Center for Children & Youth Justice

All children and youth deserve a fair chance

At the Center for Children & Youth Justice (CCYJ), we’re changing the way young people experience the child welfare and juvenile justice systems—for the better. By listening to young people and working with partners across Washington State, we’re helping to redesign our child welfare and juvenile justice systems to meet children and youth’s unique needs. Every year we help improve the lives of 50,000 young people.

We are excited to announce CCYJ’s annual eQuality Convening on June 21, 2022!

Similar to last year, we will be meeting virtually, with hopes to return in-person next year. In addition to the Convening, we will be hosting two pre-convening Pride Learning Sessions, taking place on June 7th and June 14th. We welcome young people, youth-serving professionals, community partners, policy makers, and other stakeholders to attend.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet, learn, ask questions, and share experiences. We hope you will join us this summer!

Who should attend?: Any youth-serving professional, volunteer, caregiver, policy maker and other stakeholders

Where: Virtual Zoom meeting, register for link

Cost: This event is FREE

June 7th, 9:00-10:30am PDT
Implementing the Protocol for Safe & Affirming Care: Strategies, Overcoming Challenges, & Lessons Learned
Nicholas Oakley, JD (he/him)
Director of Public Policy, Strategy, & Alignment, Center for Children & Youth Justice

June 14th, 12:00-1:30pm PDT
Supporting Today’s Gender Diverse Youth
Aiden Key (he/him)
Founder and CEO, Gender Diversity

eQuality Convening:

June 21, 9:00am-1:30pm PDT
Keynote Speaker – Nakiya Lynch (they/them), Youth Well-Being Coordinator, Human Rights Campaign

Plenary – Dr. Caitlin Ryan , PhD, ACSW (she/her), Director, Family Acceptance Project

Panel – Centering Youth and Supporting Families – What Providers Should Know About Addressing Rejecting Behaviors, Engaging Caregivers, and Empowering Young People

With Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor:

Our Work

Empowering Foster and Homeless Youth

Building pathways to education, housing, and employment for foster and homeless youth

Keeping Kids in School

Activating education and justice communities to support youth in crisis

Reducing Gang Violence

Uniting partners to redirect gang-involved youth and get them on a positive path

Stabilizing Families

Combining legal, parent, and social services to strengthen King County families

Supporting LGBTQ Youth

Building capacity for foster care and juvenile courts to provide safe, affirming support

Combating Child Sexual Exploitation

Connecting sexually exploited children to resources and advocacy

News and Updates

Press Release: Washington State Ends Practice of Charging Families For Their Child’s Incarceration

CCYJ 2022-2024 Strategic Plan

CCYJ 2020 Annual Report

The Fight to Protect Sex Trafficked Youth Continues Even After a Major Win

There Can Be No Pride Until Black Lives Matter – CCYJ’s 2020 Pride Statement

CCYJ Announces Kitsap County Girls Court

Progress For The LGBTQ+ Youth Who Need Us Most

CCYJ Stands Firmly in Support of the Elimination of Detention for Non-Offender Youth

Learn More

Learn with CCYJ

This year’s Becca conference encourages, supports, and enhances collaborative community-based efforts to serve Becca involved youth and families. Learn more!

Hear LGBTQ Youth Voices

We’re piloting a Protocol for Safe & Affirming Care to ensure LGBTQ youth in juvenile justice and child welfare systems are treated fairly. It’s based on LGBTQ youth voices.

Join the CCYJ Community

Sign up for CCYJ’s email newsletter, the Justice Journal, to receive impact updates, invitations to community events, and important news on youth justice issues.