Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to Improve Outcomes for Youth in Juvenile Justice Settings: Guiding Principles for Future Research and Practice

Abstract

In 2014, the joint Departments of Education and Justice released Guiding Principles for Providing High-Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings, including I) creating a climate and conditions conducive to learning, II) providing necessary resources to support education opportunities, III) recruiting, training, and retaining qualified staff, IV) implementing rigorous and relevant curricula, and V) supporting successful community reentry. This article outlines these five guiding principles, including ways that each can be addressed by adopting positive behavioral interventions and supports frameworks, a type of multi-tiered system of support, facility-wide within secure care juvenile justice facilities. Illustrations of how to address each guiding principle are supported by articles from the special issue of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth on multi-tiered systems of support within secure residential juvenile facilities.