Watch Video: Improving Outcomes for Justice-Involved Youth

The Yang Tan Institute’s Y-ReCONNECTS project team (LaWanda Cook, Matt Saleh, Carol Blessing, and Maria Rider) hosted a panel discussion on February 17th for members of its juvenile justice reentry community of practice. The goal of the discussion was to promote systemic change to improve outcomes for justice-impacted youth with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities.  The event was moderated by Timothy McNutt, Director of ILR’s Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative, and featured the following panelists who also serve as project consultants:

• Lydia X. Z. Brown, Advocate, attorney, and strategist whose work focuses on interpersonal and state violence against multiply marginalized people with disabilities
• Jeannette Bocanegra-Simon, Executive Director of Justice for Families
• Sue Badeau, Trainer, consultant and writer in child welfare and juvenile justice
• Brianna Gower, Director of Young Leaders and Advocates Network

Youth Reentering the Community through Opportunity, Networking, Navigation, Education, Collaboration and Transition Supports