The Juvenile Justice Association of Michigan (JJAM) is an organization formed in 1973 by the merger of the County Juvenile Officers Association and the Family Court Workers Association. JJAM provides representation for all juvenile justice personnel, promoting and maintaining standards of efficiency within the Michigan Family Justice System and encouraging progressive legislation and other desirable programs serving the common interest of children and their families in the State of Michigan.
JJAM provides two educational conferences each year with excellent speakers and topics. At our 2025 Midwinter Conference we met author of Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer, Phil Chalmers, and Dr. Alyse Ley from the MSU Department of Psychiatry and their Prevent 2 Protect–Adolescent Targeted Violence Prevention Project. Our Fall Annual Conference was keynoted by author of No Such Thing as a Bad Kid, Charles Appelstein. The 2026 Midwinter Conference will be held March 26–27, 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton–Bay City, MI and the Fall Annual Conference is scheduled for September 16–18, 2026 at Shanty Creek Resorts located in Bellaire.
In addition to these conferences, JJAM also presents two awards annually. At the Midwinter Conference, the Association presents the Youth Achievement Award to an individual who was part of the Juvenile Justice System and has turned their life around through the assistance of a court worker and found success as an adult. During the Annual Conference, the Mary S. Coleman Award acknowledges a fellow court worker who has contributed to their Court and community. Nominees for this award have typically gone beyond their duties of a court worker in working with their clients and families to ensure their success in the community.
Membership to the JJAM is open to all personnel of the Family Division of Circuit Courts. Associate membership and Associate Child-Caring Agency Membership is open to all agencies and persons actively engaged in enhancing the children and/or family welfare programs.
The Juvenile Justice Association of Michigan is an important organization that provides valuable trainings and acknowledges individuals for their success. At this time, I’d ask that you please continue to support JJAM by filling out the attached Membership Application. For more information and nomination forms, please visit our website at www.juvenilejusticemi.org.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Damore
President of JJAM
