Lisa Thurau, Executive Director of Strategies for Youth, named Chief Influencer

 

The Communications Board names Lisa Thurau, Executive Director of Strategies for Youth, as a Chief Influencer.

Chief Influencer host Anthony Shop speaks with Lisa Thurau about her experience in improving police-youth interactions and reducing disparate contact through advocacy and training.

In 2004, Thurau initiated a program in Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority's Transit Police to enhance officers' interactions with youth, resulting in an 84% decrease in juvenile arrests. This led to the founding of Strategies for Youth, a nationally known organization specializing in training, outreach, and policy reviews, present in 25 states.

Thurau's work includes consulting agencies on the impact of policing on youth and advocating for developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed practices for interactions with youth.

Thurau also created the Juvenile Justice Jeopardy game and 12 Model Law Enforcement Policies to educate and equip law enforcement officers. Despite challenges, Thurau's approach has gained support from many law enforcement leaders and received positive feedback.

Thurau emphasizes the importance of community agreements, understanding law enforcement officers' experiences, and filling the gap in education regarding policies for interacting with youth. Thurau and her team at Strategies for Youth review and summarize the latest research on children and law enforcement and make it available to the public. The organization has grown significantly, with invitations to work in 25 states, and Thurau emphasizes the importance of both sides being trained to effectively work together.

Host: Anthony Shop
Guest: Lisa Thurau
Producer: The Communications Board
Sponsor: The George Washington University College of Professional Studies

 
 
The Communications Board