CJCA leads work on several national projects that magnify our ability to help youths in trouble by providing tools, training, technical assistance and support to youth correctional leaders and staff. 

 1 – Performance-based Standards (PbS) for Youth Correction and Detention Facilities
CJCA’s most well-known program is the Performance-based Standards (PbS) project, the winner of the 2004 Innovations in American Government Award in recognition of its unique, creative and effective approach to improving the conditions and effectiveness of services in youth confinement facilities. PbS is a self-improvement and accountability system used in 31 states and the District of Columbia based on national standards that provides performance outcome data on facility safety, security, programming, health/mental health services, order, justice and reintegration planning… (Click to find out more about this project!) 
Find out more about Performance-based Standards: http://pbstandards.org/

2- Community-based Standards (CbS)

CJCA’s most recent project applies the PbS model of performance evaluation in secure facilities to community residential programs for youths involved in the juvenile justice system… (Click to find out more about this project!) 

3- Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
CJCA has been a founding member of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change reform efforts, beginning with participation at the early meetings creating the reform strategy, defining model system goals and selecting the states.  CJCA serves as a member of the National Resource Bank and leads implementation of the Comprehensive Systems Change Initiative (CSCI) in selected jurisdictions to create a comprehensive continuum of mental health services for juvenile justice youths…(Click to find out more about this project!) 
Find out more about the Models for Change Initiative: http://www.modelsforchange.net/

4- National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: CSCI

CJCA and Policy Research Associates (PRA) co-founded the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ), which in 2003 established the Comprehensive Systems Change Initiative (CSCI).  By integrating research, data, experience and practice, CSCI has helped in the development of a model continuum of mental health services for juvenile justice youths, as well as to synthesize and expand the knowledge base about the nature and prevalence of mental health and co-occurring substance use disorders among youths in contact with the juvenile justice system…(Click to find out more about this project!)

Find out more about The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: http://www.ncmhjj.com/

5- Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Reauthorization
CJCA serves as an active member of the National Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition and is one of more than 300 organizations supporting the Act 4 Juvenile Justice campaign to update and reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA)...(Click to find out more about this project!)

Find out more about the Act 4 Juvenile Justice campaign: http://www.act4jj.org/  

6- Suicide Prevention Resource Center
In collaboration with the Educational Development Center Inc., CJCA has partnered with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) to develop a suicide prevention training curriculum for directors of juvenile corrections agencies…(Click to find out more about this project!)

Find out more about the Suicide Prevention Resource Center: www.SPRC.org
Find out more about the Educational Development Center Inc.:  http://main.edc.org/