Roundup: Labeling Kids as Delinquent Increases Recidivism; Sports Improve Life Outcomes for Girls; How to Increase Collections from Insurance Companies, and More

Juvenile Justice Reform and Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment News

• Remember the Canadian study last year that followed youth for 20 years and found that youth who came into contact with the juvenile justice system were seven times more likely to commit crimes as adults? One reason for that was labeling. Now, here's more research that labeling kids as "juvenile delinquents" contributes to additional crime.  (Hat tip to @cjny.) Nevertheless, MD legislators are working hard to make sure that law enforcement and juvenile justice officials share information about kids with school administrators.
• The New York Times noted in an editorial that the Governor's budget for the coming year practically ignores the recommendations contained in the report of the Governor's task force on juvenile justice. In a separate editorial, the paper encouraged Congress to sponsor a proposed blue ribbon panel on the nation's criminal justice system.

• A kid who made good after being sanctioned in juvenile court in 1996 is about to be deported. A 1996 immigration law prevents judges from making any exceptions for immigrants with juvenile records who were successfully rehabilitated. (Hat tip to Cora Crary, Reclaiming Futures National Program Office.)
• As we reported last week, the proposed changes to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) have been posted for comment (deadline April 20). Among the proposed changes: the new DSM-V would reclassify substance abuse diagnoses in major ways. "Dependence" will no longer be a descriptive category; "problems with law enforcement" will no longer be considered a symptom of addiction.   

 
Positive Youth Development

• Want better life outcomes for girls in the justice system? Get them involved in sports. New evidence indicates that young women involved in sports have better grades, higher self-esteem, and lower pregnancy rates than girls who don't. (Hat tip to Cheryl Reed, in the Reclaiming Futures National Program Office.)
• Here's a detailed overview focusing on juvenile courts and programs in California specifically focused on the needs of girls. (Hat tip to Paul Savery, Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Co-ordinator at the North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services) (Related post: What about the boys? See this roundup for links about improving employment and education for young men.)
• Most efforts to get teens and young people to vote, volunteer, and engage with their communities are focused on college-bound youth. What about the 50% of youth who aren't college-bound? Here's a report with an overview of the problem and what to do about it.

 
Youth-related Resources 

(Hat tips for the following items to Paul Savery.)

• Want to change youth behavior in your community? Here's a step-by-step social marketing toolkit for youth providers from the California STD/HIV Prevention Training Center. Also, check out Recovery Month's February 2010 newsletter on digital marketing.
• Online drug and alcohol information/sobriety resources for teens:
  • Bubblemonkey is an older interactive website offering anonymous, accurate information about drugs for kids. It's run by Drug Strategies, and has games, quizzes, and opportunities for kids to share their stories. (For some reason, you have to choose your state and city to enter the site ... but only three states are listed. Choose one anyway.) 
  • You'll find 12-Step-focused online resources for teen sobriety at the website of the author of Young, Sober, and Free.
  • The Office of National Drug Control Policy's (ONDCP) National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign runs Above the Influence, which features TV ads encouraging sobriety, facts on drugs and alcohol, videos, podcasts, and opportunities for kids to submit photos, videos, and stories of their own.

 
Conferences and Webinars

• The National Conference on Juvenile and Family Law, hosted by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, will be held March 14-17, 2010, in Las Vegas. Register now! 
• Joyfields Institute will host the "Break Through With Youth: Evidence-Based Interventions for Working With Youth and Adolescents" conference in New Orleans, March 24 - 26, 2010.
• Work for a treatment provider? Did you miss the NIATx webinar on "How to Increase Collections from Insurance Companies"? No fear: click the link to access the webinar recording and presenters' PowerPoints.