By Lisa Margulies, Esq., John T. Gorman Foundation Program Associate Stakeholders across the state have worked to enhance Maine’s juvenile justice system for years. A particular area of focus has been decreasing the number of youth in Long Creek Youth Development Center due to growing recognition and agreement that many justice-involved youth do not pose… Read more »
Tag: Older Youth
Engaging Decision-Makers, Empowering Youth
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
Maine Young People’s Caucus helps youth inform decision-makers about the issues that impact them The committee room at the State House in Augusta was packed on May 30, with each seat at the committee table taken and standing room only for the audience. Legislators and state administrators carried on a spirited dialogue with citizens this… Read more »
Foundation Grant Supports Maine Public Series on Youth Homelessness
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under Grantees in the News, JTGF News & Updates.
As part of a Foundation grant to support reporting on older youth issue, Maine Public has produced and aired a weeklong series on youth homelessness. The five stories below, along with two Maine Callings, do a great job capturing the hard realities homeless youth face, the way Maine communities are working to help them,… Read more »
Supporting Mental Health in Oxford County
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
Research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) clearly outlines the connections between the traumatic experiences of poverty and poor educational, behavioral and physical health outcomes. This is true nationally and here in Maine. Oxford County is one illustration of these connections. It’s a community where 20% of children under 18 live in poverty (vs 16.7% statewide)… Read more »
Spotlight on Older Youth
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
The work of the John T. Gorman Foundation focuses on four priority populations, Young Children, Older Youth, Families and Seniors. At the start of the summer, we issued our inaugural policy brief, “From Adolescence to Adulthood: A Blueprint for Helping Maine Youth Succeed.” The brief aims to improve public understanding about issues facing youth who… Read more »
Gateway to Opportunity: Opening More Doors for Youth in Maine
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
It’s no secret that the employees of the John T. Gorman Foundation are passionate about their work. We feel a deep urgency in our work, and we’re excited about the outcomes created by our community partners. Spend a few minutes in senior program associate Sara Gagné-Holmes’ office, and you’ll walk out feeling inspired about the… Read more »
Combining Forces to Improve Outcomes for Youth At-Risk
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
At the John T. Gorman Foundation, we know that successful transition to adulthood can be difficult, even in the best of circumstances. But for those who face significant life challenges – including contact with the juvenile justice system – the transition is even harder. That’s why the Foundation took a strategic approach to funding three… Read more »
LEAPing from Foster Care to College and Careers ? With Help from Caring Adults and Groups
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
Only 3 percent of youth who age out of the foster care system in Maine earn a college degree. For youth in that same age group who are not involved in foster care, 38 percent earn a degree. To counter that disparity, the Foundation is supporting Learn and Earn to Achieve Potential (LEAP), an initiative… Read more »
Second Summer for Gateway to Opportunity
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
For economically disadvantaged teens in Maine, a good summer job has the potential to be truly life-changing. That’s because researchers have linked learning-rich summer work experiences to positive outcomes for vulnerable young people, such as increased school attendance, better test scores and stronger work readiness skills. In recognition of this evidence, in 2016 the John… Read more »
New Report Looks at Long-Term Effects of Juvenile Records
Posted by Andy Colvin (Staff Admin) & filed under JTGF News & Updates.
The guiding principle behind the juvenile justice system is to help young people take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes so that they can put the past behind them. In fact, research shows that most young offenders effectively outgrow risky behavior and don’t commit crimes as adults. But a new report from… Read more »