SCBF Juvenile Justice Model
When a young person stands before the court, we often ask:
What did you do?
At SCBF, we reframe that question into:
What happened to you?
Because behind every behavior is a story.
And when we reach the story, we change the outcome.
Court staff and administrators often encounter angry outbursts, defiance, withdrawal, and disengagement among justice-involved youth.
Yet too often, these behaviors are misinterpreted as willful defiance rather than symptoms of underlying trauma.
Without trauma-informed training and tools, interventions risk unintentionally reinforcing cycles of stress, fear, and disconnection — further deepening a young person’s path through the system.
Integrating neuroscience-backed trauma-informed practices, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and expressive arts into court programming provides staff with meaningful strategies to:
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Support emotional regulation,
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Foster resilience,
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Decrease aggressive behaviors, and
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Strengthen pathways to successful rehabilitation and reintegration.
When court professionals are equipped with the right tools, they not only transform youth outcomes — they strengthen communities.
Impact of Trauma-Informed Court Programs
Decrease in Aggressive Behaviors:
Juvenile justice programs that implement trauma-informed practices see up to a 40% reduction in aggressive and violent behaviors within the first year of implementation. (Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Improvement in Rehabilitation Outcomes:
Systems integrating trauma-informed approaches report significant gains in youth resilience, emotional regulation, and responsible decision-making—critical factors in reducing recidivism rates and supporting successful reintegration.
Enhanced Facility Climate:
Facilities and court-based programs that apply trauma-informed models experience a 50% reduction in disciplinary incidents, physical altercations, and use of restraints, creating safer and more supportive environments for both staff and youth. (Source: Child Welfare Information Gateway)
Increase in Youth Engagement:
Trauma-informed courts and programs report a 30% increase in youth participation and positive program engagement, as young people feel safer, more connected, and more empowered to succeed. (Source: SAMHSA)
Boost in Staff Satisfaction:
Court professionals trained in trauma-informed strategies report significantly higher job satisfaction, with over 80% feeling more confident in their ability to de-escalate crises, support emotional well-being, and foster hope for rehabilitation.
(Source: American Psychological Association)
The Solution: SCBF Trauma Toolkit for Court Systems
SCBF’s Trauma Toolkit harnesses the power of neuroscience-backed expressive arts and evidence-based trauma-informed practices to create healing-centered environments for justice-involved youth.
By equipping court staff, administrators, and program leaders with practical strategies and hands-on tools, the Toolkit fosters:
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Emotional regulation
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Resilience
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Decreased aggressive behaviors
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Stronger rehabilitation outcomes
This comprehensive approach blends expressive arts, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and proven trauma-informed techniques — transforming youth engagement settings into spaces where healing, growth, and personal responsibility can thrive.
The SCBF Trauma Toolkit includes
I. Trauma-Informed PD for Court Staff and Administrators
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Equip court professionals with strategies to decrease aggressive behaviors.
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Broaden skillsets for working with youth who shut down or disengage.
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Deepen understanding of trauma’s impact on behavior.
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Provide practical, scalable solutions to engage and empower youth.
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Move beyond awareness to effective action.
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Promote emotional and physical safety within court programs, facilities, and diversion settings.
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Help youth access their innate resilience and pathways to personal growth.
II. Access to SCBF’s Learning Management System (LMS)
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Curated library of trauma training video modules tailored for court environments.
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Downloadable resources, expressive arts activity prompts, and restorative practices.
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Weekly staff support tips and monthly webinars on trauma trends and innovations.
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Direct access to trauma experts for consultation.
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Compliance with Continuing Education Credits (CEC) requirements where applicable.
III. Butterfly Labyrinth Expressive Arts Programming
The Butterfly Labyrinth is a trauma-informed, 12-week expressive arts curriculum designed specifically for court-involved and at-risk youth.
Rooted in the ancient symbolism of labyrinths, this program mirrors life's journey, guiding youth inward to heal, and outward toward productive, emotionally regulated lives.
Core Components:
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Art: painting, sketching, sculpture, creative projects
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Creative Writing: journaling, poetry workshops, narrative therapy
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Gardening: nature-based activities for reflection and growth
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Mindful Movement: stretching, breathwork, meditation
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Music: percussion, rhythm activities, listening journeys
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Daily Resources: practical, trauma-informed activities for court program use
Designed for youth needing mentorship, resilience-building, and behavior modification support, Butterfly Labyrinth transforms facilities into incubators of healing.
“Before we worked with SCBF, our staff responded to behavior with consequences. After SCBF’s training, we respond with compassion and strategy. I realize I was even part of the problem. Now we’ve seen calmer youth and fewer incidents of non-compliance.”
— Juvenile Probation Officer, NY
