State of New Hampshire - News Detail

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Gives New Hampshire District Court $200,000 to Help Troubled Youth

CONCORD, N.H. - The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, today awarded the New Hampshire District Court a $200,000 grant to improve access to community-based substance abuse treatment and other services for young people in trouble with the law.

The New Hampshire District Court's project, called Reclaiming the Futures of New Hampshire's Youth, proposes to serve 300 young people annually charged with alcohol or drug offenses beginning in 2003. The grant is one of 11 totaling $2.7 million awarded nationwide for new treatment and other services for delinquent youth.

"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 vast majority of young offenders receives no treatment at all."

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

According to state figures, up to 95 percent of the young people entering the Youth Development Center, New Hampshire's juvenile detention facility, report significant substance abuse. State officials also report a 339 percent increase in juvenile arrests for drug offenses between 1992 and 1996, and a 26 percent increase in juvenile and adult substance-related offenses between 1995 and 1998.

"New Hampshire and our communities are poised to institute meaningful systemic change in the way we respond to substance abuse among juvenile offenders," says Administrative Judge Edwin W. Kelly of the District Court.

"Building upon the seminal work that has occurred on both a state and local level over the past several years, we are confident that an infusion of planning dollars will help us affect the attitudinal and functional renaissance that is required to make a difference in the lives of our youth and families," says Kelly.

The New Hampshire District Court was one of 280 applicants. Over the next five years, New Hampshire proposes to improve the delivery of services to juvenile offenders, increase coordination and cooperation between courts and communities, and promote a more active role for families and community members in each youth's life.

Beginning this month, juvenile court judges and officers, law enforcement officials, treatment professionals, and civic, youth and family leaders in New Hampshire and the 10 other communities nationally will spend a year planning their programs. In four following years, communities can apply for up to $250,000 annually to implement the plans.

Reclaiming Futures officials say judicial leadership will play a critical part in these efforts and up to two local judges in each community will participate in a two-year fellowship. Thomas E. Bamberger, associate justice of the Nashua District Court, and Willard G. Martin, Jr., special justice of the Laconia District Court, will represent New Hampshire in the national fellows program.

"Our community recognizes that punishment cannot be the only path available for juveniles who commit delinquent acts and abuse substances. In order for these juveniles to become productive members of our community, to be reclaimed, this population will need a clear, enforceable and accountable plan for rehabilitation," says Judge Bamberger. "This grant will help us reach that goal," he says.

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

New Hampshire - News

State of New Hampshire - News Detail

Research Shows Significant Improvements in Communities Piloting Reclaiming Futures' Approach to Teens in Trouble
Claremont, NH Is One Of The Ten Pilot Sites

May 4, 2006
Contact: Ray Goodman
rgoodman@courts.nh.state.us; 603-271-6418

Coordination of substance abuse treatment in the juvenile justice system has improved significantly in the 10 communities that are piloting Reclaiming Futures, a new approach to helping teens who struggle with drugs, alcohol and crime, according to new research conducted by the Urban Institute and the University of Chicago's Chapin Hall Center for Children.

The State of New Hampshire is one of the 10 select sites chosen for this pilot project. An initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), Reclaiming Futures combines system reform, treatment improvement and community engagement to help teens in the justice system get off drugs and alcohol. 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.

"Early findings indicate that the 10 pilot communities have significantly improved their coordination of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatment services," said Jeffrey A. Butts, research fellow with the University of Chicago and member of the Reclaiming Futures evaluation team.

Across the 10 communities, 12 out of the 13 indices have shown significant improvement since 2003, Butts said. For example, there have been significant improvements in drug and alcohol assessments, effectiveness of treatment and access to services. Communities report more families are involved in helping teens turn their lives around, and more teens who have struggled with drugs and alcohol are involved in positive social activities in their communities.

Key elements of the Reclaiming Futures model include screening and assessing teens for drug and alcohol problems and assembling a team to develop a personal care plan; training drug and alcohol treatment providers in evidence-based practices that work with teens; and involving community members as mentors and role models to provide the support teens need.

"Through systems change, Reclaiming Futures is making a difference in the health of youth and their families," said Kristin Schubert, RWJF program officer for Reclaiming Futures. "The pilot communities ultimately can serve as models for juvenile justice improvements across the nation."

Communities using the Reclaiming Futures model screen and assess teens entering the juvenile justice system, match young people to clinical services and positive community opportunities, and provide care coordination and family support. Community leaders in these places work together as a team to assure that each part of the process functions effectively, remains accountable to the community and demonstrates progress, such as decreasing recidivism.

"The judges, justice workers, treatment providers and community members in our Reclaiming Futures communities are working hard to bring about these important changes," said Laura Nissen, national program director. "While we've learned a great deal, there's still more to be done."

In New Hampshire, Reclaiming Futures is supporting six Juvenile Drug Courts that serve about 60 youth a year: Nashua, Concord, Plymouth, Laconia, Derry, and Claremont. Its core partners are the New Hampshire District and Family Division Courts, Division of Juvenile Justice Services, Belknap County Citizen's Council, New Futures, Office of Alcohol and Drug Policy, and The Youth Council. For more information contact Project Director Ray Goodman at 603-271-6418 or rgoodman@courts.state.nh.us.

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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 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.

State of New Hampshire - News Detail

Contact: Ray Goodman,
June 8, 2006
603/271-6418

Reclaiming Futures Contracts New Community Liaison

Susan Sargent was recently contracted by Reclaiming Futures as a Community Liaison to establish and strengthen community connections throughout Belknap County for youth and families involved in the Juvenile Drug Court/Intensive Juvenile Supervision Session (IJSS). Juvenile Drug Court is now part of the Belknap County Family Division Court.

Sargent will work with citizens, professionals, local leaders and other resources to expand and coordinate support services. Her job will involve matching youth with volunteer opportunities, positive activities, jobs and caring adults. Sargent will also be the project director for this summer's Community Youth Mapping Project with the Teen Center of the Lakes Region. Youth mapping involves employing youth to survey the resources in the community to discover what the area has to offer young people. The Community Youth Mapping Project is being sponsored by Community Response Coalition (CoRe) and funded by the Drug Free Community Support Program.

Reclaiming Futures offers additional funding and support to the already established New Hampshire Juvenile Drug Courts. The New Hampshire Juvenile Drug Courts were started in 2001 as a program to better meet the needs of youth with substance abuse problems and as an alternative to sending indicted youth to the Youth Development Center. Drug Court/IJSS provides a strength-based, comprehensive, team approach to each individual case.

"Helping these young people onto the right path takes the involvement of the entire community," said Judge Willard Martin of Laconia District Court. "The premise of the integrated system of care advocated by Reclaiming Futures is that successful recovery is complex and occurs within a vigilant network of community and family support. Not only are effective substance abuse treatment services needed, but so are opportunities for meaningful community involvement."

Sargent is being supported by several community organizations, including Genesis Behavioral Health, the Teen Center of the Lakes Region, and the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. She lives in Belmont.

For more information about Reclaiming Futures, contact Alan Robichaud at 528-3185 or Ray Goodman at 271-6418, or visit www.reclaimingfutures.org. To find out more about Community Youth Mapping, visit www.communityyouthmapping.org

State of New Hampshire - News Detail

October 27, 2006
Contact: Ray Goodman
rgoodman@courts.state.nh.us; 603-271-6418

Judges Call for Community Responses to Juvenile Substance Abuse

A report by a team of judges, including three from New Hampshire, recommends judicial action to help teens in trouble with drugs and alcohol avoid a life of crime

CONCORD, NH (October 27, 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 Administrative Judge of New Hampshire District Courts Edwin Kelly, Judge Thomas Bamberger of Nashua District Court and Judge Willard Martin of Laconia District Court, 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 Martin. "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 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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