OJJDP National Conference Program - Office of Juvenile Justice ...

U.S. Department of JusticeOffice of Justice ProgramsOffice of the Assistant Attorney GeneralWashington, D.C. 20531Dear Conference Attendees:On behalf of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), I am pleased to welcome you to the Office of JuvenileJustice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP’s) National Conference, “Children’s Justice & Safety: Unite,Build, Lead.”One of my top goals for OJP continues to be to strengthen our partnerships with state, local, and tribal justicestakeholders. Nowhere is this more important than in the fields of juvenile justice and child protection. Thisconference, which brings together juvenile justice researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and advocatesfrom across the country, is an important step toward achieving this goal. From prevention programs to deependintervention to child victimization, we have much to share and learn from each other.As you browse the agenda that follows, you will note a broad range of topics and sessions that will be ofinterest to all participants. In particular, I would highlight some of our new Departmentwide initiatives inwhich OJJDP plays a significant role, specifically the Defending Childhood initiative and the National Forumon Youth Violence Prevention. Both of these efforts demonstrate that establishing strong partnerships acrossgovernment and with local communities can ultimately improve the systems and services that impact ourchildren’s lives.I am also gratified to see that this agenda reflects OJP’s ongoing emphasis on the importance of data-drivenstrategies and evidence-based approaches. I firmly believe that applying rigorous scientific methods tounderstand what works is the best tool we have to make good use of our limited resources. I applaud thejuvenile justice field for leading the criminal justice community in its willingness to assess programs andpractices and make adjustments based on what the science tells us.This conference promises to provide you with a wealth of information and resources; however, I wouldbe remiss not to acknowledge that there is as much or more to learn from your fellow colleagues. It is arare opportunity to be among so many individuals working in similar areas on similar problems and withsimilar goals, so I encourage you to seek out new partners and new ideas to take back to your work andyour communities.Warm regards,Laurie O. RobinsonAssistant Attorney General