ERIC ED463845: Child Advocates Making a Difference, 2001.

21 Pages·2001·0.59 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
PS 030 255
ED 463 845
AUTHOR
Goodman, Bryan, Ed.
Child Advocates Making a Difference, 2001.
TITLE
National Association of Child Advocates, Washington, DC.
INSTITUTION
Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD.; Prudential
SPONS AGENCY
Foundation, Newark, NJ.
2001-00-00
PUB DATE
20p.; Published monthly. No issues were printed for May,
NOTE
November, and December of 2001.
AVAILABLE FROM For full text: http://www.childadvocacy.org/camad.htm.
Collected Works Descriptive
Reports
PUB TYPE
General (020)
(141)
MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Advocacy; *Child Advocacy; *Child Health; Children; Program
DESCRIPTORS
Descriptions; *Public Policy; State Legislation; *State
Programs; *Well Being
*National Association of Child Advocates
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This document is comprised of 9 issues of a newsletter
providing information on current child advocacy initiatives and
accomplishments. Each issue describes one local or state child advocacy
program or initiative and its accomplishments. The issues of this publication
represent a series of short information pieces to highlight the National
Association of Child Associates (NACA) member initiatives that have resulted
in concrete outcomes positively affecting children. The following issues were
"Securing Tax Credits for Low-Income
published for months in 2001:
(1)
Working Families in New Jersey" (January);
"Securing Foster Parents'
(2)
Access to Low-Interest Home Loans in Washington" (February) ;
(3) "Securing
Funding for Children's Programs in San Francisco" (March);
"Contributing
(4)
to Efforts To Close Boot Camps for Youth in Maryland" (April);
"Securing
(5)
Supports for Foster Care Graduates in Arizona" (June); "Improving Family
(6)
Access to Benefits in the Wake of Welfare Reform in Washington" (July);
(7)
"Securing Emergency Pediatric Care in Westchester County, New York" (August);
"Improving Children's Oral Health with Water Fluoridation in San Antonio,
(8)
Texas" (September); and (9) "Persuading Policy Makers To use Beer Tax and
TANF To Fund Early Care Options in Arkansas" (October).
(KB)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
Child Advocates
Making a Difference, 2001.
National Association of Child
Advocates
Washington, DC
Bryan Goodman, Editor
-,--
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
BEEN GRANTED BY
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced as
received from the person or organization
Nam
originating it.
O Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Points of view or opinions stated in this
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
BLE
BEST COPY AVAII
A Publication of the National Association of Child Advocates
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A
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4
Diff
a
ing
The Asg.ociation fOr Children of Newl Jersey
Secures Tax Credit For Low-Income Working Families
in an effort to better monitor state
taxes claim-the federal EITC. This
In 1999, the Association for
tax and budget policy.
tax provisibh has been in effect
Children of New Jersey (ACNJ),
since 1975 and was expanded in
a member of the National
With the grant, ACNJ's first objec-
1986, 1990 and 1993.
Association of Child Advocates
tive was to raise the state's extremely
(NACA), faced a challenge: The
low income tax threshold
a family
Because of the success of the federal
organization's research showed that
EITC in moving families out of
of four began paying.state income
low-income, working families were
tax if they earned more than $7,500
poverty while encouraging work,
on the rise and these families were
many states began implementing
per year, a figure well below the
paying a greater portion of state and
federal poverty level.
similar tax credits on
local sales and property taxes than
the state level in the
A 1999 state law was
upper income families. In order for
ACNJ helped secure
enacted to raise the
1990s. A total of 15
these families to continue working
threshold over three
states now offer the
and not rely on public assistance,
legislation making 280,000
years so that in 2001,
state EITC, Which is
they needed the support of a state
New Jersey families
a family of four will
typically.a percentage
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
eligible for the Earned
begin paying state
of the federal EITC.
income tax if they
The state Earned
Using legislative "Fact Sheets" and
Income Tax Credit.
earn more than
Income Tax Credit
working closely with the Governor's
$20,000 a year, a figure
offsets various state and
Office, ACNJ helped to secure an
slightly above the federal poverty
local taxes paid by low-income families
EITC for an eligible 280,000 working
by giving them a refundable tax
level but still considered low-income.
families with low-incomes.
ACNJ realized that a state EITC
credit. The credit often exceed§ any
would be viewed as the next best
income taxes that are owed, and the
step in creating a.more progressive
tax filer receives the difference in
What Is An Earned
income tax structure, allowing work-
the form of a rebate check.
Income Tax Credit?
ing families to live independently.
An EITC is a program that provides
tax reductions,atid wale'supplements
In September Of 1999, ACNJ
Working With the Media,
I
/
c
for low and moderate-income-working
released a report on low-income
Governor and State Legislature
I
families. Close to 20 million families
1 r
families called Working
But Still
ACNJ had laid out its advocacy
and individitalsifiling federal income
Poor in New Jersey. The report,
agenda on behalf of low-income
which recommended a state EITC,
working parents in 1999 as part of
garnered widespread press coverage,
its State Fiscal Analysis Initiative
including a story in the New Jersey
(SFAI) grant project. The SFAI is a
section of The New York 'Times.
national project aimed at developing
fiscal data analysis at the state leVel
continued on back
3
ACNJ then served as host of a
To accomplish this, ACNJ distributed
$10,000 will get a state EITC of
statewide education forum on the
toOlkits that included "Legislative
$338 during this year's tax season,
EITC in Decernber-1999. Panelists
Fact Sheets" to legislators showing
in addition to their federal EITC.
included national EITC experts,
the number-of thei'r constituents
,
including someone involved in an
who would be eligible
New Jersey's EITC is
EITC campaign in another state,
for,the program and
estfrnated to cost $45
the dollar value of
who discussed the potential for a
million in FY 2001,
"Welfare reform has
suchlaenefits.
New Jersey prOgthm. Then ACNJ
rising to'$1'00 million
moved many more families
assisted New Jersey's major newspaper
in FY 2004. The state'
into work hut not
The organization also
the Star-Ledger in publishing two
plans to pay for its
full-page editorials in December on
participated in a press
EITC out of a combi-
necessarily out of
the plight of the working poor.
conference with
nation of General
poverty," said ACNJ
the state Assembly
Funds and Temporary
ACNJ's efforts led to a meeting
Speaker, Jack Collins,
Associate Director
Assistance to Needy
I
with Governor Christine Todd
who announced his
Families (TANF)
Cecilia lalkind. "A state
Whitman's staff to discuss the merits
support of the legisla-
program funds, to the
ER program is an
of implementing a state EITC.
tion. Additionally,
extent allowed by
Governor Whitman proposed a
ACNJ met with all
federal guidelines.
important way to help
basic program where the tax credit
legislators and key
these families take the
would be phased in over four years,
staff on the Budget
New Jersey is in a
next step toward
from.10 percent to 20 percent of
and Appropriations
unique political
the,federal tax credit. It would also
Committees to discuss
environment. The
self-sufficiency."
be limited to families with children,
the fiscal impacts of
-)Governor recently
and to those earning less than
the proposal. The orga-
accepted a position
$20,000 a year (the federal EITC
nization made the case that state
in the Bush Administration and
exceeds these standards).
tax credits would provide critical
potential successors are positioning
support to low-income families
themselves for a run -in 2002.
ACNJ assembled a panel.of it; staff
struggling to make ends meet, and is
ACNJ's efforts to secure support
to review the needs of the working
a necessary part of welfare reform in
from Collins and the Senate
poor, consider the proposal, and
President, Donald DiFrancesco
order to' preN-7ent people from falling
meet.with thestaff from the Depart-
back into.the system. ACNJ staff
who will serve as acting Governor
ment of Human Serv'ices who
and is a Republican gubernatorial
alsO exjAained how it would reduce
explained details of the Governor's
candidatenot only helped secure a
the dispioportionate tax burden on
proposal. Concluding that it.was:
state EITC, but will also serve
the _working poor.
critical to get an EITC in place
to establish the needs of "the working
and work to expand it later, ACNJ
poor" as a campaign issue.
chose to suppori the Governor's
Meeting the Challenge
initiative. Moreover, the organiza-
ACNJ's research and planning
tion determined that, though there
proved successful. The bill passed
Contacts
were limitations to the proposal,
both chambers of the legislature and
Jeannette Russo
it did target people most in need.
was signed into law.on August 14,
Child-Based Budgeting Project Director
2000, making 280,000 New Jersey
Association for Children of
ACNJ then turned its attention
families eligible for the EITC. The
New Jersey
to convincing the state legislature
program will be effective for tax year
35 Halsey Street, Newark, NJ 07102
of the.importance of the plan..
2000 at 10 percent of the federal
Tel: [phone]
This required not only top-notch
credit and will gradually increase to
Fax: [phone]
research, but also a clean, crisp,
20 percent over four years. So a par-
Email: [email protected]
organized plan nacommunicate the
ent with two children and income of
Web: acnj.org
problem to legislators in terms they
wOuld understand. Lawmakers would
have to feel affected by the problem
The "Child Advocates Making a Difference" series is supported by
4)
and benefit from- the solution.
generous grants from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The
Prudential Foundation.
A Publication of the National Association of Child Advocates
Advocates)........
Child
Children's Alliance:
Securing Foster Parents' Access to
Low-Interest Home Loans
parents. Today, because of their
home being purchased may be used
In the summer of 2000,
Washington State's Children's efforts, 6,500 foster parents in the
for trade or business. While paying
Alliance, a member of the
state may be eligible for low-interest rent that was significantly higher
National Association of Child
home loans. Moreover, the
than what the mortgage payment
Advocates (NACA), learned of a
Children's Alliance's
would have been,
success in this area Ms. Thorson took her
Washington State Housing Finance
The Children's Alliance
complaint to the HFC.
has resulted in
Commission (HFC) policy pro-
convinced the Housing
She was told that the
correspondence by
hibiting foster parents from receiving
Washington's HFC to
low-interest home loans.
policy was legal and
Finance Commission to
would not be changed.
Housing Commissions
change its policy
The Children's
nationwide suggesting
The Children's Alliance immediately
prohibiting foster parents
Alliance stepped in
understood the ramifications of
similar changes.
from receiving lowinterest
such a policy on the welfare of
and took action.
children in foster care. They knew
home loans and as a
Raising The Issue
the importance of foster parent
result provided new
The Children's
Is Foster Care
home ownership in creating much
financing options to 6,500
Alliance first learned
a Business?
needed stability for children in
of the HFC policy
The Children's
foster parents who
foster care. This prompted the
from Elisa Thorson,
Alliance collaborated
Children's Alliance to take action.
wish to buy a home.
who was denied a
with Columbia Legal
home loan because she
Services to conduct
By taking advantage of legal
was a foster parent. Thorson
research to determine if, in legal
research, mobilizing its members
applied for a low-interest loan
terms, foster care was truly a business.
and educating the general public
through the HFC, and was told
Extensive research concluded that
about HFC's policy of denying low-
repeatedly she was eligible, but
foster care is indeed not a business
interest home
/
lof anis tojfosfier.parents,
/
\
after moving into her new home as
'
1
and that, by denying these loans
/
the Children's Alliance successfully
I
/
/
a renter pending the final closing,
\
to foster parents, HFC was
,--}
influenced the HFC to change the
\,_,,
,------%
she was told she would not receive
,
discriminating based on family
Qpolicy so lowqiiierest-,hoMe loans
\
\. i
the loan because foster care was
status as well as disability in some
""
are now avallable to eligible foster
considered a business.
cases (many children in foster care
have special needs).
Thj
Under the HFC's "15 percent rule,"
no more than 15 percent of the
0 0 1
continued on back
AR Y
F E
5
Specifically, it was determined-
issues, appearing once a week
Impact Update
that not only was there no basis
during the legislative session. Out
As a result of the Children's
for the denial but that such a
of session, the alerts are used less
Alliance's efforts, the Directors of
denial was in fact a violation of
frequently to highlight important
Washington State's Housing Finance
the federal Fair Housing Act and
issues not having to do with the
Commission changed its policy.
the Washington law against housing
legislature. The alerts detailed
As many as 6,500 foster parents
discrimination.
the issue and encouraged people to
may now receive low-interest home
contact the HFC, complete with
loans, providing they are otherwise
instructions on communicating
eligible. Further, all of the foster
IVIaking Voices Heard
opinions to officials.
families in the state of Washington
Following numerous unsuccessful
have received a letter detailing their
attempts to engage HFC in discus-
Thanks to funding from NACA's
eligibility for these loans. The Foster
sions over this issue, the Children's
Devolution Project (sponsored by
Parent Association of Washington
Alliance developed a plan of
the W.K. Kellogg Foundation), the
has printed a piece in their newslet-
action to mobilize and educate
Children's Alliance had significantly
ter announcing the policy change,
Washington citizens.
improved their action alert system
and housing counseling groups have
by merging member
been notified as well. Finally, every
The HFC is a publicly
data with state legisla-
Housing Commission in the United
"Assistance in buying
accountable, state
tors' databases. This
States received a letter from the
government-chartered
allowed the Children's
a home is an important
Washington State HFC detailing the
entity. The Children's
Alliance's technical
legal and ethical issues concerning
resource that will
Alliance used this
staff to create action
the policy change, and suggesting a
help foster families
public accountability
alerts that were indi-
similar change by other states.
as a cornerstone of its
bring more stability to
vidualized based on
strategy for changing
each member's legisla-
children whose lives have
Elisa Thorson has now closed on
policy. By disseminat-
tive district. Under
the sale of her home, and she, her
already been disrupted
ing an action alert to
this new system,
adopted child, and her foster child
by abuse and neglect"
its 3,000 Children's
members were able to
are enjoying the increased stability
Action Network
easily click on their
that home ownership brings, as well
Jon Could,
members and by
legislators' email
as the financial savings. Other foster
Community Action' Director of
bringing the issue to
.
addresses and voice
,
families report that they are now
the Children's, Alliance
the attention of the
their concerns over
thinking of buying a home using
general public, the
the foster care issue.
an HFC low-interest home loan.
Children's Alliance was able to
Response rates to alerts have
bring public sentiment to bear on
increased substantially since the
the HFC. The question, "Is Foster
implementation of this new system.
Care a Business" was used in multi-
Contacts
ple media sources, such as editorials
Through these means, the
Jon Gould, Community Action Director
in the local newspaper, to highlight
The Children's Alliance
Children's Alliance secured public
the unfair policy as well as the
172 20th Avenue
support to help HFC understand
needs of foster parents in general.
Seattle, Washington 98122
the importance of home ownership
206/324-0340 phone
in creating stability for children
The Children's Alliance in
206//325-6291 fax
in foster care.
Washington has always used action
E-mail: [email protected]
alerts, in addition to press releases,
Website: www.childrensalliance.org
as an effective way to inform its
members about issues and events
that affect children. Generally,
The "Child Advocates Making a Difference" series is supported by
these alerts focus on legislative
generous grants from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and The
Prudential Foundation
A Publication of the National Association of Child Advocates
II
San Francisco's Coleman Advocates
Secures Funding For Children's Programs
apathetic. And Coleman needed to
In the last nine years this landmark
Approaching the November 2000
craft legislation that would build on
provision allocated over $122 million
elections, Coleman Advocates
the success of the Children's Fund
in funding for more than 180
for Children and Youth
I
and garner consensus
(Coleman), a member of the
programs, such as early
-..
among the many
National Association of Child childhood development
"One of the most
Advocates (NACA), faced a chal-
stakeholders.
centers, health services
remarkable aspects of the
and non-school hour
lenge. A charter clause allocating a
To develop consensus,
portion of San Francisco's property recreation programs.
whole process was the
Coleman worked for a
taxes for children's services was set to
extent to which it was
year meeting with city
expire, to the detriment of children. The Children's Fund
officials, representatives
ensures that a fixed
driven by children's
portion of the city's
of consumer groups,
By conducting a well-developed
advocates as opposed to
child service providers
and comprehensive campaign
budget goes to
public officials."
and other groups to
initiative, Coleman Advocates
children's programs.
determine the best
successfully landed the renewal of
This takes away the
Margaret Brodkin,
way to develop the
the Children's Fund on the November uncertainty that would
Executive Director of
Coleman Advocates
ballot. Due to Coleman's sophisti-
legislation.
exist without such a
cated campaign, San Franciscans
fund, where the city
Once stakeholders reached a con-
not only approved the measure,
would decide budget to budget
sensus, Coleman addressed the apa-
they increased the amount allocated
whether surpluses yielded funding
CO
thy surrounding the issue. Voters,
to the Children's Fund.
children's programs.
inundated with messages on more
controversial issues, viewed the
What Is the Children's fund?
Coleman's Campaign to
Children's Fund as something that
The Children's Fund, established
Re-authorize Children's funding
would easily pass. Many had a
through a groundbreaking city charter
Re-authorizing funding for the
narrow understanding of the Fund's
amendment in 1991, allocated a
Children's Fund would be no easy
fundamental impact. They would
portion of the city's property taxes
feat, even for the veteran child
soon learn.
to support prograins for Outh, chil-
/
advocates at Coleman. The effort
r.
dren and fanitlies in
San F,ranicsco.
would require time, people and
Aware of this voter apathy, Coleman
energy. It would take focus. It would
prepared to answer questions asked
take a city-wide campaign.
by city officials, while framing the
issue as important for San Franciscans,
Coleman was not battling major
many of whom didn't have children.
opposition but there were challenges.
There was no controversial component
repelling voters, therefore voters were
11\11 R CO 21 0 1
continued on back
7
First, Coleman staff
along with a
importance of the Children's Fund
improvements governing how the
coalition of activists
appealed to
to the National Women's Political
city deals with funding children's
city officials with polling data to
Caucus. Additionally, a group of
programs. These included devising a
demonstrate public support. All the
young people from neighborhood
three-year planning cycle for all chil-
members of San Francisco's govern-
centers talked with members of
dren's services, with community input
ing Board of Supervisors were up for
the Coalition for San Francisco
through neighborhood meetings and
re-election. Supervisors accustomed
Neighborhoods.
a poll. A plan for all children's services
to city-wide races were forced, for
in the city must now be developed
the first time, to compete in district
In another effective component to
and every city department must be
elections. With this in mind, Coleman
the campaign, Coleman electronically
involved. Plus, the city is required
made certain the opinion polls reflect-
called 80,000 households throughout
to have an oversight and planning
ed district sentiment. The results,
the city promoting the
body created for chil-
packaged for each district Supervisor,
Children's Fund. The
dren's services, which
"Children's issues
showed how his or her constituents
youth also designed
includes parents and
viewed renewing the funding, raising
sleek campaign materi-
youila and a mandated
have gained political clout
children in San Francisco and spend-
als such as doorhangers
program evaluation.
all across America,
ing on programs for children, among
and posters touting
other issues. This education effort got
the virtues of the
say analysts, and
Renewal of the
the issue on the ballot.
Children's Fund.
measure, with the
San Francisco has been
added benefits, ensured
a principal reason why."
In a business age, when outcomes
Volunteers were enlisted
that San Francisco's
and accountability are demanded,
in every city district
Children's Fund would
The Clwistian Science Monitor
San Franciscans needed to see
to distribute campaign
serve as a model to
results from the Children's Fund.
materials to bring home
other cities as it has
Coleman conducted an evaluation
the need for renewing the Children's
since 1991. In fact, the Christian
to determine the impact of the
Fund and reasserting the importance
Science Monitor noted the similar
Children's Fund. The evaluation
of support from leaders hoping to win
programs were established in Seattle,
allowed Coleman to objectively
those districts. Coleman was strategic
Washington; Oakland, California
present the Children's Fund as ben-
in organizing these district volunteers
and in one Arizona county because of
efiting every neighborhood in the
by recruiting, training and nurturing
San Francisco's groundbreaking work.
city, funding programs such as child
children's advocates in each area of
development centers and new health
the city.
One of the most important outcomes
and recreation services operated by
of the campaign was that San
public schools during non-school
Francisco's child advocacy base was re-
Meeting the Challenge
hours throughout the city.
energized, with many new leaders sur-
To many indifferent San Franciscans
facing. The coalitions, formed through
one thing became clear: the Children's
To present these accomplishments
the campaign to renew the Children's
Fund was vital to the well-being
to the public, the organization sought
Fund, still exist. This is promising for
of the city's children. Support for the
the help of volunteers, particularly
children and youth in San Francisco
renewal was one of the broadest in
youth volunteers. These volunteers,
1
and for the future of the city.
the city's history, with support coming
sent to public hearings and meetings,
from a range of religious affiliations,
spoke of the accomplishments of
political parties and groups. In a move
the Children's Fund. They also
that garnered national attention, city
Contact
spoke personally of the importance
Margaret Brodkin, Executive Director
voters overwhelmingly approved
of renewing a Fund that had been so
Coleman Advocates for
funding for 15 more years, increasing
crucial to their well-being.
Children and Youth
the amount from 2.5% to 3% of the
459 Vienna Street
city's general fund.
Youth volunteers were particularly
San Francisco, CA 94112
effective because they spoke to
[phone]
Attached to the renewal of the
[phone] (fax)
organizations with which they had
[email protected]
Children's Fund was a host of
some familiarity. For example, youths
from the employment program spoke
lbThe "Child Advocates Making a Difference" series is supported
at a Chamber of Commerce meeting,
by generous grants from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and
and one young woman from a girl's
The Prudential Foundation.
empowerment program relayed the
A Publication of the National Association of Child Advocates
MNIONI1111(
Child Advocates
ignac
Tb-7FF
on
Getting Tough
the Juvenile Justice System:
Efforts Lead to Boot Camp Closures and Other Reforms
In 1998, NACA members Advocates The Coalition's voice is heard not only
Getting the Word Out
in the press, but through issue briefs,
for Children and Youth (ACY) and
In order to make juvenile justice
reports, testimony, and representation
Maryland Association of Resources
reform the focus of immediate efforts,
on important task forces and commis-
for Families and Youth (MARFY) joined
Maryland's ACY and MARFY decided
sions. Advocacy continues on many
forces to launch the Maryland Juvenile
to form the Maryland Juvenile Justice
Justice Coalition (the Coalition). With fronts to create a whole new landscape
Coalition. Their goals were to stop the
the help of the Coalition
which
for juvenile justice in the state. The goal
misuse and overuse of the detention of
today has 125 organizational and hun-
is to move from an incarceration-heavy
juveniles, to curb the overrepresentation
model to one that emphasizes youth
dreds of individual members
a series
of minorities in the juvenile justice
of articles appeared in the Baltimore
development and com-
system, to prevent the
Sun in late 1999 highlighting the
munity-based services
transfer of youths
To reform the Maryland
Maryland boot camp system. Various
for both delinquency
to the adult court system,
other articles and editorials describing
prevention and after-care.
and to expand dramati-
Juvenile Justice System,
the significant problems in the juvenile
cally youth development
NACA members, ACV and
justice system ensued. These articles,
and delinquency
MARFV, launched an
and the public outcry that resulted, led
prevention services.
Maryland "Gets Tough"
to the ouster of five senior Department
aggressive communications
On Youthful Offenders
kf)
of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) officials
MBC's Communications
campaign. Their efforts
Maryland's Department
including the cabinet Secretary. It also
Director worked on an
1
of Juvenile Justice had
included the closing of juvenile boot
were central to the closure
aggressive campaign
0412
an aggressive approach
camps in the state.
aimed at the local media,
of Maryland's boot camps
to juvenile crime. The
especially the Baltimore
effort on the part of DJJ
and subsequent reform in
The Coalition has seized every oppor-
Sun. This campaign
CY2
administrators as well
tunity to advance a sweeping reform
relied on press releases
the juvenile justice system.
as some legislators to
agenda. It has promoted comprehensive
from the Coalition and
4ampo
amps
"get tough" on juvenile
juvenile justice reform legislation during
cooperation with editors
offenders included incarcerating them
the 2000 and 2001 legislative sessions.
and journalists. Soon ACY, MARFY,
in military-style camps, called boot
The Department's operating budget
and the Coalition became a prime
(
CID
camps, designed to provide more
increased by $30 million over two years.
information and referral source for
discipline and structure in their lives.
This year, with Coalition
prompting,
the media covering juvenile justice.
Another facet of the "get tough"
1
budget language hasheen adopted that
Together they increased public aware-
campaign was the erosion of the juvenile
1
would phase_out_Cheltenham
Youth
ness of the need for juvenile justice
)
f
court jurisdiction, whereby youths were
Facility, a notorious facilftypand link-its
reforms and the need for services and
)
treated, tried, and sentenced as adults.
)
closure to increased funds for community-
supervision after release from juvenile
This has continued to occur despite the
based,serv ices.
detention facilities.
evidence that this approach does not
result in improved outcomes for youth
R Ii
241 0 1
or an increase in public safety.
continued on back
While remaining an independent
Advocates agree, however, that
The Coalition was a regular source for
voice for children, the Coalition has
Maryland still has a long way to go
the Baltimore Sun's most provocative
also become an important player in
in reforming its juvenile justice system
pieces.on juvenile justice, including
and in addressing the erosion of juve-
a follow-up to a four article series on
policy overhaul. Last year, there was
nile court jurisdiction. The Coalition
an increase of $25 million in the DJJ
the boot camp system, initiated by the
intends to continue its
Sun, that followed a group of youths operating budget. These
campaign to help those
through the system for five months
new funds will be used
"The Coalition's goal
children still being
and then after their release for nine
to hire more caseworkers
harmed by the Maryland
months. Todd Richissin, the reporter,
and probation officers,
was to shine a light upon
juvenile justice system.
and Andre Chung, the photographer,
to create small, local
the deficiencies of the
The goal for 2002 is
detention facilities for
would later win an award from
juvenile justice system,
to ensure demolition
juvenile delinquents,
NACA for covering the boot camps
of the Chelthenham
and to improve existing
and exposing horrifying physical
generate public support for
Youth Facility and the
juvenile detention
abuse in the military-style setting.
sweeping reform, and make
transfer of funds to
facilities and youth
centers. The Coalition
community-based family
The Sun's readers met a group of
a child's contact with the
focused services. The
youth (called "Charlie Squad") serving
has pressed for detailed
system an opportunity for
Coalition is working
five months in a Maryland boot camp.
standards to govern
services and rehabilitation,
closely with local and
detention facilities, and
Through the course of the series,
naiional groups, such
standards are slated
readers followed Charlie Squad through
not degradation."
their time in the camps, and shared
as Maryland's Inter-
for adoption.
denominational
the pain and degradation of the
Jann Jackson
Executive Director of ACY
Ministerial Alliance,
An especially striking
experience. Finally, readers followed
The Center for Juvenile
the youths out of the camp and into
success was the closing of
the three boot camps in the state and
and Criminal Justice, Building Blocks
the challenges of the real world, where
for Youth, and the Youth Law Center,
virtually none of the youths had a safe a renewed national debate regarding
to promote these goals. Information
or stable home, or any sort of aftercare
the lack of effectiveness of this popular
tt
on the Close Cheltenham Campaign
or case management from the
get tough" program. The Maryland
boot camps held 70-80 juveniles at
Department of Juvenile Justice.
is available at www.closecheltenham.org.
any given time. During the boot camps'
Richissin and Chung found that
two year tenure, potentially hundreds
80 percent of the youths they followed of juveniles were exposed to harsh
returned to the juvenile justice system
discipline and physical abuse. The
contact
within six months of their release.
Jann Jackson, Executive Director
closing of these camps potentially
Advocates for Children and Youth
This was primarily because there was
saved hundreds more from these
34 Market Place 5th Floor
no care for them after the camps. As
destructive experiences.
Baltimore, MD 21202-4034
a result of the public outcry created
by this media coverage, the Governor The Coalition has used public aware-
410-547-9200 (phone)
410-547-8690 (fax)
ness as a means of stimulating policy
of Maryland and several key legislators
E-mail: [email protected]
changes. Through an organized,
were forced to recognize problems
facing juveniles in the state.
aggressive strategic communications
Jim McComb, Executive Director
campaign and legislative advocacy,
the Coalition got the Governor's
Maryland Association of Resources for
Families and Youth
attention, proposed numerous legislative
Meeting the Need for
Arnold, MD 21012
PO Box 220
remedies including increased funding
Changes in the System
410-974-4901 (phone)
for DJJ, and created a groundswell of
This awareness by state leaders, aided
public support for young people not to
410-757-9530 (fax)
by the Coalition's efforts, led to several
be abused at the hands of the juvenile
E-mail: [email protected]
key changes in Maryland's juvenile
www.closecheltenham.org.
justice system.
justice system. A particularly dramatic
change was the departure of five senior
officials from the DJJ, including the
bThe "Child Advocates Making a Difference" series is supported
DJJ cabinet Secretary.
etr
by generous grants from The Annie E. Casey Foundation and
The Prudential Foundation.
1 0