JCMS Update & New Tutorials

Last week, the JJI and NCC pushed a new update to JCMS. The JJI will be posting news updates to summarize these updates to help program staff easily see who these updates apply to. We hope that these posts help make this website and its information more navigable; if you have feedback, please contact us and let us know what you think!

In this new update, truancy programs can generate a letter to a youth’s parent/guardian(s) using contact information stored in JCMS. A new field was also added to truancy screens to record information about which staff person is working with a particular youth. To view the tutorials, click on the link to the truancy programs page above and scroll to the “Training Videos” section. The videos are titled “Truancy Contact Person Field” and “Truancy Letter Export.”

For all program types, a new field was added to the Grand Administration (narrative) screens to allow programs to indicate whether or not they took on new referrals during the time frame for quarterly reporting. By filling out this field, the JJI and NCC can more quickly know if data should be showing up in JCMS. To view the tutorial for using this new field, click on the link to the programs home page above, and scroll down to the “Training Videos” section. The video is titled “Narrative Field for Youth Served.”

Additionally, new definitions/code books for truancy and school-based programs have been posted. All user guides for every program type have also been updated, so please make sure to review these documents to make sure your information is up to date. These documents are found on each program type’s page, under the section titled “Quarterly Reporting.”

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for continued efforts to serve Nebraska’s youth!

Mentoring During a Pandemic - OJP Blog

The U.S. Office of Justice Programs has posted a blog describing how mentoring programs around the nation have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. In any mentoring program, developing a strong relationship between the mentor and mentee is key to the program’s success. Being unable to meet as regularly can hinder that relationship’s growth.

Some mentoring programs have continued to facilitate those relationships by using technology to allow mentors to meet with their mentee from a distance. The OJJDP has also provided support for many programs to help them as they transition from face-to-face meetings to online services. To learn more about what mentoring programs are doing during the pandemic, as well as learn of resources and funding opportunities, please visit their original blog post after this link.

The Juvenile Justice Institute is also committed to helping programs through this unprecedented and rapidly-changing time. If you have any questions or have any concerns about your program’s ability to report in JCMS or serve youth, please feel free to contact us.

2020 NJJA Conference Cancelled

The Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association planning team has announced that the 2020 NJJA Conference is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the NJJA website, alternative plans are being developed. If those plans do not fit into your needs or schedule, you will be reimbursed for any fee you may have already paid. Those who have already booked a hotel room will have their reservation cancelled and refunded.

For more information, please visit the NJJA website here.

A Note from JJI Regarding COVID-19

Hello everyone,

Due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, JJI is following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the University of Nebraska. Our office in the Terminal Building will be irregularly open, since most staff are working remotely.

If you need to get in touch with anyone, you can contact us at this page, or you can email us at unojji@unomaha.edu.

If you need to come to the office for any reason, please first call our number at 402.476.0113.

Thank you for your understanding during this time. We hope you stay safe and healthy!

Sincerely,

The Juvenile Justice Institute

The Kim Culp Juvenile Justice Forum 2020

The Kim Culp Juvenile Justice Forum is held annually to honor the work of Kim Culp, the founding director of the Douglas County Juvenile Assessment Center. This year, the event welcomes Kim Hawekotte, J.D., as the new Deputy Douglas County Administrator for Juvenile Justice. She and Dr. Anne Hobbs, director of the UNO Juvenile Justice Institute, will lead an interactive experience exploring Douglas County’s Juvenile Justice system.

Please bring a WiFi-enabled device, such as a smart phone or tablet, to the event.

The Kim Culp Juvenile Justice Forum will be held on April 23, 2020 at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center, room 201, beginning at 6:30 PM. This event is free and open to the public, and requires no reservation. Food will be served at 6:30 PM to allow time for networking and reception, and the program will begin at 7:00 PM and end at 9:00 PM.

We hope to see you there!

Click the image of the flyer to download a PDF version. Feel free to pass the news along to interested friends and colleagues!

NIJ Evaluation: Cyberbullying Programs

The National Institute of Justice has released an evaluation of cyberbullying prevention and intervention programs. Cyberbullying is defined as aggressive, intentional act carried out by an individual or group over digital media, repeatedly over time against a vulnerable target. Examples may include hateful posts on social media, spamming harassment, and so on.

The programs evaluated aimed to prevent cyberbullying from happening, and/or intervene if someone is being cyberbullied. Programs were categorized based on who they targeted: individuals, universal/whole-schools, or multi-level systemic approaches. Individual-level strategies focused on teaching students a variety of strategies to respond to cyberbullying. Universal/whole-school strategies used schoolwide strategies and addressed how school related to cyberbullying. Finally, multi-level systemic approaches addressed different groups: classrooms, teachers/staff, families, and/or students. These programs may teach students how to respond to online bullying, and then also help staff build students’ social relationships at school, for example.

The NIJ found that these programs were effective in both addressing bullying and victimization. Using randomized controlled trials, the findings indicate that participating in cyberbullying invtervention or prevention programs can reduce online bullying behaviors and victimization from online bullying among school-aged youth.

To read more about the NIJ’s findings, you can visit the site after this link.

NIJ Evaluation: School-Based Interventions to Reduce Exclusion

The National Institute of Justice has evaluated school-based interventions that focus on reducing exclusion, commonly known as suspension and expulsion. The interventions described in this article tend to target students between four and eighteen in non-specialized schools. Interventions may target individual students or teachers, or they may target the whole school.

Components of the programs were varied. Components included enhancement of academic skills, after-school programs, mentoring/monitoring programs, building social skills, training for teachers, violence reduction efforts, and counseling, among others.

Interventions were delivered on school premises, or were supported by the school with at least one component being delivered in the school setting. The programs varied in length, and usually ranged from 12 to 14 weeks.

Students in the treatment group who received the intervention experienced a statistically-significant reduction in school exclusion compared with the control group. For more information about the programs, you can view the article after this link on the NIJ website.

Job Opportunity: Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program Manager

Are you looking to make an impact on Nebraska communities? The Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice is seeking a Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program Manager to aid in this effort. This position will be responsible for the administration and distribution of the Community-based Juvenile Services Aid Program funding to Nebraska counties and tribes.

This position oversees a program of approximately $6 million to aid in the establishment and provision of community-based services identified in the aid recipient's community plan that will divert juveniles from the juvenile justice system and positively impact youth and families in the juvenile justice system. This position will involve occasional travel for on-site program monitors statewide and potential out of state travel with the possibility of some overnight stays associated with that travel.

Hiring rate: $23.819/hour, with a 5% increase after successful completion of a probationary period, plus benefits. Monday - Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, though a flexible schedule may be available.

For more information, please see the job posting here.

YRTC-Geneva Recognizes University Mentors at Spring Banquet

Geneva – Four student mentors from the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) and Kearney (UNK), and other vital volunteers were recognized at the Geneva Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center’s (YRTC Geneva) annual recognition banquet Friday, April 13, for their dedicated service to the young women at the facility.

The theme for this year’s program was “Hear Me Roar.” YRTC Geneva staff and youth decorated the gymnasium with a jungle motif, and many attendees dressed for the occasion – in safari attire. Special guest speaker DeMoine Adams “appropriately challenged the YRTC youth to R.O.A.R. – use Resiliency, Optimistic, Attitude and Respect and never be defeated,” shared 36-year advisory board member Sharon Kennel, adding, “This may have been one of the best banquets ever.”

DeMoine Adams is an inspirational speaker and former UNL football player, currently serving as program director for the TeamMates Mentoring Program in Lincoln. TeamMates offers one-to-one mentoring programs to youth in 70 public and parochial schools, and was founded by Tom Osborne, former head football coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Also recognized at the banquet were Jackie and Jim Wilkins, who oversee the YRTC’s Equine Program, Compassion in Action volunteers from Omaha who visit the YRTC Geneva twice a month to officiate religious services, and members of the Community Advisory Board.

In addition, Della Crutcher and Jeannette Balcom, both of Geneva, were recognized as new volunteers. Crutcher shared that her previous experience as a team member at YRTC Geneva drew her back as a volunteer. “I just can’t stay away from these girls,” she said. “I look forward to working with them again.”

Facility Administrator Dan Scarborough also took a moment to give special recognition to long-term volunteer Marilyn Christiancy. Christiancy, who recently passed away, emulated everything a volunteer should be and contributed countless hours as an advisory board member, Scarborough said.

He went on to thank all volunteers for their various contributions. “We are grateful for our volunteers’ selflessness, compassion and commitment. Time is a precious thing, and our volunteers willingly donate theirs to help us accomplish our mission. The difference they make, sometimes simply in showing up for the youth at the YRTC, is immeasurable, as is the positive support received from the citizens of Geneva and the surrounding area.”

More than 100 YRTC Geneva youth, team members and their families, and volunteers attended this year’s banquet.

The YRTC Geneva provides a place where young women can learn, develop a sense of self, and return to their homes as good, law-abiding citizens. It uses a variety of programs to meet the youth’s needs, and team members provide teaching and emotional support.

Volunteer opportunities at the YRTC Geneva abound. Those interested in volunteering at the YRTC Geneva may contact Recreation Specialist Shirley Kamler at Shirley.Kamler@nebraska.gov or at (402)759-3164.

Legislative Bill to Provide Youth Counsel Fails

On March 14th, LB158, introduced by Sen. Pansing-Brooks, failed to pass first-round debate. This bill would have ensured that youth are provided legal counsel anytime they appear in court. LB158 also stated that juveniles and their guardians would be informed of their right to retain such counsel as needed. 

LB158 expanded on legislation passed in 2016 which ensured that juveniles in counties of populations 150,000 or more would be guaranteed access to counsel.

Those in opposition to the bill stated that requiring every juvenile to have counsel would break county budgets.

The cloture vote failed with a vote of 31-8, with 33 votes needed to invoke cloture.