NCJ Number
222040
Date Published
January 2008
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This report describes what is being done in Philadelphia, and elsewhere in Pennsylvania, to help delinquent youth transition into becoming productive adults.
Abstract
The authors contend that interrelationships between risk factors can spiral out of control and result in delinquent behaviors if not properly addressed early on. To engage this, the Pennsylvania juvenile justice system has set "competency development" as one of its primary goals. The main aim of the system is to help at-risk juveniles attain the required knowledge and skills that will allow them to become productive and law-abiding members of society. This development centers on five core skills: Pro-Social, to achieve social interaction, self-control, and problem-solving; Moral Reasoning, in order to make the right decisions for the right reasons; Academic, promoting proficiency in order to advance to the highest possible academic level; Workforce Development, skills needed to get and keep jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency; and Independent Living, mastering the daily skills that adults need to be self-sufficient. The authors discuss the related program undertaken in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Reintegration Initiative, where a multiagency, collaborative effort has changed the way at-risk youth are prepared for productive adult lives. Following a background piece on the program, the report discusses the steps taken to prepare for the initiative and analyze the problem, as well as the efforts involved with integrating the educational system, career training opportunities, and neighborhood-based programs to function in a collaborative manner in order to achieve success. The report concludes with an update on progress made in Philadelphia and a call for expanded efforts throughout Pennsylvania.