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Goals for Change
About Models for Change
Models for Change partners with selected states to advance reforms that effectively hold young people accountable for their actions, provide for their rehabilitation, protect them from harm, increase their life chances, and manage the risk they pose to themselves and to public safety.
Background
Models for Change has grown out of years of juvenile justice-focused grant-making on the part of the MacArthur Foundation, including considerable investment in research that has expanded knowledge regarding adolescent development and delinquent behavior, and laid the groundwork for significant changes in law, policy and practice. Now Models for Change seeks to advance juvenile justice reform in line with this new knowledge.
Developing Models
The initiative’s goal is to accelerate progress towards more rational, fair, effective, and developmentally sound juvenile justice systems in selected states–in the process developing models of successful system-wide reform that can be emulated elsewhere.
Participating States
Models for Change is making grants to support juvenile justice reform in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Louisiana, and Washington. These states were chosen for their recognized leadership and commitment to change.
Leverage Issues
In each Models for Change state, the initiative focuses its reform work on a few key target issues. While important in themselves, these are also leverage points. Change in these key areas will radiate change throughout the system.
Leadership and Structure
A lead grantee organization in each Models for Change state is responsible for identifying target issues, planning reform efforts, and working with state and local agencies and organizations in shaping and implementing those plans. Besides directly funding lead grantees, Models for Change also makes grants to state and local agencies and nonprofit organizations engaged in reform work, as well as to a range of prominent juvenile justice organizations and experts that constitute a national resource bank for the initiative.