Chicago, IL - News

CHICAGO, Ill. (April 26, 2004) – Chicago is one of ten communities in the nation selected today to receive a $100,000 grant from Reclaiming Futures, a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to provide more effective drug and alcohol treatment for local teenagers in the juvenile justice system.

“It's no secret that teens with drug or alcohol problems are more likely to end up in trouble with the law,” says Donald Robinson, director of Reclaiming Futures of Cook County . “This money will let us adopt cutting-edge treatment techniques that can help our young people overcome the cycle of substance abuse and crime.”

Cook County officials will use the award to improve the county's ability to offer a menu of evidence-based treatment services to teens entering the justice system. The grant will provide for increased coordination between agencies, technical assistance and training on evidence-based models, in order to improve the assessment process and offer more integrated treatment, including family involvement as a core component. As a result, 120 young people from the North Lawndale community of Chicago will benefit from drug treatment and a “wraparound” process that address their specific needs and strengths .

The grant is the latest national investment in a five-year initiative that brings together local courts, businesses, civic groups, schools and others to improve drug and alcohol treatment, expand and coordinate social services, and find jobs, volunteer work and other opportunities for teens in trouble with the law. In 2002, Reclaiming Futures awarded Cook County $1.25M to reinvent the way the community responds to teenagers involved with drugs, alcohol and crime .

Treatment for youth in the system

As many as four out of five of the two million young people who enter the justice system nationally each year have an alcohol or drug problem. “Unfortunately, most don't receive treatment and many of the services that do exist are ineffective,” says Laura Burney Nissen, Ph.D., director of Reclaiming Futures, which awarded the $100,000 grants to Cook County and nine other communities. “Today's grant gives Chicago the opportunity to test promising practices that could make a positive difference in the lives of these teens. Treatment experts around the country are watching this experiment with great interest.”

“Substance abuse treatment is one of the smartest public safety investments we can make,” says Sharol Unger, supervisor of the Cook County Juvenile Drug Treatment Program, Probation Services . “Research shows that treating alcohol and drug abuse reduces crime, saves money and builds safer communities.”

According to local officials, alcohol and drug abuse is a major health issue for a significant number of youth involved with Cook County Juvenile Court. Currently, there are not sufficient coordinated treatment services available in the community to meet the needs of these young people.

“Too many of the old drug and alcohol treatment models just don't work with teenagers,” says Gerry Katovich, vice president of Bobby E. Wright, a local treatment agency. “This grant makes it possible for us to adopt the evidence-based practices that we know are effective for this age group.”

About Reclaiming Futures

Reclaiming Futures is a new approach to helping teenagers caught in the cycle of drugs, alcohol and crime. A five-year, $21 million initiative launched by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Reclaiming Futures promotes new opportunities and standards of care in juvenile justice for young people with drug and alcohol problems. For more information, visit www.reclaimingfutures.org . The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, based in Princeton , N.J. , is the largest philanthropy in the nation devoted exclusively to health and health care. To learn about its mission and work, see www.rwjf.org .