The TCU Center for Public Education & Community Engagement kickstarts Transforming Juvenile Justice in Tarrant County: A Community-University Partnership with $21,000 community-based research grant awarded to CommUnity Frontline of Fort Worth. This initiative, in collaboration with TCU and Texas A&M University Civil Rights Clinic, aims to improve the lives of young people involved in the justice system by providing direct support to families and streamlining access to vital resources.
With a focus on rehabilitation, this project seeks to bridge gaps in Tarrant County's juvenile justice system by ensuring that youth and their families have clear, accessible pathways to services. Through educational forums, strategic partnerships and a network of community-based advocates, the program hopes to help families navigate the complexities of the justice system and access high-quality support.
“Our goal is to better understand and address the personal and systemic challenges faced by justice-involved youth through a series of explicit conversations with the community,” said Ben Travis, director of development at Community Frontline. “By year three, we hope to have developed a community-driven model for engaging families and supporting youth based on their individual needs, with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation.”
The grant will fund strategic planning, community events and the creation of a comprehensive database of services to better support families in Tarrant County. Key partners include TCU’s Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Texas A&M University Civil Rights Clinic and the Justice Network of Tarrant County, with plans to expand partnerships throughout the next year.
By focusing on community-led support, this project is expected to foster sustainable advancement in the juvenile justice system—building a foundation for safer, more inclusive communities.
Community-based research grant proposals are evaluated and awarded by review committee.
