WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION OF YOUTH COURTS

The ice breaker On October 20, approximately 80 youth and adults attended the fall youth court conference. Margaret Fisher hosted the event at the Seattle University School of Law, with the support of several law students who mentor the Seattle Youth Traffic Court. The event was sponsored by the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Washington State Association of Youth Courts with support from the Washington Judges Foundation and the Seattle University School of Law. Ten existing youth courts sent members. Law student Patricia Bredlau got everyone moving with an icebreaker before settling in to learn the Think First Think Again lessons provided by Firefighter Tim Steiner of Cheney. Elijah Hayes particularly liked being strapped to the gurney in a demonstration of what happens when driving ends up in serious accidents. Adult coordinators shared common challenges and strengths, and ways to address issues that are common to all youth courts. Issaquah had a team to cons...

The Seattle Youth Traffic Court was selected to receive one of the Inaugural Colleen Willoughby Youth Civic Education Awards on November 15, 2012, to be presented by the Seattle CityClub as part of the National Council for the Social Studies activities. http://www.seattlecityclub.org/20121115 This Youth Court will also demonstrate with a live hearing the way that youth courts operate to an audience of educators on Saturday, 2:30 p.m. at the Washington State Convention Center.

YOUTH AND GOVERNMENT OPEN HOUSE Youth and Government is a civics program where teens can learn about WA state government in an exciting hands-on experience. Come learn more about the program and what it involves at our open house Friday, October 5 at Sky Valley Education Center or the Monroe/Sky Valley Family YMCA. Grades 8-12 Open House at Sky Valley Education Center Friday, October 5, during lunches Heidi Engle's Classroom Open House at Monroe YMCA Friday, October 5, 3-6 pm Club Room 2 Contact: Hannah Lunstrum, Teen Director 360 804 2163 hlunstrum@ymca-snoco.org

The Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts and the Washington State Association of Youth Courts invite you to attend the Youth Court Training to be held at Seattle University School of Law - 901 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA on October 20, 2012.  The program will run from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Funding from the Washington Judges Foundation makes this event possible. The goal of this training is to bring together youth court coordinators and youth from across the state to strenghten existing youth courts.  The morning session will include an informational track for persons interested in starting a youth court. This year the conference will include: Art of Effective Questioning presented by an experienced defense attorney and prosecutor to help youth advocates ask the right questions and follow-up to information presented in court. ThinkFirst Program educating young people about their personal vulnerability and the techniques on safe driving and other choices...

A "town hall-style debate" on Initiative 502 was hosted by the Snohomish County Health & Safety Network in Mukilteo City Hall. Initiative 502 would legalize marijuana for Washington state residents 21 and older. WSAYC recommends the video below as an educational resource for youth courts in our state. Initiative 502 Marijuana Legalization Debate

The officers of the Washington State Association for Youth Courts held a two-day retreat in Seattle on April 13 and 14, 2012 to set forth proposed long and short terms plans for the association. These included President Terri Cooper from Cheney, Student President Amy Pollard from Bellingham, Vice President Tracey Lassus from Port Angeles, Secretary/Treasurer Susan Goettsch from Granite Falls and Special Advisor, Margaret Fisher, Seattle. On Friday night, Matt Etter joined us. He is one of six law students from Seattle University School of Law, heavily involved in the new Seattle Youth Traffic Court.

Here is a link to the Whatcom County Teen Court Facebook page. It's a work in progress! If your youth court has a Facebook page, please feel free to share the link here, as well as tips and ideas on how to effectively use social media in promoting youth courts! https://www.facebook.com/WhatcomCountyTeenCourt