As momentum continues to grow around implementing best practices, evidence-based practices, research-based practices -- OK, so pick the term you want to use – the point is how do we use the body of research about what works to improve practice in the juvenile justice world? And, how do we transition our systems from what we now do to...
Ethan Allen School and Southern Oaks Schools to Close
The Governor’s budget introduced today includes the closing of two juvenile correctional institutions, Southern Oaks School (Union Grove; girls) and Ethan Allen School (Wales; boys), and moving those youth to one consolidated juvenile correctional institution, Lincoln Hills School (Irma). As everyone is aware, the population at the...
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice Calls for More Strategic use of Federal JJ Funds
The Coalition for Juvenile Justice, a network of state’s advisory groups, has responded to President Obama’s budget which consolidates Title II and JABG funds into a new bucket called Juvenile Justice System Incentive Grants. While supporting the positives of the incentive grant approach – and there are some – CJJ suggests using that...
Deadline Looms for Debt Restructuring Option in Budget Repair Bill
Without a Deal Early This Week, Window Will Close for $165 Million Short-term Savings As a recent Wisconsin Budge Project Blog post noted, one of the relatively easy ways to close the projected $137 million budget shortfall in the 2010-11 fiscal year is to restructure some state debt. That maneuver, which is part of Governor Walker’s...
The Obama Budget and Juvenile Justice Funding – II
While Congress struggles with continuing resolutions and cuts related to the current fiscal year’s budget, as mentioned in a blog posting last week, the Obama FY 2012 budget proposal reduces and alters funding for some of the traditional Formula and JABG juvenile justice grants. Until some basic questions get answered about how funds...
A Study in Contrasts: Federal Proposals for Child Care and Head Start
1. House proposed big cuts: On February 11 House leadership released the FY 2011 Continuing Resolution/appropriations bill they are bringing to the floor. The House bill would cut Head Start by $1.083 billion (from FY 2010) and the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) by $39 million. The Head Start and child care cuts would...
Obama Proposes Changes in Juvenile Justice Funding
In the just-released federal budget proposal, President Obama is proposing the creation of a $120 million Juvenile Justice Incentive Grant program that would be available to states that are in compliance with the JJDPA core requirements to compete for. A story in Youth Today outlines a plan to combine funds formerly in the JABG and...
What will the Governor’s Budget tell us, if Anything, About Consolidating JCIs?
It’s been another 7+ months since the issue of whether to consolidate Lincoln Hills School and Ethan Allen School has received much media attention – so, it’s been a quiet fall and winter – and one has to admire the commitment and patience of the many staff who await a decision, one way or the other, as they continue to pour their heart...
Attention to Beyond Scared Straight pushes states to suspend programs
The broadcasting of Beyond Scared Straight that raised the visibility of the program has led to both Maryland and California to suspend their programs pending further internal review. Their action apparently follows some kind of notice from OJJDP that the programs featured in the A&E series may be in violation of JJDPA core...
Health care reform act likely to save Wisconsin money – based on careful reading of Secretary Smith’s testimony
Catching up on some news from late last month, Wisconsin’s new Secretary of the Department of Health Services (DHS) testified at a January 26th hearing of the House Budget Committee, which is now chaired by Rep. Paul Ryan (R. WI). Smith, who served as the national Medicaid Director for nearly 8 years during the Bush administration, was...
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