ADVOCACY IN ACTION: ADVOCATING FOR YOUTH WHO ARE DUALLY INVOLVED WITH CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS
Crossover youth are youth involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. In short, they have experienced maltreatment (resulting in their child welfare involvement) and have engaged in delinquency, bringing them to the attention of the juvenile justice system. Dually involved youth are youth who have had some level of system contact with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, whereas dually adjudicated youth are court-involved in both systems.
Crossover youth, compared to youth who are only involved in one system (child welfare or juvenile justice), experience higher rates of criminal justice involvement and use of public support services as adults. Additionally, they often struggle with mental health problems, substance abuse, unemployment, homelessness, poor educational outcomes, and recidivism. Crossover youth are more likely to receive harsh sentences, are more likely to be detained on first-time charges and are less likely to receive probation versus incarceration, compared to youth who have not had any child welfare involvement.
The National CASA Association, as part of their Advocacy in Action series, has released a brief and training video focusing on the topic of advocating for crossover youth.
Click here to access the Advocacy in Action Crossover Youth Brief
Remember to complete your continuing education credit report for each training you complete. This will help to ensure that you are receiving credit for any training hours completed and that those hours are applied to your required 12 hours per year of in-service training.
Explore more articles on working with older youth here.
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