WCCF just posted on our website an updated summary of juvenile justice data trends, about The Continuing State of Juvenile Justice in Wisconsin. The prior report included data through 2010, and this takes us through 2012 data. While the downward trends have continued, it will be interesting to see what happens in 2013 as there are signs that the nearly two-decade long decline in juvenile arrests is slowing. Nonetheless, the data also reflects well on continuing efforts by local and state juvenile justice practitioners to be more strategic about assessing risk, strengths, and needs and building support for successful community-based programs. Hopefully the practice and policy changes over the past decade have reinforced the notion that locking youth up is not a pathway to less crime – in fact, the opposite has been true. by Jim Moeser
Mental Health: A Behavioral Health System that Better Supports Counties and Schools
Everyone in Wisconsin, regardless of what county they live in, deserves to live in a community that supports their health and wellness, including access to quality, affordable mental health and substance use disorder services. Governor Evers’ proposed budget expands access to behavioral health care, strengthens schools’ abilities to provide mental health supports to students, invests in peer support, and provides millions in funding to county behavioral health services.