A day will come when young people across the state of Washington will have a system of welfare and justice that fully supports their needs. A system that is integrated, unbiased, fueled with revolutionary ideas, and backed by programs proven to achieve the best results. When youth of color aren’t unfairly punished or entrenched in the juvenile justice system while others are diverted into treatment and support programs. When juveniles leaving incarceration are given the tools to succeed, not set adrift to make it on their own. When foster care is a blessing, rather than a risk. And when the sheer passion of those working to help kids, as opposed to class-action suits, is the real impetus for change.
To this end, the Center for Children & Youth Justice was founded. By supporting the groundwork of emerging innovative thinking and sharing model practices with others in the field, the Center will drive statewide reform efforts, helping achieve replicable and lasting change. By sponsoring research, targeting grant funding toward evidence-based programs, proposing legislation, developing partnerships, and providing better training and information, we will help parents, advocates, judges, legislators, policymakers, and system professionals make the best decisions to shape a brighter future for our youth.