2. Impact on Professional Practice
- Raising awareness of language challenges: Promote greater awareness of the language challenges and needs of youth offenders among all actors involved in youth justice systems, including the youth themselves, to drive revisions in practices and protocols.
- Heightened awareness among speech and language therapists: Increase awareness among speech and language therapists of the specific language challenges faced by youth offenders across different countries, encouraging more informed practice.
- Support for standardized assessments: Advocate for scientifically grounded assessment standards and consensus guidelines for language and communication interventions with young offenders, resulting in improved professional practices.
- Best practice recommendations: Provide new, evidence-based recommendations for supporting young people at every stage of the justice system, ensuring they receive appropriate language support.
Expanding knowledge to other youth groups: Offer insights into the language needs of other youth groups involved in the justice system, such as victims and witnesses, to promote more comprehensive support.
Increased societal awareness: Raise broader awareness about the long-term impact of unmet language needs from early childhood into adolescence and adulthood, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
