakfast at 8:00 a.m.

Sponsored by Reclaiming Futures of Montgomery County, the half-day event will educate and inform substance abuse treatment providers, probation officers, police officers, providers of youth and family social services, and any community member interested in the issues surrounding youth involvement with substance abuse and delinquency.

Montgomery County is one of 11 sites selected out of 280 national applicants to join the Reclaiming Futures initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The five-year program is led by a broad coalition and addresses substance abuse treatment and other services for young people in trouble with the juvenile justice system.

Nationally, 70 percent of youth involved in the juvenile justice system have substance abuse problems. Many of those youth do not receive treatment, treatment that has been demonstrated to have a positive impact on reducing substance use and involvement with crime.

Keynote speakers for the event are Laura Burney Nissen, Ph.D., and Rev. Eugene F. Rivers, III. Dr. Nissen is the national director for Reclaiming Futures for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has spent the last 16 years advocating for, researching, and developing a more strength-based service delivery system for youth across a wide variety of treatment and juvenile justice settings. In addition to her role as director of the Reclaiming Futures Initiative, she is an associate professor of social work at the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University.

Rev. Rivers is Pastor of the Azusa Christian Community Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and will talk about the importance of mentoring at-risk youth in the community. Rivers has worked on community development and numerous aspects of Christian activism for nearly 30 years. He is co-chair of the National Ten Point Leadership Foundation, and is working to build new grassroots leadership in 40 of the worst inner city neighborhoods in America. Rev. Rivers has appeared on CNN’s Hardball, NBC’s Meet the Press, and BET’s Lead Story, and National Public Radio, among other programs. He also has been featured in national publications and lectured at universities across the country.

The local Reclaiming Futures effort redefines three major components of the juvenile justice system and substance abuse services: how youth are assessed and treated; the value of using natural helpers to aid youth in changing their behaviors; and the use of restorative justice practices for youth, enabling them to give back to the community.

Founding partners include: Montgomery County Juvenile Court, Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; Center for Interventions, Treatment and Addictions Research, Wright State University School of Medicine; Samaritan CrisisCare; Eastway Corporation; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Project Impact; Dayton Rotary; Shiloh Church; Mount Calvary Baptist Church; and The Dayton Foundation. The founding partners have now been joined by numerous other individuals, organizations and public groups.

This conference has been approved for 2.5 CPEs for Counselors and Social Workers. The forum is free, but registration is required. Register by phone at (937) 775-3856, a 24-hour voice mail system, or online at www.mco.reclaimingfutures.org/register If you need additional information, call (937) 775-3854.

Reclaiming Futures–Montgomery County, Ohio Receives $1 Million Dollars

DAYTON, OHIO — The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has granted Reclaiming Futures– Montgomery County, Ohio, $1 million dollars for the next four years to address substance abuse treatment issues and services for young people in Montgomery County who are involved in the juvenile justice system.

Directed by Richard Rapp, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., of Wright State University School of Medicine, Reclaiming Futures–Montgomery County, Ohio, is a broad coalition of Dayton community partners whose principles include putting youth and their families first in the rehabilitative process. Rapp states, "If youth make a wrong decision it can affect their lives forever in a negative way. If they make the right decision, youths have the opportunity to grow and become successful. Their needs are now, their challenges are now."

Judicial leadership plays a critical role in the coalition. Michael B. Murphy, Administrative Judge of the Juvenile Division of the Common Pleas Court, will participate in a two-year fellowship program developed by the foundation.

One objective for the coalition is to improve the quality of existing treatment services available to young people, including consistent, reliable, and appropriate substance abuse and mental health screenings and assessments for youth who enter the juvenile justice system.

A circle of support of natural helpers will be identified for these youth and may include their immediate and extended family, educators, neighbors, peers, along with social service agencies, civic groups, community and faith-based organizations, and local recreational facilities. These people and organizations will support the program and will assist in identifying the strengths and abilities of these youth.

Initial partners of the Reclaiming Futures–Montgomery County, Ohio, coalition include: Montgomery County Juvenile Court; the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board; the Center for Interventions, Treatment and Addictions Research, Wright State University School of Medicine; Samaritan CrisisCare; Eastway Corporation; City of Dayton Department of Parks, Recreation, and Culture; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Project Impact; Dayton Rotary; Shiloh Church; Mt. Calvary Church; and The Dayton Foundation. The coalition has now been joined by numerous other community youth service providers.

Reclaiming Futures is a five-year, $21 million initiative of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation based at the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Reclaiming Futures–Montgomery County, Ohio, is one of 10 funded programs from 280 applicants to the foundation. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was established as a national philanthropy in 1972 and today is the largest U.S. foundation devoted to health and health care. To learn about its mission and work, see www.rwjf.org.

To learn more about Reclaiming Futures–Montgomery County, Ohio, see http://www.mco.reclaimingfutures.org

Editor’s note: For more information or an interview contact Judi Engle, Director for Public Relations, Wright State University School of Medicine at (937) 775-2951 or judith.engle@wright.edu

Since 2002 Reclaiming Futures-Montgomery County has worked to pair first-time or repeat offenders and high-need youth who have become involved with the Court with "Natural Helpers" in the community. Natural Helpers—who include business, religious and community volunteers—are specially trained and carefully linked with juvenile offenders to work with family members, probation officers, treatment providers and others to plan a positive program for ongoing treatment and mentoring.

This grant will enable Reclaiming Futures-Montgomery County (RF-MCO)—a collaborative effort by a number of community partners— to provide substance-abusing youth who are Court involved with the added support of the Cirde of Care and intergraded collaboration as coordinated by Natural Helpers volunteers.

Reclaiming Futures is a five-year project of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation involving ten communities nationwide in the effort to reduce drug and alcohol abuse by teens in the juvenile justice system; to improve public safety, reduce corrections costs, and increase accountability among young people; and to engage communities to reclaim teenagers and inform the public dialogue. For more information about Reclaiming Futures-Montgomery County, call (937) 22&4780 or write to Judge Michael B. Murphy at Montgomery County Juvenile Court, 303 W. Second Street, Dayton, OH 45422. www.reclaimingfutures.org .

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2006
Contact: Charlotte McGuire, Project Director
937-496-6737 mcguirec@mcohio.org

Judges Call for Community Responses to Juvenile Substance Abuse

Montgomery County Juvenile Court Judges Nick Kuntz and Anthony Capizzi help write national report recommending judicial action to help teens in trouble with drugs and alcohol avoid a life of crime

DAYTON, OHIO—October 26, 2006—A national group of judges is recommending that judicial officers nationwide take a more active role in helping youth in the juvenile justice system overcome their drug and alcohol problems. The team, which includes Montgomery County Juvenile Court Administrative Judge Nick Kuntz and Drug Court Judge Anthony Capizzi, is part of the Reclaiming Futures program funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The judges issued their call to action as part of their jointly written monograph A Model for Judicial Leadership; Community Responses to Juvenile Substance Abuse. The report was just published by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges in its Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Summer 2006, Volume 57, Number 3.

"Research shows that teens who use drugs and alcohol are more likely to end up in the justice system, where treatment services are often unavailable or uncoordinated," said Laura Nissen, Reclaiming Futures national program director. "We believe these young people deserve appropriate screening, treatment, care and community support, and that judges have the knowledge, influence and obligation to drive this change."

The judicial monograph, written by a team of judges with extensive experience in juvenile justice, outlines practical steps for other judges to follow in order to build a collaborative model for change within their own juvenile justice systems. These steps include inviting and convening stakeholders to participate; identifying the needs for youth services; achieving consensus; focusing on performance measures and outcomes; educating the judiciary and public; partnering with the community; and listening to youth.

The report concludes with 10 recommendations for judicial action, such as: judges must ensure youth in the system are screened and assessed; judges must be educated on the current state of practice in the substance abuse field; and judges must help identify or create positive pro-social influences for youth such as mentors, jobs or volunteer opportunities.

"This guide is written by judges and intended to be used by other judges, court administrators, government entities, community leaders and interested citizens," said Judge Nick Kuntz, Montgomery County Juvenile Court Administrative Judge. "Our goal is to provide a blueprint for judges so they can take concrete actions to improve the juvenile and family court system."

A Model for Judicial Leadership can be read in its entirety at http://www.reclaimingfutures.org/resource.asp?rcid=5 or in the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Juvenile and Family Court Journal, Summer 2006, Volume 57, Number 3.

Reclaiming Futures is a $21 million initiative located in the 10 communities of Anchorage, Alaska; Santa Cruz, Calif.; Chicago, Ill.; three counties in Eastern Kentucky; Marquette, Mich.; the state of New Hampshire; Rosebud, South Dakota; Dayton, Ohio; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle, Wash. In its fourth year, early research conducted by the Urban Institute and the University of Chicago indicates the program has significantly improved the coordination of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment services in its 10 communities.

About Reclaiming Futures
Reclaiming Futures is a new approach to helping teenagers caught in the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime. The mission of Reclaiming Futures, a $21 million initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is to promote new opportunities and standards of care in juvenile justice. It is housed in the Regional Research Institute for Human Services of the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University. For additional information, visit < a href="http://www.reclaimingfutures.org">www.reclaimingfutures.org.

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org.

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