Certificate Program Courses and Fees

Foundations of Youth Development is a 6-hour online course, comprised of two separate three-hour sessions. The course will introduce the science of adolescent development, including normative cognitive, physical/neurological, social and emotional development, and the profound, pervasive and persistent effects of adverse childhood experiences on the developing brain. Participants will begin to understand milestones in adolescent development and how we learn as we enter adulthood, as well as the lingering effects of trauma and toxic stress, the predicting factors on youth outcomes in schools and communities, and possible trauma-informed responses that can improve outcomes across the systems influencing youth and families. Sessions will introduce strategies for conceptualizing and making decisions on prevention and/or intervention rooted in an understanding of normative and derailed youth development.

Foundations in Juvenile Justice is a 6-hour online course, comprised of two separate three-hour sessions. This course will address the history and current structure of the juvenile justice system, helping participants understand how youth move through the system in New Jersey and some of the important ways that juvenile justice is distinguished from criminal justice systems in our state and across the country. Participants will begin to gain perspective on changes to and surrounding New Jersey's system of juvenile justice, a shared vocabulary and understanding of the philosophies and theories underpinning juvenile justice reform, and knowledge about the legal and policy decisions that influence our work.

Engaging Youth and Families is a 6-hour online course that will present effective strategies for engaging youth and families who have become involved with the juvenile justice system and related systems of care. Participants will learn about both individual and organizational models for improving outreach, engagement, and retention of youth and families in services designed to reduce system involvement and improve youth outcomes, such as family counseling, intensive outpatient services, and psychiatric services. This course will also present information regarding the broad base of potential referral sources for youth and families looking to reduce their involvement in the justice system.

Cultural Competence in Juvenile Justice is a 6-hour online course, divided into two 3-hour sessions, that will address the importance of cultural competence and cultural humility. The definition of cultural competence has evolved over the years and trainings focused on cultural competence are more common than ever. Coupled with the respect for cultural and racial differences; is the need for discussions surrounding bias, implicit bias, microaggressions, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Eliminating bias is critical within all systems. This course will introduce various analytical approaches for understanding the dynamics of cross-cultural interactions and is designed to develop cultural competency in decision-making and problem-solving. While utilizing activities, videos and readings, this course will emphasize the practical applications of cultural competency and humility and how cultural incompetence can impact equal access to justice.

The JJYD Capstone is a 6-hour online course, comprised of two separate three-hour sessions. This course is designed to tie together all of the competencies students have gained throughout their participation in the certificate program. It is open to all participants who have completed 8 or more courses (the four core courses and at least 4 out of 5 required electives). The course consists of a multifaceted assignment that will draw upon your experiences and knowledge gained throughout the program and include a presentation session in which students will share their Capstone Project with other participants.

This course will explore the importance of approaching programming for justice-involved youth from a social justice perspective and practical ways to accomplish this. Topics covered will include organizational considerations such as hiring, organizational fit, staff training, grantmaking and maintaining integrity in the face of opposition.  The course will additionally delve into programmatic components including youth leadership, cultural identity development, education on oppressive systems, trauma-informed care that includes systemic trauma and maintaining an asset-based perspective. 

Youth come into contact with the juvenile justice system in a variety of ways and have a variety of experiences while they are involved in the juvenile system. From their referral to the system (e.g., school, police, family) to probation, treatment-focused responses, and detention, the juvenile system offers seemingly unending service options for responding to youth delinquency. This 6-hour online course will consider the continuum of juvenile justice contact, with special attention to evidence-based services that are developmentally informed and consider youths’ intersectional positions.

Ensuring that services provided to system-involved youth acknowledge the many ways in which trauma affects learning, health, and well-being — cannot be understated. This 6-hour online course will consider the nature, forms, and impact of trauma experienced during childhood on adolescent adjustment and the many ways in which traumatic experiences can set a platform for problem behavior and difficulties with attention and learning.  Students will also explore the connection between the impact of trauma on learning and the school-to-prison pipeline. This course will present current approaches to trauma-informed service delivery in schools and carceral settings, with a focus on evidence-based interventions for justice-involved adolescents.

This course includes an overview of key historical developments toward the legal separation of youth and adults. Starting with the treatment of young people prior to the establishment of “childhood” status, students will explore the development of the foster care system, creation of the first juvenile court, and how the Supreme Court has defined the rights of young people over time. Crime trends, policies surrounding the identification and responses to at-risk and system-involved youth, and how these policies have affected youth confinement over the past several decades will be addressed. Students will examine the increasing emphasis on prevention and rehabilitative services in various state juvenile systems that still function under policies shrouded by the “tough on crime” era of the 1990s. 

This six-hour online course, comprised of two separate three-hour sessions, will highlight the ways in which suicide impacts youth involved with the juvenile justice system, specifically youth in the state of New Jersey. This course will provide an opportunity to build the confidence needed to create safe and supportive environments where youth are more likely to disclose suicidal ideation and seek support. Participants will gain insight on the ways in which suicide prevention is one of individual, community, and societal responsibility. The course will also give an overview of practical strategies to use for suicide intervention with youth and families served by the Juvenile Justice Commission Continuum of Care.

Considering the Causes of Youth Aggression is a 6-hour course that addresses some of the intra and interpersonal factors that enhance the likelihood of an adolescent engaging in acts of violence. With a focus on both proactive and reactive aggression, we will discuss the purposes of aggression, risk factors for increasing the likelihood of violence, and developmental issues as they relate to adolescent violence. Included in this discussion will be violence as a strategy for resolving perceived grievances. We will discuss the limitations of perception specifically as it relates to assessing the likelihood of aggression. We will also discuss negative reciprocity, dehumanization, class/status, and research that relates to aggression. Especially for adolescents, we will discuss the impact, if any, of virtual / video game violence. Although the overall focus will be on the dynamics that contribute to aggression, we will also review the verbal and non-verbal warning signs of potential imminent violence as well as intervention strategies and de-escalation techniques.