NCCD Now: Systems Thinking

March 20, 2017 | NCCD

teen staring into distance

Due to the complexity of most social service systems in the United States, it can be challenging for workers to know how their actions interact with those in another part of the system and the results that may have for those they serve.

“Systems thinking” is a way to solve this problem. Systems thinking means understanding and utilizing the relationships between parts of a system. Without it, well-intended interventions may not improve outcomes. But when systems thinking is applied, individual workers and departments can leverage one another’s work for the greater benefit of their clients.

In this blog series, NCCD researcher Katie Press, MSW, and others examine the possibilities of systems thinking in juvenile justice and outline its value in improving outcomes for system-involved young people.

Come back each week to read the latest blog post in this series. You can also click here to learn how NCCD supports the juvenile justice field with validated risk assessments and other decision-support tools. 

When Well-Meaning Efforts Fail Due to Lack of Systems Thinking, by Katie Press

Why System Mapping in Juvenile Justice is Difficult, But Doable, by Katie Press

What the Juvenile Justice System Can Learn From Health Care, by Katie Press

How to be Proactive in Juvenile Justice with System Mapping, by Katie Press

‘Landing the Plane’ on Race Neutrality, by Katie Press

Why We Shouldn’t “Over Medicate” Youth Who Break the Law, by Steve Bishop, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation

You May Already Have Skills for Systems Thinking and Mapping, by Douglas Smith, Program Associate, NCCD