Skip to main content

What We Do

The mission of the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association is to improve services to youth in the juvenile justice system by serving as a resource for collaboration, leadership development, and education for juvenile justice system professionals.

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "Having opportunities to hear from people with lived experience within the juv. justice system. Also the awards luncheon-- seeing the young people and leaders work and what
    they have accomplished."

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "All keynote speakers were fantastic. I also enjoy networking and meeting new people."

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "Getting to interact with people across the state in person rather than by Zoom"

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "All 3 keynote speakers were wonderful and was able to grow my knowledge. The breakout sessions were full of knowledge."

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "The keynote speakers were impactful and I felt I could take their insight with me to better serve in my field."

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "The keynote speakers and their real life experiences that translated into resiliency, lessons and success on how to serve others who have similar life experiences."

  • Conference Attendee
    Conference Attendee

    "I do feel like the keynote speakers in the morning were really great and gave great advice on how to work with victims and juveniles and their stories were really inspirational."

Conference Results

  • 2024 Conference Participation

    381

  • Would Attend Again

    96.83%

  • Rated the Conference Very Good or Excellent

    72.73%

  • Fulfilled My Reason To Attend

    92.42%

  • Attended the conference for personal growth and development

    42.42%

Write It Down: Surprising Benefits of Journaling

We all remember the glory days of high school. History, algebra, maybe a P.E. day every now and then and of course the dreaded… writing class. We know; some days it felt like agony trying to get one single idea out on paper. 

But, your scary old English teacher may have actually been onto something. Turns out, regular writing and keeping a journal actually has a lot of surprising mental and emotional health benefits. Today, we’re going to check them out.

 

1. Emotional Outlet

Step one: emotional intelligence. Holding in emotions—especially sad, angry, negative ones—has been shown to have incredibly detrimental effects on a person’s health. Daily journaling allows you to release these emotions in a safe, non-judgemental environment, while increasing your self-awareness and emotional perception. Getting negative stuff out on paper leaves more room for positivity to fill you up, leading to a happier and healthier lifestyle.

 

2. Stress Reduction

With emotional intelligence comes less stress. Oftentimes, we feel overwhelmed at situations we perceive as uncontrollable. However, writing about these experiences and actually seeing them on paper gives us something to grasp mentally, helping to reduce our stress levels about the issue. Some studies by Psychology Today have shown journaling to not only reduce stress, but to also lower anxiety and induce a deeper sleep.

 

3. Creativity Boost

This one’s a no-brainer. The more you write, the more practice you have to get those creative juices flowing. You’ve probably heard the saying before: the question isn’t whether or not we’re creative, it is how to let the creativity out. Regular writing gives you the opportunity to brainstorm new ideas, thoughts and questions, pushing you out of your comfort zone and into a brand new creative realm.

 

4. Mental Engagement

Of course, the more creative we feel, the more our brains are challenged, and the more we are mentally engaged, which can literally strengthen our IQ. As journaling is an exploration of language, it causes us to search for new words, challenge ideas and strengthen our vocabulary. So, your English teacher was right—writing does make you smarter.

 

5. Self-Discipline

Setting aside time each day to journal and then sticking to it creates a more disciplined lifestyle, which is a valuable asset to have. Self-discipline can then seep into other areas of life, e.g. getting your work assignments in on time, following through on relational promises or even eating healthier. When it comes to making a positive change, nothing is more important than having a strong self-discipline.

 

6. Goal Setting

Finally, one of the greatest benefits of all: journaling helps you set and achieve your goals. When we journal, we write about our aspirations, our dreams, our goals. Putting these words to paper and actually writing out what we want to accomplish makes them much more realistic—and realistic means achievable. Writing down goals tells your brain “this is important.” Then, your brain is more prepared to mark relevant opportunities and tools to achieve the goal.

While writing might not have been our favorite class in high school, it’s definitely up there now. Keeping a daily journal has enormous benefits, and encourages us to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. So whether you’re sitting at home, relaxing in the park or enjoying your favorite restaurant, crack open your journal and get writing… you may just be surprised at everything you have to say.

MENU CLOSE