Center for Children & Youth Justice

Our Voice: Tri-Citians inspirational in battle against underage sex trafficking : [Tri-City Herald] The Tri-Cities Coalition for Human Trafficking is being trained to use a new statewide protocol to help achieve a level of consistency when dealing with underage victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Tri-Cities to implement statewide protocol to deal with sex trafficking victims : [Tri-City Herald] A new statewide protocol introduced in the Tri-Cities aims to bring consistency to dealing with underage victims of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. The Center for Children & Youth Justice drafted the protocol, which is being introduced as one of the first of its kind in the nation, after holding a series of summits across the state.

Seahawk Coach Pete Carroll to Be Honored with 5th Annual Norm Maleng Advocate for Youth Award : [Bellevue Business Journal] The Center for Children & Youth Justice will recognize Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll with the 5th annual Norm Maleng Advocate for Youth Award, to be presented at a breakfast fundraiser for the Center at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel.

A Poverty Solution That Starts With a Hug : [The New York Times] Perhaps the most widespread peril children face isn't guns, swimming pools or speeding cars. Rather, scientists are suggesting that it may be "toxic stress" early in life, or even before birth.

Suburban King County conducts survey on gangs : [The Seattle Times] The Suburban King County Coordinating Council on Gangs, which first met in June, is chaired by the center's founding president, retired state Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge. The council is composed of officials from King County government and the prosecutor's office, local mayors, and several police agencies and school districts.

West Valley’s truancy board a model program : [The Spokesman-Review] The program is a collaborative effort among school district officials, Spokane County Juvenile Court Services and volunteers from local social service agencies - Job Corps, the NATIVE Project, Lutheran Community Services, Daybreak and SNAP. The board helps students and their family members with solutions to put the child back on track inschool.

Prevention to prosecution, King County's investment in gangs : [My Northwest] King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said Tuesday that his office has perhaps the strongest unit of prosecutors dedicated to gang-related cases in their history, telling the county council that an emergency investment to combat gang violence was put to good use. About 30 kids at New Start School are part of a program called the Avanza Project, which targets at-risk Latino and Latina youth, ages 14 to 16.

In Rural Northwest Mentally Ill Teens Struggle For Services : [KUOW] Experts say mental health services for teens are especially inadequate in rural areas. That describes huge swaths of our region. Correspondent Anna King has this story of an eastern Washington family and the challenges they face getting help for their mentally ill 15-year-old son.

Northwest Mentally Ill Juveniles Cycle In And Out Of Detention : [KUOW] Every year in the Northwest, thousands of mentally ill teenagers get caught up in the juvenile justice system. In fact, some counties estimate more than half of the kids they place behind bars have a diagnosable mental health condition like schizophrenia, bipolar or personality disorder. Yet many of these teens do not get the treatment they need. Instead, they cycle in and out of detention.

Lawyers Fostering Independence Partners with Mockingbird to Help Youth : [Mockingbird Times] Last month the Mockingbird Youth Network staff met with a great organization providing legal support for youth in care. The Center for Children & Youth Justice's (CCYJ) Lawyers Fostering Independence (LFI) program is dedicated to assisting and advocating for foster youth and alumni with non-criminal legal issues. LFI is creating a partnership with the MBS to be able to reach out and connect to more youth in need of legal representation.