The 2021 Janet Reno Forum will explore how to restructure systems to better support crossover youth, centering the conversations on the experiences of youth and families impacted by the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. This includes dedicated Forum sessions examining how to best address the needs of youth, including commercially sexually exploited youth, youth of color, and LGBTQ+ youth.
In advance of these important discussions, this new CJJR publication highlights the critical need to ensure that systems fully support Black LGBTQ+ girls and nonbinary youth–a population that is at higher risk for crossover (i.e., becoming dually-involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems) than their non-Black, non-LGBTQ+ peers.
The white paper also provides recommendations to mitigate this disparity and improve the experiences of and outcomes for this population of young people. You can see a preview of the publication below, as well as download the entire paper.
Download the Publication

You can find our previous crossover youth spotlight entries below, including a crossover youth infographic and a spotlight video focused on efforts in the City of Alexandria to maintain a focus on crossover youth during the pandemic.
You can also find the full Crossover Youth Spotlight Series on the registration page for A Better Path Forward: Restructuring Systems to Support Crossover Youth, below.



How can we restructure our systems to better support crossover youth?
Alongside a host of high-profile keynote speakers and expert presentations, we will spotlight opportunities for change in a series of topical sessions.
- In our Addressing the Needs of Youth sessions, we will focus on the needs of commercially sexually exploited youth, youth of color, and LGBTQ+ youth.
- In our Building New Roads Between Systems sessions, we will concentrate on the value of data, case practice, and leveraging the Family First Prevention Services Act.
- In our Using Experiences to Shape Systems sessions, we will hear directly from staff, families, and young people about their experiences within juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
For more than a decade, the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform has collaborated with partners in 23 states and more than 120 jurisdictions to implement the Crossover Youth Practice Model.
The Forum will leverage this wealth of practical knowledge—and the voices of diverse practitioners and constituents across the country—to engage in a robust conversation on how to improve our youth- and family-serving systems. At the conclusion of the Forum, participants can expect to be prepared to take immediate steps toward helping our most vulnerable youth.
Leave a Comment
Posted: March 31, 2021
Reducing System Crossover for Black LGBTQ+ Girls and Nonbinary Youth
In advance of these important discussions, this new CJJR publication highlights the critical need to ensure that systems fully support Black LGBTQ+ girls and nonbinary youth–a population that is at higher risk for crossover (i.e., becoming dually-involved in both the juvenile justice and child welfare systems) than their non-Black, non-LGBTQ+ peers.
You can also find the full Crossover Youth Spotlight Series on the registration page for A Better Path Forward: Restructuring Systems to Support Crossover Youth, below.
Alongside a host of high-profile keynote speakers and expert presentations, we will spotlight opportunities for change in a series of topical sessions.
The Forum will leverage this wealth of practical knowledge—and the voices of diverse practitioners and constituents across the country—to engage in a robust conversation on how to improve our youth- and family-serving systems. At the conclusion of the Forum, participants can expect to be prepared to take immediate steps toward helping our most vulnerable youth.
Category: Peer Guide, UNITY Peer Guides
2021 National UNITY Conference – July 2 -6 in Dallas, Texas!
2021 UNITY Midyear Conference – Virtual Event
UNITY Commemorative Pendleton Blanket
Receive this special gift for your donation to UNITY! Find out how!
Shop Amazon
There is a NEW way to give to UNITY! Shop at Amazon through UNITY’s AmazonSmile site, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases! Start your shopping by CLICKING HERE! And tell a friend!
Like Us on Facebook!