A Message from Our Care & Closure Project Team:
On behalf of the King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), we are grateful to launch our monthly newsletter on King County’s effort to expand community-based alternatives to secure youth detention and close the youth detention center. Each month, we will share project updates and upcoming opportunities to be involved in the effort.
We are excited to share that this planning process has a new name: Care & Closure: a plan for youth healing, accountability, and community safety. The name centers three essential components we’ve heard from impacted young people, community members, and systems-partners: youth well-being and care, accountability, and safety for everyone. We look forward to continuing this important planning process under this new name.
Connecting with Impacted Young People and Families
DCHS is partnering with eight community organizations to lift up youth, family, and community voice on what community-based supports are needed to support young people and their healing, accountability, and community safety:
These organizations are hosting listening sessions, conducting surveys, and developing podcasts between now and the end of March 2023. There are opportunities for young people impacted by or at-risk for the juvenile criminal legal system, their families, those who have been harmed by young people, and community members to participate. All participants are provided incentives to participate. Learn more about and sign up for those upcoming opportunities here.
Join the Advisory Committee Meetings
 |
|
Mark your calendar for our next Advisory Committee on Monday, February 27 from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held virtually and is open to the public. You can find more information about the meeting and previous meetings here.
We are also seeking additional young people with experience in the juvenile legal system, parents and family members, and community members who have been harmed by young people to participate in the Advisory Committee and upcoming subcommittees. If you are interested or know of someone who might be interested, please let us know!
|
What We’re Reading
 |
|
The Sentencing Project recently released a report: Why Youth Incarceration Fails: An Updated Review of the Evidence. The report summarizes research that youth detention and incarceration do not reduce delinquent behavior, impede future success in education and employment, and have lasting impacts on young people’s health and wellbeing. |
Help Others Get Connected
Please share this monthly newsletter to anyone you think might be interested in learning about this effort. Folks can sign up to get these monthly newsletters and project updates here. Folks can also learn more about the project on the website here.
Do you have any questions or want to get involved in this project? Connect with us!
|
