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MECP Blog

Publication: Law Enforcement’s Guide on Recognizing Child Abuse

OJJDP has published the guide “Recognizing When a Child’s Injury or Illness Is Caused by Abuse.” The guide provides information to help law enforcement differentiate between physical abuse and accidental injury during a child abuse investigation. The guide also identifies questions that law enforcement should address during an investigation, describes how to conduct a caretaker assessment when a child is injured, and highlights ways to work with the medical community. To read more on this guide, click here.

OJJDP Bulletin Examines Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Detained Youth

OJJDP has released “Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Detained Youth.” The bulletin is part of OJJDP’s Beyond Detention series, which examines the findings of the Northwestern Juvenile Project—a large-scale longitudinal study of youth detained at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in Chicago, IL. This bulletin summarizes the study’s methods, findings, and implications of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among detained youth ages 10–18. To read more on the study, visit here.

Publication: CJJ Releases New Resources on Status Offenses

The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) has released online publications to help juvenile justice stakeholders reform their approach to addressing status offenses, such as truancy, running away, violating curfew laws, and possessing alcohol or tobacco. These publications were released as a follow up to the National Standards for the Care of Youth Charged with Status Offenses. To read more about the publications, visit here.

Report: Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents

On Thursday, July 31st 2014, The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), in partnership with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), released a model policy regarding police interaction with children who are impacted when a child’s parent is arrested and law enforcement carries out its investigative and arrest responsibilities. Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents, provides necessary strategies for law enforcement to improve their procedures and positively impact the communities they serve. A copy of the report can be found by visiting the BJA website.

Conference: Crimes Against Children On August 11–14, 2014, the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and the Dallas Police Department will host the 26th annual Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas, TX.  This conference provides training for professionals in government and nonprofit agencies which include but are not limited to – law enforcement, child protective services, social work, children’s advocacy, therapy, and medicine – all of which work directly with child victims of crime. To register for the conference, visit here.

Webinar: Using Title IV-E for Juvenile Justice On August 21, 2014, at 3 p.m. ET, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice will present “Using Title IV-E for Juvenile Justice: The Multnomah County Experience.” This webinar will focus on how jurisdictions can leverage Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to support home- and community-based programs and services in their juvenile justice system. To register for this webinar, click here.

News: Nixle and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Team Up The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has partnered with public safety notification provider Nixle to help law enforcement reunite missing children with their families. Nixle enables more than 7,000 police, fire, and emergency management agencies to send text, email, and phone alerts to residents through a secure network. Alerts are monitored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and enables them to  contact law enforcement to offer its resources and support. To read more on partnership and its benefits to missing and exploited children, click here.

At Risk Warning Signs for Child Sex Trafficking Thorn has recently released a short article to call attention to youth at risk for child sex trafficking. The article details how to identify a child who may be at risk for child sex trafficking, warning signs that a child may convey to determine if they are at risk, and what an adult can do to protect a child. To read the full article, visit here.

Chosen – The True Story of America’s Trafficked Teens
Shared Hope International has recently released a DVD and Training Package titled: Chosen – The True Story of America’s Trafficked Teens. This video is a resource in which it displays two survival stories, Brianna and Lacy, and how they were exploited and manipulated into being trafficked. Chosen, reveals the warning signs and consequences of sex trafficking to equip teens to protect themselves and to avoid coercion and entrapment of the sex industry. To see the trailer or purchase the full version click here.

OJJDP Administrator Listenbee Testifies on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act
On June 9, 2014, OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee testified before a field hearing of the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D–RI). The hearing focused on the reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. Administrator Listenbee emphasized the U.S. Department of Justice’s support for reauthorization of the Act and outlined OJJDP’s priorities for juvenile justice reform. To read more on OJJDP’s priorities, click here.

Report: National Standards for the Care of Youth Charged with Status Offenses
The National Standards, developed by the Coalition for Juvenile Justice,  aim to promote best practices for this population, based in research and social service approaches, to better engage and support youth and families in need of assistance. Given what we know, the National Standards call for an absolute prohibition on detention of status offenders and seek to divert them entirely from the delinquency system by promoting the most appropriate services for families and the least restrictive placement options for status offending youth. To read more on the report, follow the link.

Northwestern Juvenile Project Examines Death in Delinquent Youth in Adolescence and Young Adulthood
An article by researchers on the Northwestern Juvenile Project, published in the July 2014 issue of Pediatrics, found that delinquent youth are at great risk of violent death up to 16 years after detention. The article examines causes of death by gender and race/ethnicity and analyzes risk factors associated with subsequent death. The Northwestern Juvenile Project is the first large-scale longitudinal study of the health needs and outcomes of youth after detention. Click here to read the article and see the key findings.

Conference: Registration Open for Global Youth Justice Training Institute
On December 2–4, 2014, Global Youth Justice will host its 10th Global Youth Justice Training Institute in Las Vegas, NV. Participants will learn strategies to establish or enhance local youth justice diversion programs through teen, student, youth, and peer courts and peer juries. Topics will include training youth and adult volunteers; providing quality community services, programs, and referrals; conducting mock family intake meetings, grant writing, funding opportunities, and more. Click to register.

Report and Video: “A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities”
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Children’s Bureau, has released a brief online video on the Child Welfare Research & Evaluation Tribal Workgroup’s report entitled, “A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities.” The video highlights the challenges in conducting evaluation and research in tribal communities and explores new techniques for conducting culturally responsive and scientifically rigorous evaluations. To view the video visit here and to read the report click here

Annual Conference: “From Surviving to Thriving: Healthy Families, Healthy Courts” From July 13–16th, 2014, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) will hold its 77th Annual Conference “From Surviving to Thriving: Healthy Families, Healthy Courts,” in Chicago, IL. The conference will feature a range of juvenile and family law topics, including child abuse and neglect, trauma, sex trafficking of minors, children’s testimony in court, custody and visitation, and the adolescent brain. OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee is an invited speaker and will address the future of juvenile justice in his plenary presentation on July 16th. To register for the annual conference, click here.

Webinar: “Addressing the Educational Challenges of Youth Who Are Confined in Juvenile Justice Secure Settings” 
On July 10, 2014, at 3:30 p.m. ET, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Department of Education will present the webinar “Addressing the Educational Challenges of Youth Who Are Confined in Juvenile Justice Secure Settings.” Presenters will discuss trends in juvenile correctional education and their impact on youth outcomes, highlight Indiana’s juvenile justice education reform efforts, and explore how quality education can prepare youth for successful reentry into their communities and schools. Register for this Webinar here.

Report: Community-Based Alternatives to Youth Incarceration - “Safely Home” The Youth Advocate Programs Policy and Advocacy Center has released “Safely Home.” This report highlights cost-effective, community-based alternatives to incarceration for high-risk youth. The report provides examples of effective community-based alternatives, including individualized services, cultural competence, positive youth development, safety and crisis planning, and no reject/no eject policies that promote unconditional caring. To read more on the report, please click here.

Report: Are the Children Well? This report, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, contains a model and recommendations for promoting the mental wellness of the nation’s young people. The report considers the evidence for interventions, both prevention- and promotion-oriented, that can improve mental wellness at the multiple levels of individual, family, school, and community. To read more about the report, click here.

Conference: International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research The National Criminal Justice Association will host its International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference, Sunday, July 13 - Tuesday, July 15, 2014. This conference offers a unique opportunity for researchers and scientist/practitioners from a broad array of disciplines to come together for the purpose of sharing, integrating and critiquing accumulated knowledge on family violence. To learn more about this conference, visit here

Webinar: Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation - A Global Perspective, and Boys are Victims Too On Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM EDT, a web-based training series is presented by The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Stephanie V. Blank Center for Safe and Healthy Children and the Governor’s Office for Children and Families. The training aims to educate Georgia professionals on sex trafficking of children and teens. The objectives of the webinar include: recalling the similarities and differences between international and domestic sex trafficking, listing the five stages of trafficking and identifying the similarities and differences between female and male victims of sexual exploitation and discussing two possible reasons for the “invisibility” of male victims. Please click here to register!

Webinar: “Using Title IV-E for Juvenile Justice: The Multnomah County Experience” On July 23 at 1:00pm ET, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice will host a webinar on how jurisdictions can leverage Title IV-E of the Social Security Act to support programs and services in their juvenile justice system. Participants will learn about Title IV-E, what types of programs and services can receive Title IV-E reimbursement, and how stakeholders can support the implementation of a Title IV-E claiming program in their jurisdiction. Participants will gain insight into the lessons learned from the Multnomah County, Oregon collaborative process. For more information and to register today, click here.

Report: Indicators of School Crime and Safety - 2013 The Bureau of Justice Statistics, in collaboration with the National Center for Education Statistics, has released “Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2013.” This annual report provides the most recent data on school crime and student safety. The indicators in this report are based on a variety of data sources, including national surveys of students, teachers, principals, and postsecondary institutions. Topics covered include victimization at school, teacher injury, bullying and cyberbullying, school conditions, fights, weapons, availability and student use of drugs and alcohol, and student perceptions of personal safety at school.

News Release: FBI Rescues 168 of ‘America’s Children’ From Sex Traffickers Nearly 170 victims of child sex trafficking, many of whom had never been reported missing, were rescued within the last week as part of an annual nationwide crackdown, the FBI said Monday. In addition to the rescues, 281 pimps were arrested during the same period on state and federal charges. This operation is the FBI’s eighth of its kind in which the latest operation took place in 106 cities across the nation. The operation began at the local level with prostitution and solicitation arrests. The FBI then used this information to zero in on organized trafficking efforts. To read more on the news release, visit here.

Four Action Steps to Create More Inclusive Mentoring Programs for LGBTQ Youth In honor of LGBT Pride Month, MENTOR reached out to Dr. Christian Rummell to highlight action steps that every mentoring program can take to become more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Dr. Rummell is a Senior Researcher in the Health and Social Development Program at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) where he supports a range of projects related to juvenile justice, youth mentoring, and LGBT youth populations. To read about the four action steps, visit here.

IACP Launches Online Training Series on Juvenile Interviewing and Interrogation The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), in collaboration with OJJDP, has released a free, online training series on effective juvenile interviewing and interrogation techniques. This introductory-level series is targeted to law enforcement and legally authorized juvenile justice professionals who interview and/or interrogate youth. Courses include analyzing juvenile behavior, developing rapport with youth, juvenile interviewing techniques, and juvenile interrogation techniques.

CDC Releases Report- Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action The CDC recently released a report titled, “Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action” and its companion guide “Taking Action to Prevent Youth Violence”, which provides individuals with information and action steps against violence. Community members and leaders, public health professionals, families, and adults who work with youth can all take steps to stop youth violence before it starts. To learn more, visit the report here.

Office for Victims of Crime Launches Online Toolkit to Support Child Victim Outreach The Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) has released an online toolkit on strategies for community collaboration to assist abused and neglected children and their caregivers. This free resource models the OVC-funded Helping and Lending Outreach Support (HALOS) program in Charleston, SC, which connects child victims and their caretakers to local organizations who provide resources and special opportunities to these families in need. The toolkit offers lessons learned from the HALOS initiative, recommends strategies for establishing programs similar to HALOS, and provides sample tools to use with partnering organizations. For more information about the toolkit, visit here.

Campaign: It’s A Penalty - Taking a Stand Against The Sexual Exploitation of Children 17 and Under The World Cup will be held in Brazil from June to July 2014. It is estimated that there are over 250,000 children involved in the child sex trade in Brazil (UNICEF). Police authorities are concerned that girls as young as 11 in Brazilian cities will be vulnerable for prostitution and trafficked to World Cup fans and tourists. In a bid to tackle the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, “It’s A Penalty” aims to raise awareness amongst fans and those travelling to Brazil and the resulting prosecution they could face if they engage in sexual exploitation with a child aged 17 and under. For more information, visit here.

Event: 2014 Juvenile Justice Youth Summit From August 7-8th2014 in Washington D.C., The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) are co-hosting the 2014 Juvenile Justice Youth Summit. The Youth Summit aims to cultivate and empower a new generation of juvenile justice advocates. Over two days, participants will engage in skill-building, networking, and leadership development. Participants will learn the basics of juvenile justice and have the opportunity to delve into more detail on trending topics in juvenile justice reform. To view more information or register, visit here.

Video: Jimmy Carter- End Impunity for Sexual Violence In June 2014, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter provided a message to the Global Conference on Sexual Violence in Conflict, on the importance of ending impunity for sexual violence crimes and the need for this to become an international priority. As Jimmy Carter stated, “Sexual Violence is one of the most devastating blows to humanity that I have ever seen.” To view the entire video, visit here.

Technology: The FBI Child ID App Did you know that the FBI currently has an app for parents? The FBI Child ID App enables parents to store photos along with details like height and weight to share with law enforcement if their child goes missing. The app also includes tips on keeping children safe as well as specific guidance on what to do in those initial crucial hours after a child goes missing. To learn more about the app click here.

Webinar: Abuse of People with Disabilities- A Silent Epidemic On June 26th, 2014 at 1:30pm ET, the National Center on Criminal Justice & Disability will host a webinar titled “Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Silent Epidemic”. The webinar features advocates, Molly Kennedy and Kecia Weller, who will discuss the definition of abuse, its many forms, and help victims understand and report abuse. To register for webinar, please click here.

Event: Missing Children Chief Executive Officer Seminar On July 22nd and July 23rd 2014, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will host its Missing Children Chief Executive Officer Seminar. This course is limited to Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, 9-1-1 Call Center Directors or Clearinghouse Managers and will familiarize them with issues related to missing child cases including effective policies and practices, technical assistance, training, and available resources. To register for this event, please click here.

Report: New Directions- Questions to Guide Future Child Abuse and Neglect Research New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research is a report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and National Research Council (NRC) which emphasizes that child abuse and neglect are serious public health issues. The report calls for a systems approach to child abuse and neglect research and illustrates the importance of adopting a critical stratification lens. The purpose of this document is to serve as a guide to researchers and help move toward new directions in child abuse and neglect research. To read more on the report click here.

Event: More Than a Survivor Photo Exhibition On Tuesday June 24th, in New York, from 6pm-8pm ET, Girls Educational and Mentoring Services National Survivor Leadership Institute and Resource Center, will launch their newest project More Than A Survivor: More Than A Story, which features a series of portraits of 22 women from across the country who are leaders in arts, science, and the community as well as survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking. The exhibit honors the women’s diversity, beauty, strength, accomplishments, leadership and celebrates their present and future. The exhibition provides a powerful antidote to the stereotypes of commercially sexually exploited and trafficked victims perpetually broken and forever limited by their trauma. Tickets for this event are available here.

Conference: Prevention and the Child Abuse Professional The Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center will host a conference titled, “Prevention and the Child Abuse Professional: Improving Effective Child Abuse Prevention Programs” in Bloomington, Minnesota, July 21-23, 2014. Attendees will learn techniques for identifying factors in their communities that contribute to child maltreatment. Workshop topics include, violent media’s effect on families, online and cellphone safety, tips for youth-serving organizations in creating a safe place for children, the development of “No Hit Zones,” etc. To learn more about the conference and to register, please click here.

Online Guide: Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched an online guide entitled “Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers,” with the purpose of providing parents with young children the resources needed to develop a positive, healthy relationship with their children. The guide includes resources on how to reduce parenting stress while handling a child’s misbehavior in an effective manner, all based on proven strategies. Visitors can take advantage of articles offering skills, tips and techniques for effective parenting; videos demonstrating and discussing skills; print resources like chore charts and daily schedules; as well as simulations for parenting skill practice. To view the guide, please click here.  

Event: FDLE Meeting On April 25, 2014, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement held its Missing Person’s Advisory Board Meeting in Tallahassee, FL. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and implement plans and policies to combat the large number of people that go missing each year. Heather Bish, who contributed to the What About Me? Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister guide, addressed the board on issues regarding the investigation and recovery process of missing children. A tree was planted to honor the memory of Martha Ryce, advocate, contributor of What About Me? Coping with the Abduction of a Brother or Sister and sister of Jimmy Ryce. Below includes a picture from the event.

Group Picture

Spring Issue: Journal of Juvenile Justice Recently, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention published the Spring 2014 issue of the Journal of Juvenile Justice. The semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal contains numerous articles and commentary on a range of juvenile justice topics. This issue includes resources relating to: the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in juvenile offenders, multisystemic therapy for minority youth, police-youth interaction, youth mentoring programs, etc. To view the Spring 2014 issue in its entirety, please click here.

Policy Guide: LGBTQ Youth and Disproportionality The Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ) in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign and the Equity Project, recently published a policy guide titled “LGBTQ Youth and Status Offenses: Improving System Responses and Reducing Disproportionality.” LGBTQ youth, once in the system, are found to be more likely to be the target of abuse and violence. The guide outlines national standards developed by CJJ, which include recommendations for promoting equal access to services and fair treatment for LGBTQ youth. To read the guide in its entirety, please click here.

Whitepaper: Juvenile Defenders and Upholding Due Process Rights of Youth Recently, the National Juvenile Defender Center published a whitepaper titled “Juvenile Defense Attorneys: A Critical Protection Against Injustice.” The paper examines the role of the juvenile defender as the voice of the child, identifies the two areas of specialization necessary for juvenile defense attorneys, and outlines three challenges that are unique to representing indigent children. To view the whitepaper in its entirety, please visit here.

Policy Brief: Disproportionate Minority Contact In May 2014, the Sentencing Project released a policy brief titled “Disproportionate Minority Contact in the Juvenile Justice System,” which provides an overview of progress towards eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system, as well as remaining challenges facing the system. The brief proposes that the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) undergo reauthorization and require states to report steps they have taken to reduce disproportionate minority contact in order to be eligible for funding. To read the full policy brief, please click here.

Event: Progressive Agriculture Safety Day On Tuesday, July 15th, Calumet Medical Center will host “Progressive Agriculture Safety Day.” at the Calumet County Fairgrounds in Chilton, Wisconsin.  The event will focus on child safety and child abduction. Children will have the opportunity to learn about survival skills, farm equipment safety, and bicycle safety as well as about CSI investigations, search dogs, and much more. To learn more about the event, please click here.

Event: Law Enforcement Leadership Institute From September 16-18, 2014 in Seattle, Washington, the International Association of Chiefs of Police will host its Law Enforcement Leadership Institute on Juvenile Justice. The Institute is a three-day training program for law enforcement executives on improving agency responses to juvenile offenders and at-risk youth. To learn more about the Institute or to apply to attend, please click here.

Report: WHTF Protecting Students from Sexual Assault This month, the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, published its first report, “Not Alone.” The report was followed by the launch of a new website dedicated to making enforcement data and other resources accessible to the public.  The report addresses efforts task force efforts and recommendations for combating sexual violence on college campuses. To read the report, please click here. To view the new website, visit here.

Report: Protective Factors for In-Risk Families and Youth  In support of National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month, the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) recently issued a report titled “Promoting Protective Factors for In-Risk Families and Youth: A Brief for Researchers,” focusing on five vulnerable populations that are the most victimized. The findings highlight the importance of protective factors at the individual, relationship, and community levels, which contribute to improved well-being and positive outcomes in the long term. To read the report, please click here.

Conference: 40 Years in Juvenile Justice The Council for Juvenile Justice will host its Looking Back, Planning Ahead: A Vision for the Next 40 Years in Juvenile Justice conference from June 18-21, 2014 in Washington, DC.  Participants will develop an understanding of lessons learned, implications for the future, and emerging or unanticipated issues in the areas of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. To learn more about the conference or to register, please click here.

Hearing: Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans On Tuesday, April 29th, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, chaired a hearing entitled “Law Enforcement Responses to Disabled Americans: Promising Approaches for Protecting Public Safety.” As law enforcement officers have increasingly become the first responders for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities who are in crisis, it has become clear that additional training is needed to safely address these situations. The hearing explored ways in which Congress and the Executive Branch can support this training such as in the development of Crisis Intervention Teams. To view the hearing and read the testimony, please click here.

Facebook: ID Unidentified Children: This month, the Unknown Victim Identification team at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), launched a new Facebook page titled “Help ID Me” dedicated to finding the names of unknown children through direct public assistance. To view the Facebook page, please click here.

Video Series: “Through Our Eyes: Children, Violence, and Trauma:” The Office for Victims of Crime’s recently updated its video series “Through Our Eyes: Children, Violence, and Trauma,” to bring awareness to the unique challenges in identifying, protecting, and treating children exposed to violence. To view the videos, please click here.

Certificate Program: Juvenile Diversion: The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University will host a Juvenile Diversion Certificate Program from September 8-10, 2014 in Washington, D.C. National experts will present on how to implement or improve juvenile diversion programming with an emphasis on reducing formal processing and incarceration. To learn more about the Certificate Program and to apply, click here.

Webinar: Preventing Suicide among Justice-Involved Youth: On April 17th, 2014 at 1:30 p.m. ET, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention will host a webinar titled “Preventing Suicide among Justice-Involved Youth: Newly Developed Tools, Recommendations, and Research”. The webinar will present juvenile justice and mental health professionals with information on new suicide prevention resources as well as on suicide research findings and recommendations. To register for the webinar, please click here.

Video: NCMEC 30 Year Anniversary: In April of 2014, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children celebrated its thirtieth anniversary. In commemoration, NCMEC released a short documentary film titled “Hope Is Why We’re Here”, which emphasizes how far the organization has come in protecting children. Hear the firsthand accounts of parents and abducted children as they discuss how NCMEC touched their lives. To view the video, click here.

Update: PITF Progress Report: An update of the “Progress in Combating Trafficking in Persons: The U.S. Government Response to Modern Slavery” report, was published following a meeting of the President’s Interagency Task Force to Combat and Monitor Trafficking.  The report included descriptions of recent developments made by member agencies related to the Task Force’s priorities and strategic objectives. To view the updated report, please click here.

Issue Brief: School Discipline Snapshot: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights recently released an issue brief titled “Civil Rights Data Collection: Data Snapshot (School Discipline)., which includes  school discipline data from every public school in the nation. Among the findings presented, the brief states that there are disproportionately high suspension/expulsion rates for students of color as well as disproportionately high suspension rates for girls of color. To view the issue brief, please click here.

The AMBER Advocate: MECP encourages readers to view the AMBER Training and Technical Assistance Program’s the twenty-fourth edition of the Amber Advocate newsletter. This issue gives an in-depth behind the scenes account of the AMBER Alert issued in five states for Hannah Anderson—the largest activation in history. It also highlights recent developments internationally, in the handling of missing children investigations. To see the newsletter in its entirety, please click here.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month: In support for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Children’s Bureau, has developed an activity calendar identifying thirty ways to promote child well-being. Each day involves a different activity that parents, programs, and community partners can plan or participate in to show their support and raise awareness. To view the calendar, please click here.

APSAC’s Child Forensic Interview Clinic: APSAC will host a child forensic interview clinic in Norfolk, Virginia April 28- May 2, 2014. Participants will receive 40 hours of intensive training in forensic interview theory and research and learn techniques for interviewing reluctant children and children with disabilities. For more information and to register for the event, please click here.

Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare: The Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau recently released an issue brief titled “Protective Factors Approaches in Child Welfare.” The brief is intended to help child welfare stakeholders understand the concepts of risk and protective factors in families and communities and learn ways in which developing protective factors can lessen the risk of child abuse and neglect. To read the full issue brief, please click here.

Event: Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: On April 9th, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. ET, the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention will meet for its quarterly meeting at the Office of Justice Programs in Washington, D.C. The Council will discuss the Supportive School Discipline Initiative, a collaborative project between the Departments of Education and Justice, which addresses the “school-to-prison pipeline” and the disciplinary policies that push students out of school and into the justice system, with the goal of fostering safe and productive learning environments. The meeting is open to the public and can also be streamed by live Webcast. For more information and to register, click here.

Briefing Papers: Discipline Disparities: In March 2014, the Discipline Disparities Research to Practice Collaborative, a group of 26 nationally known researchers, educators, advocates, and policy analysts, released its Discipline Disparities Briefing Paper Series. This series presents current data on school discipline disparities and offers evidence-based recommendations in addressing disparities within schools.  To view the briefing papers, click here.

Runaway and Homeless LGBTQ Youth: MECP welcomes readers to view the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF)’s report titled “Identifying and Serving LGBTQ Youth: Case Studies of Runaway and Homeless Youth Program Grantees.” Findings from this report, suggest that LGBTQ youth may be at greater risk for homelessness as well as subsequent victimization, high-risk sexual behavior, and poor mental health. ACF identifies strategies for serving LGBTQ runaway and homeless youth as well as challenges in understanding and addressing the needs of this population. To view the full report, visit here.

President’s Interagency Task Force to Combat and Monitor Trafficking: On April 8th, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. ET the President’s Interagency Task Force to Combat and Monitor Trafficking (PITF) will be convening for its annual meeting. The PITF is a cabinet-level entity that coordinates federal efforts to combat trafficking of persons. During the last meeting of the PITF, committee members discussed continuing to develop international initiatives to reduce the trafficking of children involved in forced begging, labor and sexual exploitation. The full transcript of the last session can be found online here. Be sure to watch the upcoming session which will be streamed live at whitehouse.gov. More information can be found here.

Victimization of Children with Disabilities: In connection to our previous webinar and newsletter series on the “Victimization of Children with Disabilities,” MECP welcomes readers to review the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ report, “Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, 2009—2012-Statistical Tables.” This report presents findings based on the National Crime Victimization Survey and identifies considerable statistics regarding violent crime as it relates to the victim’s age. To view the entire report, please visit here.

Military Families and Child Maltreatment: Following requests from the field regarding the incidence of child maltreatment among military families in the United States, MECP  directs readers to a 2013 report published in the journal Psychology of Violence, titled “Child Maltreatment Among Civilian Parents Before, During, And After Deployment in United States Air Force Families.” The report explores the rates of child maltreatment related to deployment.  To read this full report, readers are encouraged to visit the American Psychological Association “Publications” page here.

Infographic: Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking in the U.S.: MECP welcomes readers to view the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council published infographic resource, which highlights statistics and resources available on commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors in the United States. This infographic provides tools for community members and stakeholders in the prevention, identification and responses to commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking of minors. To view this resource, please visit here.

Trends in Unwanted Online Experiences: The Crimes Against Children Research Center (CCRC) recently released the “Trends in Unwanted Online Experiences and Sexting: Final Report”, which summarizes findings from the Third Youth Internet Safety Survey. The full report can be found here.

Roadmap: Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities: In February 2014, the Children’s Bureau in the Department of Health and Human Services, released a publication entitled, “A Roadmap for Collaborative and Effective Evaluation in Tribal Communities.” It serves as a resource for stakeholder groups responsible for evaluating child welfare programs, as they navigate Tribal programs. To view the Roadmap in its entirety, click here.