University of New Orleans Department of Psychology

University of New Orleans

2001 Geology & Psychology Bldg.

New Orleans, LA 70148

• Phone (504) 280-6118
• Fax (504) 280-6049
• kchilds@uno.edu

An important assumption of the Louisiana Models for Change (LA MfC) program is the need to use data to inform targeted areas of improvement in the juvenile justice system and to evaluate the effectiveness of any changes implemented through this initiative. Such reliance on data is critical for having an evidence-based juvenile justice system and to ensure that any changes are effective in appropriately serving youth and protecting public safety. Also, such outcome evaluation is necessary to determine which initiatives warrant dissemination to other jurisdictions. Further, an important goal of the LA MfC is to have local universities partner with local juvenile justice agencies to set up a system of data support and collaboration that will be ongoing after LA MfC has ended.

Project Focus
The role of the Department of Psychology at the University of New Orleans (UNO) is to provide the data support needed to develop, implement and evaluate target areas of improvement for LA MfC. Also, the university is establishing partnerships with state and local juvenile justice agencies to provide data support and information exchange that will be ongoing after LA MfC has ended.

Progress to Date
Some examples of completed or ongoing initiatives by UNO:

• UNO coordinates a group of national and local juvenile justice research experts to support the local sites with their data needs.
• A mapping process was conducted in two Louisiana parishes that systematically described how youth entered the juvenile justice system in the parish, what decisions were made on youth and how they were made at each decision point, and what data were collected and used to make decisions on youth in the parish.
• UNO obtained a grant to provide funds to local sites to purchase equipment, software and technical assistance to enhance their data capacity.
• UNO has provided consultation with local juvenile justice agencies in methods for improving their
  collection, storage, and use of data to make decisions on justice involved youth.
• A comprehensive data base with data from local juvenile justice agencies and with the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice is being developed to guide decision-making at both the local and state level and to promote the implementation of a statewide integrated data system.
• A comprehensive database with data from local juvenile justice agencies and from the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice is being developed to guide decision-making at both the local and state level and to promote the implementation of a statewide integrated data system.
• A comprehensive outcome monitoring system has been developed to evaluate the LaMfC initiative.
• UNO facilitates activities of the MacArthur Foundation’s research network in Louisiana.
  

Site Leadership
For more information about the Models for Change UNO grant, contact Kristina Childs at 504-280-6118 or at kchilds@uno.edu.