Who We Are
Our History
Welcome to the National Partnership for Juvenile Services! In 2004, the Council for Educators of At-Risk and Delinquent Youth (CEARDY), the Juvenile Justice Trainers Association (JJTA), the National Association for Juvenile Correctional Agencies (NAJCA), and the National Juvenile Detention Association (NJDA) merged their respective membership organizations under one operational structure…the National Partnership for Juvenile Services. Building on decades of experience, knowledge, and skill, this union allows the founding organizations to focus on their respective mission and discipline, while having one central organization for juvenile justice professionals to collaborate, learn, train, and grow. As we have continued to evolve, our membership has grown now to include discipline groups based on member interest and field expertise.
The Discipline-Focused Work Groups representing the key discipline areas within NPJS include:
Behavioral Health & Clinical Services
Community-Based Services
Court Services
Education of At-Risk & Delinquent Youth
Staff Training & Professional Development
Short Term Placement & Juvenile Detention
Long Term Residential & Juvenile Corrections
Youth & Family Engagement
For more information, please refer to our Discipline Groups page.
Our Vision
The National Partnership for Juvenile Services will be recognized as the foremost authority in the field of juvenile justice.
Our Mission
The National Partnership for Juvenile Services provides professional development and technical assistance and promotes best practices and standards to the field of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention to positively impact youth, families and communities.
Our Core Values
The National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS) advocates for policy and practice within the juvenile justice system that positively impact youth, families, and communities, and contributes to enhanced public safety. This commitment is guided by the following core values:
- Expertise and Access: Ensuring access to NPJS members as subject matter experts across the full continuum of services and interactions with youth and families—from diversion through residential care to system independence.
- Cultural Competence:
Promoting healthy adolescent development and reducing disparities for system-involved youth through professional, respectful, positive and supportive relationships and rehabilitative environmental experiences.
- Evidence-Informed Practice: Supporting the adoption of evidence-informed decision-making that promotes effective practice and continuous quality improvement within the juvenile justice field.
- Workforce and Youth Development: Advancing professional skill development for individuals working with youth, as well as youth and families themselves through education, training, and engagement.