CJCA leads work on several national projects that magnify our ability to help youths in trouble by providing tools, training, technical assistance and support to youth correctional leaders and staff.

 1 – Performance-based Standards (PbS) for Youth Correction and Detention Facilities
CJCA’s most well-known program is the Performance-based Standards (PbS) project, the winner of the 2004 Innovations in American Government Award in recognition of its unique, creative and effective approach to improving the conditions and effectiveness of services in youth confinement facilities. PbS is a self-improvement and accountability system used in 31 states and the District of Columbia based on national standards that provides performance outcome data on facility safety, security, programming, health/mental health services, order, justice and reintegration planning… (Click to find out more about this project!) 
Find out more about Performance-based Standards: http://pbstandards.org/

2- Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice
As part of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change (MfC) reform initiative, CJCA and Policy Research Associates (PRA) co-direct the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ). In 2003 the Center launched the Comprehensive Systems Change Initiative (CSCI) to work with selected jurisdictions to create comprehensive and continuum of mental health services for juvenile justice youths…(Click to find out more about this project!) 
Find out more about the Models for Change Initiative: http://www.modelsforchange.net/
Find out more about The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice: http://www.ncmhjj.com/

3- New Directors Seminar
To help recently-appointed directors succeed in their new positions, CJCA provides a New Directors Seminar once a year. The two-day seminar is led by veteran directors and includes inter-active sessions on topics such as leadership, crises management, budget and operations and current issues and trends in juvenile justice.  (Click to find out more about this project!) 
Previous agendas and pictures of past classes… Coming soon!

6. Suicide Prevention Resource Center
In a new collaboration with the Educational Development Center Inc., CJCA has begun work on two projects with the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) to help improve suicide prevention training in juvenile facilities and programs.
Find out more about the Suicide Prevention Resource Center: www.SPRC.org
 Find out more about the Educational Development Center Inc.:  http://main.edc.org/