ARETGroup

 Disrupting the School-to-Prison Pipeline: Evidence-Driven Data Solutions for Juvenile Diversion Programs

Recently, we had an opportunity to learn more about a dynamic California-based program focused on youth advocacy, one deeply committed to empowering families as they navigate complex school and justice systems. The program aids youth and families with special educational needs as they navigate school, justice and behavioral health systems. Since opening its doors, it has already made a remarkable impact supporting over 250 youth with special education needs to avoid suspensions, expulsions. Importantly, the program focuses on averting youth from unnecessary justice referrals, which can facilitate a school-to-prison pipeline for youth with special needs. Our conversation with the program founder and Executive Director highlights the critical role that evidence-driven data systems can play in sustaining high-impact youth diversion efforts. 

What are your data management challenges?

"Education advocacy is still a relatively new and often misunderstood field. In my work, I’ve seen how critical it is not only to support youth and get them back into school, but also to communicate the impact of our efforts to a wide range of audiences. That isn’t easy. Collecting and managing youth records is incredibly challenging because of HIPAA, FERPA, and other privacy regulations that shape what data can be shared, how it can be retrieved, and who can access it.

For small agencies, this challenge is even greater. Communicating impact to competitive grant funders is a constant struggle because so few systems exist that can capture the longitudinal data we need the kind of data that follows a young person’s journey over time. What’s missing are tools that connect demographics, intake and screening information, and program participation to long-term outcomes in a single, coherent picture.

And the need goes beyond grant reporting. We also need data to show schools where they need to change. By definition, an IEP is supposed to be a data-driven process but too often, that simply isn’t the case. Without better systems for capturing and analyzing data, schools are left guessing instead of acting on clear evidence.

I’ll be honest, sometimes data management just hurts my head. It’s complicated. I understand the value of systematic collection especially when it comes to things like baseline characteristics but the reality is, we need more resources to do it well."

What are you currently doing to address data silos and compliance regulations?  

"Too often, the youth we work with have never been properly assessed for issues that impact their education. Many have not been screened for autism, for example. With better data, we could tell a more complete story of the compounding challenges these young people face whether it’s related to family circumstances, poverty, mental health needs, or prior justice involvement. That story matters, because without it, too many of our students remain unseen."

The program took an initial leap toward electronic records as a 100% paper-based program  just a few years ago. Now, we are using a CRM for record management, as well as AI-driven tools to record virtual meetings. We are using writable pdfs to transfer youth information among schools, justice partners, private service providers, families and other stakeholders. While virtual meetings have improved staff efficiency and expanded client reach. However, maintaining critical information in pdf’s and paper-based notes is ineffective. And, exporting data for big-picture analysis and grant reporting remains difficult. We just don’t currently have the right solutions. 

Is Cost a Consideration?

"Cost is a major consideration for us at this time. Time spent on data collection, management and reporting cannot be billed to clients. At the same time, having better data would create opportunities for us to secure larger grants and expand our reach by demonstrating broader community impact."

ARETGroup’s solution for data management 

The mission of programs like this one has become urgent, as states are shifting broader responsibility for youth justice outcomes from correctional facilities to evidence-informed programs and diversionary placements. The transition underscores a growing need for effective, evidence-based strategies in youth diversion that can be scaled for broader impacts. 

Despite a willingness to collaborate, schools, social workers, justice and law enforcement struggle to overcome roadblocks to data sharing. ARETGroup was developed to address common issues in data collection and management. ARETGroup’s platform focuses on bringing together information from various sources while adhering to data protection principles (aligned with HIPPA, FERPA and IRB). To learn more about ARETGroup’s Evidence-Driven Data Solutions, contact us at support@aretgroup.com.