Purpose
The Juvenile Justice Certificate Program was developed in alignment with the UNO and School of Criminology and Criminal Justice strategic vision for ongoing workforce development and advancing the professionalism of the juvenile justice field.
Who Should Apply
The Juvenile Justice Certificate Program is open to anyone working with youth at risk of or involved in the juvenile justice or related systems (for example, child welfare, education, etc.). The program is designed to expand a participant's knowledge of what works and develop skills they can apply directly with youth they serve. Individuals likely to benefit the most from the curriculum are those who have a passion for working with at-risk youth but have limited education and/or juvenile justice experience, have education outside the juvenile justice field, or those with a desire to learn and stretch their knowledge and skills.
The inaugural cohort will be limited to approximately twenty people. Future cohorts may expand in size.
Goals
The Juvenile Justice Certificate Program aims to impact Nebraska’s juvenile justice workforce by:
- Developing the capacity of current and future juvenile justice professionals to implement best practices in their organizations and Nebraska's juvenile justice system.
- Equipping future juvenile justice leaders with the knowledge to lead Nebraska in an evidence-based manner.
- Growing a statewide network of juvenile justice professionals who act as a resource and support to each other and their communities.
Program Format
The Juvenile Justice Institute, housed within the UNO School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, will oversee the certificate program. Selected participants will meet monthly from August through April. A program completion celebration will be held at the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association (NJJA)Conference in May. Each month participants will engage with local, state, and national speakers; participate in skill development activities; and participate in site visits and other experiential learning opportunities. Participants will have brief assignments in preparation for each month and an application assignment after each meeting. A small capstone project will be required for completion of the program.
Attendance is essential for successful completion of the program. Participants are expected to attend all sessions unless excused with permission from the program director. Please reserve the following dates from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. on your calendar in anticipation of acceptance into the program.
- August 18, 2022
- September 15, 2022
- October 20, 2022
- November 17, 2022
- December 15, 2022
- January 19, 2023
- February 16, 2023
- March 16, 2023
- April 20, 2023
- May 3-5, 2023 - NJJA Conference (hours of attendance based on conference agenda)
The program will take place on the UNO Dodge Campus at the Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.
Program Curriculum
Each month will focus on a theme critical to juvenile justice work. Core concepts of equity and inclusion; positive youth development; motivational interviewing; and restorative, and reflective practice will be imbedded in each session. The monthly themes will include Foundations of Juvenile Justice; Juvenile Justice Reform and Implementation Science; Adolescent Development; Equity and Inclusion; Screening, Assessment, and Evaluation; Treatment and Intervention; Policy and Leadership; Youth and Family Engagement; Education and School to Prison Pipeline.
We are creating a program that is flexible to the goals of the participant. We hope to offer CEUs/CLEs pending approval from various entities.
Cost
The cost for the program is $2,500. This cost covers all program materials and fees, meals for onsite days, and registration and lodging for NJJA. Cost for travel and lodging are the responsibility of the participant. The program fee will be due by July 31.
How to Apply
The 2022-2023 cohort has been selected. If you are interested in applying for the next cohort please contact us at unojji@unomaha.edu to receive notification when the next application period is open.
Class Biographies
For Questions or Further Information
Please submit any questions about the application process or the program to unojji@unomaha.edu.