Social Work Professor Recently Appointed to State and Federal Advisory Boards on Juvenile Justice

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2016) — J. Jay Miller, assistant professor in the University of Kentucky College of Social Work, has been appointed to two boards — one federal and one state — focusing on juvenile justice. Miller was appointed to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice by Robert Listenbee, administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and in October, then governor Steve Beshear appointed Miller to the Kentucky Justice Act Advisory Board.

Miller was selected for the appointment to the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice based on his work and research with system-involved and at-risk youth and their families. In his role, Miller will represent a multistate jurisdiction on the advisory board. The board is tasked with reviewing policies, programs and practices related to system-involved youth — specifically those in the juvenile justice system — and communicating the board's perspectives and recommendations to the president, Congress and the OJJDP administrator.

Miller was also selected for appointment to the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB), which is Kentucky's federally mandated state advisory group (SAG) on juvenile justice issues. It plays a pivotal role in reforming Kentucky's juvenile justice system and creating an effective, equitable system to prevent juvenile crime and delinquency. The Juvenile Justice Advisory Board is committed to enhancing the equality of life for all youth in the Commonwealth by actively advising the governor, policymakers and the public on matters related to improving system of care, enhancing interagency community collaboration, and promoting effective programming necessary to serve the whole child.

The terms for both appointments run from October 2015 to September 2017. 

Miller has been with the UK College of Social Work since 2014. His teaching interests include social policy analysis and advocacy. His research interests revolve around outcome improvement and youth engagement for system-involved youth and their families.

"It is an honor to be able to serve in this unique way," Miller said. "I am humbled to be able to work with such a dynamic group of experts, from across the country, to address the needs of not only our Commonwealth’s, but our nation’s most vulnerable children, youth and families.”

MEDIA CONTACT:  Ann Blackford at 859-323-6442 or ann.blackford@uky.edu