As we recognize Youth Justice Action Month, I think this is an important question to ask. New analysis of federal civil-rights data shows that during the 2023–24 school year: • 2.5 million students experienced at least one out-of-school suspension. • 2.3 million experienced an in-school suspension. • Nearly 7 in 10 public schools reported increased demand for student mental health services since the pandemic. Some suspensions aren't always connected to serious safety concerns

Same youth. Different door. The young people we see in child welfare are often the same young people we see in juvenile justice. Sometimes, it simply depends on which system gets to them first. That’s why Minnesota’s current approach caught my attention. As of August 1, Minnesota raised the minimum age of juvenile delinquency from 10 to 13. Children under 13 who are alleged to have committed a delinquent act are no longer subject to a juvenile delinquency petition. Instead,

Sometimes we need to ZOOM out to see the whole system. When working with a justice-involved young person, it's easy to focus on the part of the system directly in front of us. A school sees a student. A mentor sees a young person they are supporting. A behavioral health provider sees a client. A probation officer sees a youth on their caseload. A community organization sees someone who needs support. All of those perspectives are important. But none of them represents the who