New on the Imprint: Many of America’s First Crossover Youth are Buried in Forgotten Graves

Title of Op-Ed at the Imprint in yellow over night sky and white earth

When the term “crossover youth” is used today it refers to children who touch both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. These are young people whose lives are shaped by abuse, neglect, family separation, poverty, and then, too often, punishment.

It sounds like a modern problem, born of contemporary systems that struggle to coordinate care and services. But sadly, America’s first crossover youth lived — and too often died — long ago.

Please check out our new op-ed published on the Imprint, “Many of America’s First Crossover Youth are Buried in Forgotten Graves.” Co-authored by our Senior Deputy Director, Macon Stewart, and Marc Schindler, Research Professor of the Practice and Senior Fellow, the article dives into the heartbreaking history of crossover youth. Often, we think of system overlap and failure as a modern issue, but the roots of this problem span back to the 1800’s and the birth of youth-serving systems themselves.

We encourage you to read more at the link! A big thanks to the Imprint for publishing the article, and for their continued, in-depth coverage of youth justice and child welfare issues.