SFY’s 11th Anniversary
Strategies for Youth is turning 11!
Help us celebrate our new status as a ‘tween.
Announcing our “Forging Partnerships with Law Enforcement” Report
SFY’s new report, Forging Partnerships with Law Enforcement, results from SFY’s work with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and with local partners implementing Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiatives (JDAI) over the last 10 years.
SFY Welcomes Kristen Wheeler
I am delighted to share good news: Kristen Wheeler has joined Strategies for Youth as Staff Attorney.
Just Saying…
Strategies for Youth has been working hard to keep the concerns, needs, and special protections owed to young people at the forefront of law enforcement reform initiatives.
I am a child
Events involving law enforcement and youth in Rochester, New York, Kissimmee, Florida, and now from Aurora, Colorado illustrate the dangers to children when law enforcement agencies and officers do not use policies that restrict use of force with children and youth.
A special “this year only” opportunity
Courtesy of the CARES Act, those who take the standard tax deduction can take a $300 deduction above their adjusted gross income (AGI). The $300 deduction is for donations made in cash, which includes currency, checks, credit or debit cards, and electronic funds transfers.Those who itemize their deductions can take a 100% deduction off of their AGI this year only. Normally, this deduction is phased out at 60%.
A message from Debbie Lashley & Geordie McClelland Co-Chairs of SFY’s Board of Directors
As we close out 2020, we want to thank you for your support of Strategies for Youth. In a year with so many challenges, many things have been made clear, chief among them for us have been the importance of Strategies For Youth’s work and the importance of the support of donors like you.
WHY SFY MATTERS: We Bring Youth Voices to Law Enforcement–Chief Russell Bentley
We asked, ‘What do you find useful and compelling about our programs.” For Chief Russell Bentley, the answer was easy. “This is exactly the kind of training I was looking for. It helps our SROs treat the whole child.”
WHY SFY MATTERS: We Bring Youth Voices to Law Enforcement–Naomi McSwain
Every December we invite our colleagues from around the country to share their experiences on the impact of SFY’s programming. This video of Naomi McSwain and Marissa, a student in her program, shows the impact of Jeopardy games.
Why SFY Matters
YOU(TH) MATTER is a new initiative of Strategies for Youth led by three youth leaders Laura Jenny, Isaac Annan, and Hannah Sussman.
Voting For Reform In 2020
While the media continues to focus on the Presidential and Senate races, we wanted to share with you some initial impressions and findings from the recent election regarding police/community relations.
Now Hear This!
SFY is addressing the necessity of training law enforcement using new approaches. In addition to some remote training, SFY has launched a podcast series. The podcasts will offer experts’ thoughts on the challenges facing law enforcement in the current policing context and offer strategies for working with young people who are also dealing with the stress of the global pandemic.
JJJ Podcast
Strategies for Youth releases a podcast featuring discussions with JJJ game leaders who have brought they game to their communities.
New Leadership for SFY Board of Directors
Summoning the will to withstand the inevitable pushback will continue to be our greatest challenge to real change. Experience has shown me that what is needed for real, enduring reform starts with the political will at all levels to insist on reforming law enforcement policies and practices in America.
Celebrate Youth—Take Action to Protect Them!
We encourage you to read and sign on to SFY’s Agenda for Reforming Youth Policing Practices & Policies and our statement in support of it. Our positions derive from working with law enforcement, juvenile justice system stakeholders, and youth in 20 states over the past 10 years.
Hope Springs Infernal for Better Policing
Summoning the will to withstand the inevitable pushback will continue to be our greatest challenge to real change. Experience has shown me that what is needed for real, enduring reform starts with the political will at all levels to insist on reforming law enforcement policies and practices in America.
Ignorance is not bliss.
The case for civic action and education.
Now more than ever, we need people to channel their pain and their talents into actions. We need mobilization, but more importantly, we need education.
Strategize, Organize and Mobilize—NOW!
What can we do?
As cities around the country experience riots and rage, it’s hard, at a moment like this, for those of us safe and fortunate enough to be able to ask this question, it’s so hard to know how to act. The urge to take to the streets in rage and frustration is matched by the urge to take to our beds in resignation.
March 2020 – We’re Certified!
Strategies for Youth is pleased to announce that the Policing the Teen™ training curriculum has been recognized as meeting all standards of the IADLEST National Certification Program™. This certification ensures that law enforcement officers across the country will be able to receive continuing education credit within their state’s training academy for the Policing the Teen™ course. SFY’s course will now be listed with other IADLEST-certified courses at www.firstforward.com
New Report – Two Billion Dollars Later
A Survey of State Laws Regulating School Resource Officers. Despite a 20-year investment of close to $2 billion by the federal and state governments, police who are deployed in public schools—commonly known as School Resource Officers (SROs—are neither adequately trained nor supervised, according to a new survey of state laws just released by Strategies for Youth (SFY).
August 2019 – Summer Interns Share Their Experiences at SFY
Each year Strategies for Youth welcomes interns to work with us on special projects, observe our Jeopardy games and Policing the Teen Brain trainings, and conduct research for us on trends that are surfacing. This summer we were pleased to welcome two students whose internships were funded by the Forest Foundation and a student from American University. We hope you will take a moment and read each of their short essays about their experiences at SFY this summer.
June 2019 – Join Us in Celebrating Strategies for Youth’s Ninth Anniversary
SFY was launched nine years ago with a single contract of $22,000 from the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Transit Police. I’m not sure if, even in my wildest dreams, I expected us to grow to have a presence in 19 states with an annual budget of over $850,000! Much of the credit goes to our small, incredibly hard-working and talented staff who have turned multi-tasking into an art form.
May 2019 – Announcing the Winners of SFY’s First Annual Youth Voices Contest
Strategies for Youth is pleased to announce the names of the five young people who won prizes in its first annual Youth Voices Contest. In the fall of 2018, SFY invited youth to write an essay or poem or submit a piece of art answering the question: How would you improve police/youth interactions??
April 2019 – SFY’s Policy Work Being Heard
In addition to providing direct services, SFY advocates for the adoption by police departments of developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, racially equitable policies and approaches. Highlights of recent efforts include…
November 2018 – How SFY Makes a Difference: Virginia Beach Humanitarian Awards
Strategies for Youth was thrilled to learn that 13 individuals—nine police officers, an intake supervisor, diversion specialist, and two mental health clinicians—were awarded Humanitarian Ribbons by the City of Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission for their work facilitating Policing the Teen Brain to law enforcement officers. SFY has been working closely with the Virginia Beach Police Department, under the exceptional leadership of Deputy Chief William Dean, since 2014. Chief Dean tells us that 100% of the department—or approximately 750 officers—have now received the training.
