overview

The Models for Change initiative is an exciting new effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice reform through targeted investments in key states.  Funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Models for Change seeks to accelerate movement toward a more effective, fair and developmentally sound juvenile justice system that holds youth accountable for their actions, provides for their rehabilitation, protects them from harm, increases their life chances and manages the risk they pose to themselves and to the public. 

Four states have been selected to participate in Models for Change:  Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana and Washington.  These sites were chosen based on a variety of criteria, including their political and fiscal commitment to reform, support for reform both in and outside the juvenile justice system, and the likelihood that other states would follow their lead. 

key goals of models for change

Each state participating in the Models for Change initiative has identified specific areas in which change is needed in order to move the state closer to a model system.  These specific issue areas are called Targeted Areas of Improvement (TAIs).  Through Models for Change, each of the four states work in conjunction with local, state and national partners to implement a plan to address these TAIs.  The goal is to make the Models for Change states successful models of reform and share the learnings with other states and communities interested in similar reform.  Models for Change is based upon the premise that there is no single model of juvenile justice reform; rather, investments in multiple states will yield multiple models of reform. 

partners

Supporting the work in the Models for Change states is the National Resource Bank, a group of national organizations possessing substantive expertise that those working on juvenile justice reform at the state and local level can draw upon.  A list of the National Resource Bank Members and links to each NRB’s website is available on the Models for Change website.