youth

The Camden, New Jersey Disproportionate Minority Contact Committee implemented a caller notification system that reaches youth to remind them of their court dates. This has resulted in 91% of youth contacted (message or live) by caller notification call appearing in court. The committee also compared the number of Bench Warrants issued for Failures to Appear (FTA) for April/May 2009 and April/May 2010. There were 35 FTA's issued during those two months in 2009; while only 19 issued in 2010 for the same two months.

One section of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires that all school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program have local wellness policies by July 1, 2006. The School Nutrition Association (formerly ASFSA) has put together tools to help assist the school community in dealing with this new requirement.

This bill mandates food standards for all schools in the state of California. Food sold in all K-12 schools must have limited fat, calories and sugar.

This bill in the California legislature expands restrictions on beverages that can be sold in elementary and middle schools to high schools. Only certain drinks that meet sugar, fat and caloric restrictions may be sold.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school district, voted to ban soft drink sales in all district schools. The school district is diverse and a 75.5% of LAUSD students qualified for free or reduced priced federal meals. The policy includes a monitoring mechanism and a workgroup to address any shortfalls affecting the student organization (Associated Student Body) due to the elimination of soda sales.

Hold juvenile justice systems accountable to DMC (Disproportionate Minority Contact) regulations beyond funding cultural competency.
Set standards for addressing disparity/disproportionality with comprehensive interventions that address equity throughout each stage of youth involvement
Invest in community organizing as a central and focal point and build the capacity of parents and families as advocates

The Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is one of the nation‚ most effective and influential models to advance juvenile justice system reform and reduce DMC. Tucson is the only county in the entire state of Arizona that is working to address Disproportionate Minority Contact. In 2005, Tucson County had 200 youth in a juvenile detention facility built for 360 youth. Today, as a result of implementing the JDAI model, Tucson County has reduced the number of detained youth to 94.

The Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act passed by Congress in 2002 required that States “address juvenile delinquency prevention efforts and system improvement efforts designed to reduce, without establishing or requiring numerical standards or quotas, the disproportionate number of juvenile members of minority groups, who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. (JJDP Act of 2002)

Jovenes Unidos found that youth of color in Denver are being pushed into jail cells instead of being put behind school desks. Nationwide, youth of color are targeted for more and harsher discipline than their white counterparts. Colorado students proposed solutions to their school boards and city council, including changing city policy, changing district policy, creating alternative discipline measures and a community oversight board.