The National Juvenile Justice Network has just released The Real Costs and Benefits of Change: Finding Opportunities for Reform During Difficult Fiscal Times, a compilation of reform efforts and strategies that make sense both in terms of producing better outcomes for youth and communities and saving money. Reform efforts such as Youth Aids in Wisconsin, Reclaim Ohio, and Redeploy Illinois are highlighted as strategies in which funding strategies can help promote more successful community-based work with delinquent youth along with tips for policy-makers and advocates about how to promote change when funding is tight. This document lends support to the need for Wisconsin to move forward in closing one of the two male Juvenile Correctional Institutions so that funds going to counties to promote successful community strategies are not further diminished.
Early Care & Education in the Fox Valley
Every child deserves a solid foundation in life, regardless of income. Affordable and accessible early care and education ensures that parents can get to work and sets children up for a strong start. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how child care is critical for children and families and why early care and education providers are an essential part of our local communities and a thriving economy.