Jackson County hosts workshop on child welfare and juvenile justice | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Associate Judge Ella Travelstead Circuit Judge Steven M. J. Bost of Jackson County hosted UPSTREAM Strengthening Children and Families through Prevention and Intervention Strategies: A Court and Community-Based Approach Mapping Workshop in collaboration with the National Center for State Courts. Funded by the Illinois Court Improvement Program, UPSTREAM provides an approach for a community stakeholder-driven process that includes the community, child welfare partners, juvenile justice partners, and the courts to participate in local community discussions to inform a more effective and prevention-focused system for children and families.

The Jackson County Prevention and Intervention Mapping Workshop brought together local stakeholders for a two-day action-oriented working meeting. Participants collectively mapped the child welfare and juvenile justice landscape in Jackson County by identifying resources and gaps in practices and programs, mapping the court processes, and creating an action plan to support and enhance collaboration within and across systems.