STATEMENT BY SHAY BILCHIK, PRESIDENT
& CEO, CHILD WELFARE LEAGUE OF AMERICA ON RELEASE OF REPORT ON LATINO AND
LATINA YOUTH IN THE U.S. JUSTICE SYSTEM
July 18, 2002
Washington, DC - Donde Esta La
Justicia? A Call to Action on Behalf of the Latino and Latina Youth in the U.
S. Justice System, a comprehensive new report commissioned by the Building
Blocks for Youth initiative, gives us for the first time, a detailed
national look at the status of Latino and Latina youth in the juvenile justice
system.
The report indicates a disproportionate
representation of Latino/a youth in the juvenile justice system when similar
offenses are considered and is, therefore, cause for great concern because
there could be implications in the way services are provided in other systems,
such as child welfare.
The report highlights the glaring need for
good, accurate data collection and for more culturally sensitive programs that
show promising approaches to serving this population. Programs that help
agencies overcome language and cultural barriers in particular, need to be
utilized when assessing the needs of Latino/a youth.
We strongly urge policymakers and public
officials to give strong consideration to the recommendations included in this
report.
Established in 1920, the Child Welfare League
of America is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare
organization. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CWLA strives to advance sound
public policy on behalf of the more than three million abused, neglected, and
vulnerable children served by its 1,182 public and private member agencies.
