The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) last month announced an expansion of its Reclaiming Futures initiative, which helps teens in the juvenile justice system who are struggling with drug and alcohol abuse.
The initiative, initially funded at $21 million over five years, strives to improve and expand drug and alcohol treatments as well as support services, and to find job and volunteer opportunities for youth in trouble with the law.
The expansion is based on improvements in the quality of juvenile justice and substance abuse treatments in the 10 pilot programs that were launched in 2002, RWJF says. The foundation will provide $6.5 million to support the original 10 sites for another two years, and to help new sites implement the model over the next four years.
The expansion includes the creation of a national resource center to provide data, case studies and other information to communities trying to improve drug and alcohol services for youth in the justice system.
Applications will be posted in the late spring at www.reclaimingfutures.org. Contact: Mac Prichard, macp@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8921.
