Reducing the School-to- Prison Pipeline A Strategy to Serve High-Risk Youth Juvenile Justice Summit, April 25, 2017 Both Introduce Ourselves LINDA BARTON, Director, Wyoming Afterschool Alliance Craig Williams, white, riley, Peterson fellow

WYOMING AFTERSCHOOL ALLIANCE WHO WE ARE Statewide Afterschool Network since 2007, funded by Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and a priority fund of the Wyoming Community Foundation Support all afterschool programs in the state with: Professional Development and Training Annual Statewide Afterschool Conference Ensure equal access to high quality programs in every community Develop statewide initiatives that support positive youth outcomes, and success in school and life Craig

Today’s Crowd Afterschool Providers Legal and Judicial Professionals School District Leaders State Government Agencies State and Federal Legislators Non-profit organizations (NPO) Mental Health Professionals County Prevention Coalitions County Government Law Enforcement Craig

Juvenile Justice in Wyoming As of 2012, Wyoming ranks *2nd in the nation for youth under court order to a detention facility or other residential placement. Wyoming also ranks *4th in the nation for school referrals to law enforcement. Wyoming ranks *1st in the nation for suicides among children and youth. Research has shown that formal processing of youth through court systems does not reduce subsequent offending and probably increases the likelihood for reoffending. Both of these statistics are attributed to lack of community-based options and resources due in part to Wyoming’s rural nature. *Based on per capita Craig

WHY AFTERSCHOOL IS A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT Provide expanded learning opportunities for children and youth during high-risk hours between 3-6pm and summer learning Provide activities that support positive youth development Offer least restrictive environments for at-risk youth Provide highly-qualified staff who become positive and nurturing adult mentors. Research shows that worker productivity goes up when parents know their children are safe afterschool. Definitions: “At-risk youth” applies to those who are less likely to transition successfully into adulthood and achieve economic self-sufficiency Craig

Serving At-Risk Children & Youth By The Numbers Serving At-Risk Children & Youth Number of youth served* Cost per youth/year* Afterschool Programs 14,000 3rd tier interventions 1,855 Afterschool Programs $800 3rd tier Interventions $9,000 Craig *average values based on 2016 data from 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool providers and Wyoming DFS

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History of the Project The results are in……. In Fall 2013, WYAA became interested in understanding the School-to- Prison Pipeline, and how afterschool and summer programs can help. We know that afterschool and summer programs are important prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk children. Research shows that afterschool programs keep kids safe, support positive youth development, and help kids graduate from high school. In Fall 2015, WYAA received funding from Sargent Foundation to begin efforts on: Reducing the School-to-Prison Pipeline – Leading with Afterschool The results are in……. Linda

Surveys Conducted In 2016 Afterschool Program Providers Wyoming Stakeholders & Professionals School Resource Officers Linda

We Wanted To Know From Each Group: STATEWIDE DATA We Wanted To Know From Each Group: Barriers to serving at-risk children/youth Challenges in working with at-risk children/youth Knowledge of the afterschool field and its work What training is needed Linda

Barriers to providing services to At-Risk Youth Afterschool Program Providers Barriers to providing services to At-Risk Youth Access to IEPs for specific understanding of needs Other confidentiality issues such as parent approvals, court orders, and/or custody Cooperation and communication with school personnel Funding for experts to provide behavior management strategies Staffing and professional development opportunities Linda

School Resource Officers Describe the major challenges you experience while working with at-risk youth Number 1 Response: “Behavior Issues and Attitudes” Interested in professional development opportunities: - Confidentiality Laws and IEPs - De-escalation Techniques and Strategies for Behavior Management - Understanding Autism and Spectrum Disorders - Understanding ADHD Linda

Wyoming Stakeholders & Professionals Afterschool programs are the least understood and/or utilized as community partners for juvenile justice in Wyoming communities Linda

Workforce Productivity The Economics Working families and businesses: Derive benefits from afterschool programs that ensure that youth have a safe place to go while parents are at work. Parents concerned about their children’s afterschool care miss an average of eight days of work per/year. Decreased worker productivity costs businesses up to $300 billion annually. (Brandeis University, Community, Families and Work Program, 2004 and Catalyst & Brandeis University, 2006). Linda

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References and Citations Prevention (Note: this is Juveniles in Residential Placement, 2011, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency s the most recent report released by OJJDP.) Confinement includes youth who are under court order to a detention facility or other residential placement. The Center for Public Integrity, A state-by-state look at students referred to law enforcement By Chris Zubak-Skees, http://www.publicintegrity.org/2015/04/10/17074/state-state-look-students-referred-law- enforcement Reference: Petrosino, Anthony, Carolyn Turpin Petrosino, and Sarah Guckenburg (2010). Formal System Processing of Juveniles: Effects on Delinquency. The Campbell Collaboration. Oslo, Norway: www.campbellcollaboration.org Taking a Deeper Dive into Afterschool: Positive Outcomes and Promising Practices, Afterschool Alliance, 1616 H St., NW, Suite 820, Washington, DC 20006, February 2014. Craig