The taxonomy for transition programming 2.0 as applied to youth in the juvenile justice system

Abstract

Growing recognition that youth with disabilities are disproportionally represented in juvenile justice systems around the world and the high rates of recidivism have led the field to examine practices and policies that have the potential to positively impact outcomes. For over two decades, professionals working with the general population of youth with disabilities have relied on the Taxonomy for Transition Programming for critical guidance in supporting education and service delivery decisions. Recently, the Taxonomy was revised to include the latest evidence of effective practices for working with youth with disabilities as well as other youth at-risk for not achieving successful adult outcomes. The evidence-based and promising practices included in the Taxonomy for Transition Programming 2.0 have the potential to provide a framework for professionals working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system that not only disrupts the school-to-prison pipeline, but also assists these young people to thrive and achieve their desired outcomes. This chapter provides the historical underpinnings of the original Taxonomy, describes the most recent evidence that informed the current version, and is followed by an overview of each area of the Taxonomy 2.0 and practices applicable to youth involved in the juvenile justice system.