DOCUMENT RESUME SO 031 469 ED 439 070 Making a Difference. Youth for Justice. TITLE American Bar Association, Chicago, IL. Public Education Div. INSTITUTION Department of Justice, Washington, DC. Office of Juvenile SPONS AGENCY Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 1999-00-00 PUB DATE NOTE 34p. 95-JS-FX-0017 CONTRACT American Bar Association, 541 North Fairbanks Court, AVAILABLE FROM Chicago, IL 60611-3314 (Product No. 4970072, $1). Tel: 800-285-2221 (Toll Free); Web site: http://www.abanet.org/publiced. Non-Classroom (055) Guides PUB TYPE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Active Learning; *Citizen Participation; Elementary DESCRIPTORS Secondary Education; *Law Related Education; Program Descriptions; Social Studies; *Youth Programs Constitutional Rights Foundation; Street Law; *Youth for IDENTIFIERS Justice ABSTRACT This booklet discusses law-related education and its role in helping young people become better citizens. The booklet describes the "Youth for Justice" program, a unique national initiative that uses the power of active learning about the law to build upon the vitality of young neonle and to address the -risks of being young today. 'Youth for Justice ,involves young people in law-related education (LRE) programs that address national problems, particularly violence by and against youth. The goals for Youth for (1) develop Justice's five cooperating national LRE organizations are to: (2) support a national network of curriculum and instructional materials; (3) provide professional state and local leaders representing every state; staff development for educators, lawyers, and juvenile justice professionals; (4) conduct programs for students; and (5) prepare community volunteers as co-instructors and co-leaders in classrooms and community activities for youth. Following an overview of Youth for Justice, the booklet contains informational sections on the five LRE organizations: American Bar Association, Division for Public Education; Center for Civic Education (CCE); Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF); Phi Alpha Delta, Public, Service Center (PAD PSC); and Street Law, Inc. The material provided also includes a Youth for Justice State Contact List. (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Making a Difference. Youth for Justice. American Bar Association 541 North Fairbanks Court Chicago, IL 60611-3314 Web site: (www.abanet.org/publiced). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. AVAILABLE BEST COPY 2 ir 51Cir-F'2 ust youth or for justice youth for justice youth for just youth for justice ou for justice youth for justice youth for just youth for justicevyou for leice youth for outh for just or justicegyou ice youth for ou h for just r justiceyou e youth for uth for just r justiceyou te out *97 Al WM 4 just l- you -00 e youth for outh for just justic youth or justicevou lcr for justice outh justIcey h for just youth f istwctizuvr U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office Juvenile Justice and of Delinquency Prevention Office of the Administrator Kfuhington. RC 20531 Dear Reader: I am pleased to introduce you to an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) funded program initiative entitled "Youth for Justice." This program is designed to help prepare young people for responsible, active and productive citizenship. In this brochure you will learn about law-related education and its role in helping young Americans to become better citizens. Law-related education teaches elementary and secondary students about the foundations of our constitutional republic and their responsibilities and rights as cit- izens. Through law-related education, students develop unique insights that promote social responsibility, reaffirm the fundamental values of right and wrong and inspire a commitment to good citizenship. It also assists teachers, lawyers, judges, juvenile officers, legislators, and other law-related professionals to work in partnership to increase students' understand- ing about the law and our legal system. We believe that law-related education is important because it teaches students how the legal system works in a free society that values each of its citi- zens. Individuals who understand our laws, their pur- pose and their responsibilities and rights are more likely to respect the law and to be law-abiding and productive citizens. OJJDP is proud of the Youth for Justice program and the excellent work of the five members of the Law-Related Education Consortium that is described in this document. We hope this brochure is of assistance to you in your efforts. Shay Bilchik Administrator 00 o CONTENTS 0 o ° 0 0 4 Overview: Youth for Justice 0 0 0 8 American Bar Association 00 00 Division for Public Education 12 Center for Civic Education (CCE) 0 00 16 Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) 0 0 00 20 Phi Alpha Delta Public Service Center O (PAD PSC) 0 24 Street Law, Inc. -/\ O 28 Youth for Justice State Contact List -\/ DIVISION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION 541 North Fairbanks Court Chicago, IL 60611-3314 0 0 www.abanet.org/publiced (312) 988-5735 E-mail: [email protected] ( \/ > > /*\ /*\ \./ This booklet was prepared under Grant #95-JS-FX-0017 from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. We are grateful for its O O support. PC #497-0072 O O The views expressed in this document are those of the authors and have not been approved by the House of Delegates or the Board of O Governors of the American Bar Association and, accordingly, should not be construed as representing the policy of the American Bar Association, nor do they represent the official position and policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. All rights reserved. O O Printed in the United States of America. Revised printing 1999 ; O Printed on recycled paper. 5 g - l r 4 k , 0 A 4 , . 7 t : K 1 ; , f N ' o . , 9 3 , ° 1 e z t k e i t e - ' 8 - . 4 4 , * 1 4 . : 4 : 9 v : V f ° . . t . p . . 4 . . . . . , : . . . . . . 5 k a Overview America's young people are its most valuable, yet most endangered, resource. Their strength, energy, and potential are unlimited. Their risk in the face of violence and ignorance is unparalleled. Youth for Justice is a unique national initiative that uses the power of active learning about the law to build upon the vitality of young people and to address the risks of being young in America today. Over one million students participate in Youth for Justice programs annually. With support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) of the United States Department of Justice, Youth for Justice's five national organizations and state programs (described in this booklet) offer an array of law-related education (LRE) programs and activities for young people in their schools and communities. LRE helps young people avoid delinquent behavior and develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of effective citizens. LRE enriches social studies, language arts, and science courses through interactive instructional strategies. LRE enhances learning by providing opportunities for young people to participate in and take responsibility for their communities. LRE equips young people to confront challenging issues such as substance abuse, crime, and violence. Youth for Justice involves young people in LRE programs that address national problems, particularly violence by and against youth. Youth for Justice's five cooperating national LRE organizations develop curriculum and instructional materials support a national network of state and local leaders representing every state provide professional staff development for educators, lawyers, and juvenile justice professionals conduct programs for students, and 5 7 A prepare community volunteers as co-instructors and co-leaders in classrooms and community activities for youth Youth for Justice builds partnerships. It works closely with legal, educational, governmental, and community groups to initiate and strengthen LRE programs. Its network of national and state programs has made LRE a permanent part of school programs throughout our nation. Votiath goy ja.ustice and WOollence Prevention Youth for Justice has become increasingly involved in the national response to violence by and against youth. In 1993 Youth for Justice sponsored the National Video Town Meeting on Violence. Using video and telecommunication technology, young people across the nation explored issues of violence in their communities and made recommendations to Attorney General Janet Reno, members of Congress, and educational policy leaders. The National Law-Related Education Leadership Conference, the pre-eminent conference for the LRE field, examines violence and LRE's role in its prevention. Conference presenters have described current research on the causes and effects of violence. Participating local and state LRE leaders evaluate connections between LRE and prevention, resulting in improved understanding and stronger program development. Youth for Justice explores ways in which LRE addresses violence by and against youth in its partnerships for safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools. Youth for Justice offers Professional Staff Development and Technical Assistance National Youth for Justice organizations assist state LRE leaders in providing teachers and administrators with staff development and training in implementing programs to serve youth at highest risk. Youth for Justice sponsors conferences to explore new directions for LRE. Youth Summits Youth for Justice assists state leaders in organizing and implementing youth summits that bring together diverse groups of young people to explore state and local issues related to youth, such as violence and violence prevention programs. Juvenile Justice Youth for Justice develops programs for juvenile justice detention and other settings around the country. Building on the success of its juvenile justice initiative in 1990, Youth for Justice is working with a series of pilot sites across the country to develop mode,Iprograms. Research and Development Seeking new ways to strengthen the citizenship skills of at-risk children, Youth for Justice implements pilot curricular programs, provides training and dissemination of them, and evaluates their effectiveness. Street Law, Inc.'s Teen Parents and the Law program provides lessons focused on legal topics such as child support, paternity, custody, and housing to help young parents improve their family life. The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago's Violence- Prevention Outcomes in Civic Education (VOICE) program provides fourth/fifth grade level lessons in mediation, law-related education, and service learning to enhance learning about U.S. history and government and improve students' attitudes and behavior. The Center for Civic Education and the Constitutional Rights Foundation's Bell Gardens Research Project provides fourth/fifth grade level lessons using law-related/civic education and service learning to enhance learning about U.S. and world history. Phi Alpha Delta Public Service Center's Law for Pregnant and Parenting Teens program provides practical law lessons important to this special at-risk group. Public Information Youth for Justice informs educators, national and state leaders, and the public about current prac- tices and programs in LRE and citizenship education. Youth OS for Justice disseminates information through NCI newsletters, presentations, Web sites, -o% e ,t and a national network of C C--)'' 4' -2) state centers. c/ .b \1.))4 . I t r? .. .. . s to . I. 5 a . . ' . % .. a . , . , , ; 7 2 6 , 1 . , r K 4 A t t . . . F t : 4 ; # . ; ? 0 , ; % : : t " E . , 3 , 1 3 ? 0 0