Juvenile Rights Project, Inc.
SchoolWorks and Education Project

Education is Key
Educational outcomes for children involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems nationwide are abysmal. While some students manage to succeed, earning high school diplomas or equivalencies and moving on to higher education or employment, children in these systems face much higher rates of school disruptions, suspensions and expulsions, school dropout, and they experience rates of education related disabilities that are at least three times greater than their peers. It can be a vicious cycle because educational failure is itself a risk factor for juvenile and criminal justice system penetration.

To help improve educational outcomes for children involved with the juvenile court system, or who are at risk of such involvement, the Juvenile Rights Project has developed programs which serve children in the Portland metro area who face education-related challenges.

SchoolWorks (2002 to Present)
SchoolWorks began in July 2002. JRP received an Edward J. Byrne federal juvenile violence prevention grant.  SchoolWorks Advocates – attorneys Angela Sherbo, Brian Baker, Mary Kane, Jennifer McGowan, Kris Paustenbach and social worker Mark McKechnie – are assigned to represent students who reside in Multnomah county and attend any of the Multnomah County school districts.

SchoolWorks Represents Children and Impacts Systems
Children referred to SchoolWorks are court-appointed clients of JRP, ages 8-15, who are having school-related difficulties in one or more of these areas: they are excluded or are not attending school, are academically behind or have significant behavior problems in school. Juvenile court involvement is a risk factor for future delinquent or criminal behavior, while school success has been shown as an important and effective way to prevent those behaviors.

SchoolWorks advocates work with parents, foster parents, schools and other agencies to make sure these most at-risk students are enrolled in school and receiving the services they need to be successful. Many have been re-enrolled in school, have moved to more appropriate educational settings, have received improved special education or other supportive services, and have had expulsions suspended or averted.

All of JRP’s clients are involved in multiple systems, such as education (including alternative and special education), mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and/or developmental disabilities systems. Our advocates help coordinate the efforts of these separate systems, working with them to craft individualized plans to benefit the children we each serve. SchoolWorks advocates also help broker resources between systems. In times like these, when funding is tight, it helps to combine the efforts and resources of these separately-funded systems. SchoolWorks is making connections with school districts, special education programs, therapeutic and alternative school programs, programs serving homeless youth and others so that we can more effectively match our clients with the school placements and services they need most.

For more information concerning the SchoolWorks program, please refer to our 2005 Annual Report.

JRP Education Project (2001 - 2004)
The JRP Education Project began in 2001 with a federal formula grant administered by the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission which seeks to reduce the overrepresentation of minority youth in the juvenile justice system. OCJC renewed the grant for the 2002-03 school year. Under this project JRP Senior Attorney Brian Baker represents 6th through 9th grade minority students in the Portland Public School District who are facing suspension or expulsion or who are currently excluded from public school. The Education Project served 23 students (some on multiple occasions) in 2001-02, and all but one were in school at the end of the year. That student was only out of school for the last few days of the year and had won the right to return in the fall.

Who the Education Project Served in 2001 - 02.
Of the youth served, 65.2% were African American, 4.3% Latino, 8.7% Native American/Alaskan Native, 4.3% Asian and 17.4% were Multi-ethnic/Other.

© 2005 Juvenile Rights Project, Inc.