In collaboration with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) has developed the Toolkit for Identifying Youth Experiencing Homelessness in the Justice System: Using A Structured Process to Recognize Red Flags and Ensure Housing First Approaches (hereafter also referred to as the Toolkit). The Toolkit helps judges identify red flags and make decisions based on information gathered during court hearings regarding youth who are experiencing homelessness. The judicial Toolkit includes:
- A process to identify local resources and services available to support youth who are experiencing homelessness.
- An interactive court hearing checklist that can be used by judges to 1) identify red flags associated with homelessness 2) formulate initial next steps that ensure services lead to safe and secure housing.
The National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges developed this toolkit in collaboration with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice as part of the Collaborating for Change: Addressing Youth Homelessness and Juvenile Justice Project.