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Advocacy

Systems ChangeYouth Policy FellowshipPolicy Focus AreasLegislative PrioritiesArticles

Systems Change Work

FLY’s systems change work improves systems, policies, & practices, affecting youth impacted by the justice system at local & state levels.

Leveraging more than 20 years of partnering closely with youth and the systems that impact them, FLY is in a unique position to support efforts to bring about positive, equitable, and lasting change. 

FLY  youth impacted by the justice system are part of developing innovative solutions.

FLY comes together with diverse stakeholders to realize the common goal that all youth be valued, supported, and able to live healthy, free, and productive lives.

Youth Policy Fellowship

The Youth Policy Fellowship is a new 10 month Jan-Oct paid Fellowship opportunity for FLY youth and alumni. Fellows will have the chance to learn about and participate in policy-making, advocacy, and community organizing while lending their unique perspectives to help influence and guide FLY’s policy priorities.

For more information contact: colin@flyprogram.org

Policy Focus Areas  
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Decarceration

Reducing and eliminating youth incarceration through transitioning to a community-based system of care aimed at wrapping support around youth using a strengths-based and culturally responsive approach.

Members of a committee sitting in a meeting
Policing and Community Safety

Divesting from policing to reduce system contact for individuals who can be more effectively served through reinvesting in community and public health services thereby responding to the public safety needs of all members of the community.

Two teenagers smiling and eating pizza
Transition Age Youth (TAY)

Aligning the age of criminal responsibility with cognitive development science that says the brain does not fully develop until the late twenties and providing more resources to young adults during this vulnerable transition time.

Two kids sitting on a park bench
Economic Impact on Youth and Families

Eliminating justice system policies and practices that create and perpetuate poverty, inequity, and lack of access to civic engagement.

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Education

Reforming school policies and practices that perpetuate the school-to-prison pipeline and creating equitable pathways to post-secondary education for youth impacted by the justice system.

Contact for more information

For more information, email systemschange@flyprogram.org

Current Legislative Priorities

2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021

FLY will support legislation or priority setting by state or local government agencies to effect policy and practice for the betterment of young people.

Check out Evelyn FLY Alum and Staff member
advocating for AB 2629!

1 CO-Sponsored Bill / 5 FLY SuPPORTED PASSED, 6 FLY OPPOSED BILLS DID NOT PASS

In 2024 many of our FLY Supported Bills passed, and all bills we opposed did not move forward

8 Passed/ 5 MOVED FORWARD

In 2023 8 of FLY’s Legislative Priorities were signed into Law! 5 were moved forward to be 2 year bills!

9/10

In 2022 9/10 of FLY’s Legislative Priorities were signed into Law!

STAY TUNED FOR FLY’s 2025 PRIORITIES
Board of State and Community Corrections Advocacy

In 2022, the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) began a process to revise the Juvenile Title 15 and 24 Regulations. These are the minimum standards that probation must follow when running a locked facility for youth. FLY’s youth have been actively involved since the beginning of the process, creating this report and advocating for stronger standards to protect youths’ rights to education, end the use of chemical weapons against kids, improve the quality of food and hygiene products, increase access to mental health care, and much more! This is still in process, and FLY will continue to show up to advocate for a more just system. 

PAST ADVOCACY VICTORIES

 

AB 1186 

Takes a first step in reforming California’s broken youth restitution system by eliminating restitution fines for youth and clearing debt from restitution fines and restitution collection fees that are older than ten years for youth and adults.

 

SB 448

The Equity for Youth in Detention Act was signed into law in 2023 and requires that youth detained in a county outside of their county of residence must receive the same consideration for the least restrictive alternatives to detention that are given to youth who are detained in their county of residence.

AB 2629

Signed into law in 2022, this bill makes record dismissals more readily available to youth by providing additional guidance to juvenile court judges on when to grant a dismissal. This type of dismissal will allow youth access to a wider range of employment opportunities, especially those requiring a federal background check.

educational articles

Take ACtion

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You can take action to advance youth justice! You can support and advocate for change in many ways.

Sharing information to raise awareness
Calling your local representative
Making public comments at the local or state level