2015 NLADA Annual Conference

A young black woman is criminalized for an in-school verbal argument and faces homelessness upon graduation due to her label as a violent offender. A young black man who faced trauma as a child, but was never identified as needing services, now suffers from severe depression and yet is denied SSI benefits. Racial disparities in childhood carry lifelong consequences. Schools with higher percentages of black students are more likely to use suspensions, expulsions, or referrals to police to handle behavior issues, resulting in greater racial disparities in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. This session will focus on the complex and intersecting systems that create racial disparities and will propose a model for advocates to holistically address the needs of black youth and collaborate to achieve policy reform. The session features a unique collaboration in Philadelphia among civil legal aid, defender, and youth policy advocates.