Advanced Topics in Macro Social Work

Review and analysis of models for juvenile justice intervention that include community-based diversion from the juvenile court prior to adjudication and community-based non-residential programs for youth who are adjudicated for delinquency are the foci of this course. Programs which have been systematically evaluated and are evidence-based will be presented and analyzed so that they can be implemented in communities where high-risk youth reside and where the need for such programming is appropriate. Issues of over-representation of youth of color, gender-based programming, community reintegration, intergenerational involvement in the justice system and building community support for non-residential programming will be given special attention. Students will have the opportunity to visit some model programs and/or to develop an implementation plan for a program that they wish to initiate.