This June marks the beginning of the Juvenile Justice System Enhancement–Nebraska, a statewide probation initiative designed to study, review and ultimately upgrade Nebraska’s probation system.

The three-year initiative will kick off with a virtual event on June 21 hosted by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican and the Administrative Office of the Courts and Probation. The initiative is supported by a $500,000 grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which is a department within the U.S. Department of Justice that works to prevent juvenile delinquency, improve the juvenile justice system and protect children.

During the first year, a comprehensive juvenile probation system review will be conducted, including a data capacity assessment through the lens of implementation science. The review will result in targeted recommendations that will enhance probation practices and positively impact probation youth and their families statewide.

The online kickoff event will feature remarks from multiple national juvenile justice experts who will be working with the state for the duration of the enhancement program. Experts include:

• John Tuell, executive director, Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice

• Hunter Hurst IV, senior research associate, National Center for Juvenile Justice

• Renee Boothroyd and Robin Jenkins, associate directors, senior implementation specialists, The Impact Center at Frank Porter Graham, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Keith Cruise, consultant, trauma and behavioral health screening and risk/needs assessment, National Youth Screening and Assessment Partners

The virtual event begins at noon on June 21. To register in advance, visit bit.ly/2PEkr9K.