Invitation to Participate in the Juvenile Justice Continuum of Care Project Virtual Stakeholder Sessions

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), in partnership with the WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center (JPRC) has received funding from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to develop a statewide Continuum of Care for Communities model for Pennsylvania. This initiative aims to provide actionable recommendations for diverting youth from the juvenile justice system toward community-based services and alternatives to detention.

To inform this statewide model, WestEd is seeking collaboration with Pennsylvania Juvenile Justice stakeholder groups to gather insights and evidence-based recommendations.

Our goal is to develop actionable recommendations for diverting youth from formal justice system involvement and to strengthen community-based services, drawing on the expertise and experience of local stakeholders. As someone involved in juvenile justice and juvenile justice-adjacent systems, your insights will be invaluable in shaping recommendations and identifying promising local practices.

What’s Involved: We invite you to join an engagement session where we’ll discuss:

• Local prevention and diversion strategies, strengths, and gaps
• Recommendations and best practices for serving youth and families across the continuum of care

Session Details:

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Format: Virtual (calendar invite and Zoom link to be provided upon RSVP)

Session Options

• Community Service Providers: 1/8/26 @12:00-1:30 EST
  • Includes: Violence Intervention Programs, Restorative Justice organizations, Faith-based organizations, Foster Care Agencies, Housing and Homelessness Services, Workforce Development Agencies, Child and Family Advocacy – Rights and Policy Reform, Residential Placement staff, etc.
  • Register here.

• Courts and Related Departments: 1/9/26 @12:00-1:30 EST
  • Includes: Judges, Magistrates, District Attorneys, Public Defenders, Probation, Children and Youth, CASA, Youth Aid Panels, etc.
  • Register here.

• Victims’ Services: 1/23/26 @12:00-1:30 EST
  • Includes:  Victims and Victim Service Providers
  • Register here.

• Education: 1/27/26 @12:00-1:30EST
  • Includes: School and District-level Administration, Faculty, Psychologists, Counselors and Social Workers, Student Assistance Programs, and School Security Personnel
  • Register here.

• Mental and Behavioral Health & Substance Use Treatment: 1/30/26 @12:00-1:30 EST
  • Includes:  Mental Health, Behavioral Health and Substance Use Treatment Providers, residential or community-based
  • Register here.

• Law Enforcement & Crisis Response: 2/4/26 @11:30-1:00 EST
  • Includes: Police Officers, School Resource Officers, Detectives, Emergency Responders, Crisis Responders, Medical Personnel
  • Register here.

• Families & Loved Ones with Experience Supporting Youth in the Juvenile Justice System (Past or Present): 2/4/26 @4:30-6:00 EST
  • Includes: Family members, friends, caregivers, and loved ones with past or present experience supporting their youth navigate the juvenile justice system 
  • Register here.

• Youth with Lived Experience Navigating the Juvenile Justice System: 2/11/26 @4:30-6:00 EST
  • Includes: Youth with juvenile justice or children and youth/foster care experience, ages 25 and under
  • Register here.

Your participation will not only contribute to improving outcomes for youth and families but also ensure that the report and recommendations reflect the needs and realities of your community.

If you are able to attend, please take 2-3 minutes to fill out the RSVP link connected to the session you wish to attend—please plan to attend one session. This will ensure you a spot and send you a calendar invite and Zoom link.  Please feel free to share this email and flyer within any of your networks as well.

Lastly, if you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]. We look forward to your valued input and voice as we work together to strengthen the continuum of care for youth and families.