Partners for Change

DMC Action Network

The DMC Action Network is a Models for Change-supported forum for sharing knowledge and accelerating progress in the reduction of racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. It brings together local leaders and practitioners from selected sites across the country, exposes them to the latest thinking of national experts, and gives them an opportunity to learn from one another about effective DMC reduction approaches. As part of their participation in the Network, the sites commit themselves to communicating regularly with their peers, collaborating to solve problems, and using what they learn to improve practice back home. During the Network’s first year, each site is implementing at least one strategic innovation that is likely to have an impact on DMC locally—including improvements in data collection, reporting or analysis, in decision-making procedures, in the cultural competency of staff, in the cultural relevance of programming, or in the range of alternatives and services accessible to youth of color. Sites will track their implementation experiences, and results will be shared with their colleagues and the field.

In addition to local jurisdictions that are already active in the Models for Change initiative as DMC demonstration sites, DMC Action Network members include other sites outside of the four Models for Change states, chosen through a competitive application process designed to identify jurisdictions that have achieved measurable success in reducing DMC. There are a total of twelve DMC Action Network sites:

• Berks County, PA
• Allegheny County, PA
• Philadelphia, PA
• Peoria, IL
• Jefferson Parish, LA
• Rapides Parish, LA
• Pierce County, WA
• Benton and Franklin Counties, WA
• Baltimore City, MD
• Rock County, WI
• Sedgwick County, KS
• Union County, NC

The DMC Action Network is coordinated by the Center for Children’s Law and Policy, a National Resource Bank member that provides technical assistance to DMC efforts in all four Models for Change states. For information about the first annual meeting of the DMC Action Network in October 2007, click here. To learn more about the DMC Action Network, contact lgarry@cclp.org.

Back To Top