CYJ Partners with CASA DC to Strengthen Support for Marginalized Youth

Title header announcement with illustration of DC cityscape

The Center for Youth Justice is excited to announce that we are partnering with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of DC on an 18-month evaluation of their Family-Based Alternative Justice Program.

This collaboration addresses critical service gaps for two highly vulnerable groups: youth with incarcerated parents and pregnant/parenting youth involved in the youth legal system. Each year, the program will train about 50 CASA volunteers and staff who serve 35–45 youth with incarcerated parents plus 12–15 pregnant/parenting youth.

CYJ will design and implement a comprehensive evaluation framework measuring knowledge gains among participants through pre- and post-training surveys. Our analysis will identify the most effective training components and provide actionable recommendations for program enhancement and sustainability.

This partnership exemplifies the multi-system collaboration essential for meaningful youth justice reform. By strengthening CASA DC’s capacity to address the complex needs of these vulnerable families, we’re working to reduce future legal system involvement and promote healthier family dynamics.

The project runs through August 2026 and reflects CYJ’s ongoing commitment to translating “what works” research into practice for communities nationwide.