Deborah Ashton

Youth Justice Institute

The Youth Justice Institute {YJI} works to effectively address the needs of system-involved youth so they transition into healthy adults. The mission of the Youth Justice Institute is to better the lives of the youth we serve and facilitate positive changes within the systems that affect them. We believe every youth has the right to dignity, humanity and justice. We envision juvenile justice and dependency systems that respond to the needs of youth and their families. YJI works to facilitate positive changes within these systems through direct services, research, documentation, and by constantly sharing the best and most promising practices. The success of our model rests on our ability to advocate for the individual needs of system-involved youth. We help the system assess each youth as an individual. YJI evaluates the vast needs of each young person and then links them to continued case management, therapy, mentoring, or other programs in their community. Many of these youth are distanced from their families, failing in school, witnessing violence in their families and communities, or being exploited on the streets. They need advocates as well as accountability within the juvenile justice system. Our results show that providing a safe environment, connecting them with a caring and trusted adult, helping them to develop critical skills and providing opportunities for empowerment increases positive outcomes and supports them to make great changes in their lives.