May 17, 2000
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$21 Million National Initiative finds home at PSU
COMHIBLItUSimiV
E Q R T h e P o HTI A N D O b s ERVER
It was announced today that Portland
State University’s Graduate School
o f Social Work has been designated
as the site for the Youth Intervention
Networks Program Initiative, a $21
million dollar, five-year Initiative
established by the Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation.
T he n atio n al In itia tiv e w as
established to change the way that
su b sta n c e ab u se se rv ic e s are
conceptualized and made available
to youth within the juvenile justice
system. The project includes the
selection o f 10 communities, around
the country, to receive up to $250,000
for each o f the five years o f the project,
to build internal and local capacity to
b etter serv e su b sta n c e -a b u sin g
juvenile offenders and their families.
T he p ro je c t w ill a lso p ro v id e
sp e c ia liz e d su b sta n c e ab u se | From Left to Right: Judge Don Owen Costello, Provost Mary Kay
treatm ent developm ent, ju d icial
Dean James Ward.
leadership opportunities regarding
juvenile substance abuse treatment,
State College o f Denver and co­
School o f Social Work at PSU has
and developing their leadership
founder o f the Institute for Strengths
been designated as the site for the
capacity potential in the integrated
in Juvenile Justice. Her work has
Y outh In te rv e n tio n N e tw o rk s
networks.
specialized in assisting youth serving
Program Initiative. In addition to
The project co-director Dr. Laura
agencies to increase theircapacity to
serving as the ‘hub’ for national
N issen
sa id ,
“T h is
is
a
provide strength-based services to
activity in the areas ofjuvenilej ustice
groundbreaking opportunity to invite
youth and their fam ilies across
and substance abuse, we are in a
a new level o f vision and systems
interdisciplinary systems.
unique position to provide national
c o lla b o ra tio n on b e h a lf o f a
W ith over 15 years o f judicial
leadership by developing and testing
population neglected for too long -
experience, Costello currently serves
c u rric u lu m
fo r
e d u c a tio n a l
the su b stan ce-ab u sin g ju v e n ile
as Chief Judge o f the Coquille Indian
specialization, serving as a center for
offender. We expect to see a new
T ribal Court, and Acting J udge o f the
practice development and training,
generation o f partnerships between
Tribal Court o f the Confederated
and
d ev e lo p in g
re se a rc h
com m unities and y o u th -related
T ribes o f the Grande Ronde. He stated
opportunities for faculty and doctoral
professionals to help these youth
that the Youth Intervention Initiative
students,” said James Ward, dean,
and their families succeed.”
will give juvenile court judges the
PSU ’s Graduate School o f Social
The Youth Intervention Networks
e n d o rse m e n t o f the sc h o la rly
Work. PSU’s Graduate School of
Program will open its doors at PSU on
community and the foundation, and
Social Work offers theonly accredited
May 1, 2000. The program is co­
strengthen their efforts “to fashion
graduate school o f social work
directed by Nissen and Judge Don
resolutions with youth and their
education programs in the state o f
Owen Costello. Prior to joining the
families which acknowledge their
Oregon. The Regional Research
Initiative and PSU, Nissen was the
strengths, rather than punishing them
Institute for Human Services(RRl) is
director o f the Center for High Risk
for their shortcomings.”
the school’s main research facility.
Youth Studies at the Metropolitan
“It is truly an honor that the Graduate
Since 1972, the RRI has undertaken
$16 million community
college request put on
hold until June
COM rRlBLTED STQHV
Tetreault, Dr. Laura Nissen,
more than 100 research projects, many
o f them national in scope, and has
received more than $27 million dollars
in grants and contracts. Sponsored
projects have covered fields such as
child welfare, child care, juvenile
justice, employment, homelessness,
mental health, alcohol and drug
services, vocational rehabilitation,
the family and aging services.
Portland State University, a nationally
acclaimed leader in community-based
learning, is located along the tree-
lined South Park Blocks ofdowntown
Portland.
The Uni versity’s position in the heart
o f Oregon’s economic and cultural
center enables PSU students and
faculty to apply scholarly theory to
the real-world problems o f business
and co m m u n ity o rg a n iz a tio n s.
P ortland State offers over 100
undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral
degrees.
The Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board (E-Board) voted to defer
until June action on a $ 16.4 million request by community colleges. The
money is needed by Oregon’s 17 community colleges to meet increased
demand for courses brought on my higher-than-expected enrollment
growth statewide.
Community college enrollment has grown by 4 percent this year, twice
as much as predicted. Statewide, enrollment growth is equivalent to 3,500
new full-time students. The actual number o f individuals is much higher
than 3,500 because so many community college students attend class
on a part-time basis.
“The 3,500 figure only represents the students that have been enrolled,”
said Vickie Chamberlain, executive director of the Oregon Community
College Association (OCCA).
“We know that at least that many people were put on waiting lists or
simply turned away from community college this year because o f a lack
o f resources ’’C hamfieri'ain said the col leges asked the E-Board for an
emergency allocation that would provide for the new students that have
already enrolled.
“Since the E-Board is putting the request off, the need will only grow.
Meanwhile colleges are really struggling financially as they try to keep
their doors open to students,” she said.
Most colleges will react to the deferred funding request by continuing
to do what they have been doing: spending down budget reserves,
cutting course offerings, capping enrollment and increasing tuition.
“This is a bad situation for the students,” Chamberlain said. “Thousands
are finding the doorto community college slamming shut on them. And
the ones that do get in are finding that the tuition just keeps going up.
We are getting closer all the time to the point where we will no longer be
able to keep community college affordable and accessible.”
Chamberlain said that all community college presidents and college
board members are working hard to make their case to the legislators. She
said she is optimistic that the E-Board will provide “some relief’ but not
likely fund the entire request in June.
( Come visit us on the web at
www.portlandobserver.com
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