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By L. Sue Williams, Greg Paul, April Terry and Michael Walker
A team from Fort Hays State University is partnering with the K-State Juvenile Justice Collaborative on a project awarded funding by the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Advisory Group.
The project, titled “Our Town, Our Kids,” aims to work with local communities in developing support systems for youth and families in order to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system and to provide services that maximize their chances of leading productive, successful lives.
Michael Walker, director of the Docking Institute, and Dr. April Terry, assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, are providing content expertise in the areas of data management and juvenile justice. They are joined by Luis Montelongo and Dr. Jian Sun as data analysts. The K-State JJC is comprised of Dr. L. Susan Williams, professor of sociology and criminology; Dr. Greg Paul, associate professor and interim department head of communication studies; Dr. Elaine Johannes, associate professor of family studies and human services and Extension specialist; and Bruce Chladny, K-State Research and Extension specialist.
Over the next two years, the group will work with stakeholders in 23 pre-selected Kansas counties. They will build community capacity in data collection and analysis and foster community collaboration in support of youth and families.
Professionals from K-State Research and Extension will facilitate local conversations that identify areas of concern and develop knowledge bases that will prepare communities to deliver best-practice programs in their respective areas. As part of the effort to engage positive community support, the group will develop a comprehensive toolkit for all Kansas communities that will facilitate local, sustainable systems that serve unique needs of youth.
