Understanding the Juvenile Justice System to Better Support System-Involved Youth and Families

Marya Wright, DSW, MSW, LCSW

Training Description

This interactive training provides participants with a comprehensive overview of the juvenile justice system, emphasizing trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and equity-centered approaches to working with system-involved youth and their families. Participants will explore how historical inequities, implicit bias, and systemic barriers shape youth outcomes, while gaining practical strategies to enhance communication, cross-system collaboration, and family engagement. Through real-world case examples, guided discussion, and applied learning activities, attendees will strengthen their ability to effectively support youth across education, child welfare, probation, behavioral health, and community-based systems. This training equips participants with actionable tools to promote rehabilitation, stability, and long-term success for system-involved youth.

Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Identify and explain at least three core components of California’s juvenile justice system, including legal processes, youth rights, and system roles, and compare how these elements differ from the adult criminal justice system.