Dec. 3, 2010
Summit County's Judge Teodosio to Receive National Award for Work in Juvenile Justice
Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio will be honored as a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform, the MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative announced this week. She will be recognized at the 5th Annual Models for Change National Conference in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 7 for her work to improve the lives of youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
“To be recognized nationally for what we do in Summit County is certainly humbling and I’m deeply honored,” said Judge Teodosio. “However, I am merely the representative of our staff and an entire network of devoted social service agencies and workers who prove on a daily basis what can be achieved through cooperation and collaboration. This award is a testament to their work.”
Judge Teodosio’s efforts to improve the lives of youth in the juvenile justice system, especially those youth with mental health issues, includes her ongoing participation on the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Advisory Committee on Mental Illness and the Courts Juvenile Issues subcommittee, which operates under the leadership of Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton.
“Judge Teodosio has been a great innovator concerning juvenile justice and mental health issues,” Justice Stratton said. “She has worked closely with our committee in our efforts concerning youth with mental health issues in the juvenile justice system. I am happy for her but especially happy for our program because this type of national recognition helps lend further support to the cause, which is so important for Ohio’s young people.”
Models for Change is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s $120 million, 16-state initiative to reform juvenile justice systems across the country. The project involves four core states and 12 additional states participating in issue-specific action networks. Ohio is part of the Mental Health Juvenile Justice Action Network, and Judge Teodosio has served on Ohio’s state team since the Network’s inception. Now in its fifth year, Models for Change is accelerating movement toward a more effective, fair and developmentally sound juvenile justice system by creating successful and replicable models that use resources effectively to protect community safety and improve outcomes for youth. For more information about Models for Change, access its website at www.modelsforchange.net.
The Responder Program, which was developed as part of the Ohio Mental Health Juvenile Justice Action Network grant, equips middle schools with a trained professional to screen youth for potential mental health issues that could contribute to unruly behavior and/or truancy. The Responder works with the youth, their families and the school to develop solutions beneficial for all concerned. Judge Teodosio has also been instrumental in the Action Network’s Workforce Development and Family Engagement efforts that have resulted in extensive training for Court staff in Summit County and around the state of Ohio, as well as for family members who can advocate for their children.
Justice Stratton provided a statement of support on behalf of the Supreme Court of Ohio to the Ohio Action Network grant application submitted by the Ohio Department of Youth Services. Once the Action Network grant was awarded to the Ohio Department of Youth Services, Christine Raffaele, Specialized Dockets Program Manager, has served on the state team and worked closely with Judge Teodosio on the School Responder and Family Engagement Action Network grant projects.
In Judge Teodosio’s seven-year tenure on the Juvenile Court bench, she has developed programming that has served as models for other Juvenile Courts to replicate, primarily the Crossroads Program, which recognizes that substance abuse and mental illness are primarily co-occurring disorders. Crossroads is an intensive probation, incentive-based program that addresses each issue. Charges against the youth are dismissed if they successful complete the year-long program. The Family Resource Center is unique to the Summit County Juvenile Court. It offers case management, programming and referral services to youth and family confronted with such issues as teen pregnancy, domestic violence, truancy and re-entry into the community following a commitment in a juvenile detention facility.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250
Jennifer Humke, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, at 312.920.6266
or
Don Ursetti, Summit County Juvenile Court Outreach Director 330-643-2554