Training iconNew Training in Development for YJ Professionals

The Youth Justice Training Project has the following goals:

  • Create a Youth Justice (YJ) foundations trainings sequence from a new worker perspective.
  • The child welfare system includes the community-based youth justice system, as well as child protective services. There is a need to recognize that justice-involved youth need to be supported in the context of their families and communities builds strengths and supports positive outcomes. 
  • Support the YJ workforce by building the YJ infrastructure in the areas of standards, training and technical assistance.

The primary focus of the improvements to the YJ training program is minimizing barriers to training and preparing the workforce. As such, there will be a few changes to how YJ professionals enroll in this course compared to the past, the key difference being that YJ professionals will be proxy-enrolled into the course at the same time as Basic Intake for the first phase (i.e., soft launch of the course). In 2026, the course will become a prerequisite to take Basic Intake.

This one-day Youth Justice Philosophy and Case Process (YJPCP) training is an introductory course for YJ professionals that is designed to talk about the “why” behind their duties so they have a more holistic understanding of how the Wisconsin YJ system can impact families. Learners will be introduced to legislation, standards, disparity statistics and case flow as part of this foundational course. Learners will also learn more about common language used in the YJ system, uplifting lived experiences, adolescent brain development and evidence-based practices and philosophies consistent with Putting Families First.  

Training needs, as identified by data:

Data from the 2022 WI YJ Referral and Intake Report further express the gap between this vision and our current state: 

  1. Black and Native American youth were referred for delinquency at rates significantly higher than the state’s average; the rate of Native American youth referred for delinquency jumped by 25% in 2022. 
  2. Over half of all Black and Asian youth referred for delinquency in 2022 were recommended to be formally petitioned to court – this rate is much higher than the state’s average. 
  3. About one in five YJ referred youth had experienced at least one out-of-home care (OHC) placement at any time prior to their first YJ referral in 2021. Youth leaders shared OHC had a negative impact on their mental health. 
  4. Slightly more than 50% of children in OHC with a YJ case type are placed in a congregate care setting.

YJPCP’s design and tone was informed by those with lived experience, including the Youth Leadership Team and the Parent Leaders of Child Welfare Group. The Department of Children and Families sought specific feedback about how to teach child welfare and YJ concepts based on their experiences of being served in the child welfare system.