Registration/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.

This course will present effective strategies for engaging youth and families involved with the youth 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 on the broad range of potential referral sources for youth and families seeking to reduce their involvement in the justice system.

This course will address the history and current structure of the youth justice system, helping participants understand how youth move through the system in the US and some of the important ways that juvenile justice is distinguished from criminal justice systems across the country. Participants will gain perspective on changes to the youth justice system, a shared vocabulary and understanding of the philosophies and theories underpinning youth justice reform, and knowledge about the legal and policy decisions that influence our work.

This course will address the importance of cultural competence and cultural humility. The definition of cultural competence has evolved over the years, and training focused on cultural competence is 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 introduces various analytical approaches to 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 Course 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 9 or more courses (the four core courses and at least 5 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.

Considering the Causes of Youth Aggression is a 6-hour online 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. This discussion will include 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.

This course will cover normative adolescent sexual development and the factors that are likely to affect it. The discussion of these factors will include trauma, substance use disorders, internet/social media influences, pornography, and youth legal involvement. Sexual minority and cultural diversity topics will also be explored, and arenas of sexual education for adolescents will be compiled. Lastly, since the topic of sex/sexuality may also be difficult for adults to discuss, this course will include exercises around effective strategies for generating such discussions with adolescents.

Trauma-informed care -- ensuring that services provided to system-involved youth acknowledge the many ways in which trauma affects 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, delinquency, and justice involvement during adolescence. This course will also present current approaches to trauma-informed service delivery, with a focus on evidence-based interventions for justice-involved adolescents.

This course examines the ways in which regulations and policies can be written to focus on the strengths of young people who are involved in the youth justice system. It highlights the agency/system values of uplifting youth despite them being adjudicated for delinquent behavior. Policies, procedures, laws, and regulations can be punitive and harsh in both language and outcome, OR they can be rehabilitative, strength-based, and grounded in the positive core values of the system/agency. Ensuring the "language" of these policies and regulations reflects these core values is tantamount. Hence, stakeholders, youth, families, and communities know the system believes that young people are not defined by their behavior. Focusing on and bolstering youth strengths uplifts them, and helps all stakeholders see the value of each human, regardless of the action that brought them into the system. This course benefits anyone interested in youth justice reform and those involved in decision-making around policies that serve to uplift and foster strengths of young people in the system.

Reentry for justice-involved youth is a challenge for every jurisdiction in our nation. In this course, participants will examine the research, effective evidence-based practices, diverse needs, area deficits, and programs specializing in reentry - specific to the needs of justice-involved adolescents. This course incorporates lectures, videos, interviews with subject matter experts, and short readings for discussion.