Toward Equity: Local Engagement Strategies

Toward Equity: Local Engagement Strategies

Beginning in 2011, the Equity Project engaged in intensive-site based work, working with pilot model sites to enhance LGBT advocacy in the juvenile justice system. One objective of the site-based work was to develop a “toolkit” for replication in other localities. However, through this multi-year process, that included many intensive meetings, numerous hours of volunteer work from local stakeholders, training hundreds of juvenile justice professionals, and developing relevant policies and practice tools, the Equity Project learned that there is no “one size fits all” model. Even so, there are some lessons learned and key themes that anyone looking to increase awareness of and improve outcomes for LGBT youth in the juvenile justice system, may find useful.