The Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ) is proud to announce Bridgeport-REGIONS in Connecticut as one of the winners of the 2026 Barbara Allen-Hagen Award. The award is given each year to a correction and a detention facility who best demonstrate use of the Performance-based Standards continuous improvement process to make positive changes and improve outcomes for young people, facility staff, families and communities.
The improvement effort began after their data showed the facility was below national averages in key intake screening measures. They identified gaps in communication, workflow consistency, and coordination that were affecting timely screenings for youth. Through transparent data review, staff engagement, REGIONS team meetings, clearer expectations, and advance planning for admissions, the team worked collaboratively to streamline the intake process.
Congratulations to the entire team in Bridgeport!
Watch the video to learn more about this year’s Barbara Allen-Hagen Award correction category winner.
The CIYJ Barbara Allen-Hagen Award, established in 2007, honors the legacy of Barbara Allen-Hagen, a dedicated advocate from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) who led the development of the Performance-based Standards project, now CIYJ’s signature program. This prestigious award recognizes facilities and programs that embody Barbara’s guiding principle: Treat all young people coming into facilities as one of our own. The awardees demonstrate the positive impact of adhering to research-based standards and the continuous improvement process championed by CIYJ.