Schubert Center for Child Studies

In Plyler v. Doe, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) challenged a Texas law that attempted to deny undocumented children access to public schools by charging tuition. The organization successfully argued before the Supreme Court that all children — regardless of immigration status — are protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
As MALDEF reflected on the 40th anniversary of the decision, Plyler v. Doe “changed this nation” by ensuring that millions of children could dream of a better future through education. The impact of the ruling continues to be felt today in classrooms and communities across the country.
We recognize and thank MALDEF for its decades of leadership, advocacy and commitment to protecting educational opportunities for all students.
As efforts to support immigrant children continue, resources remain critical. Last December, the Schubert Center for Child Studies released a comprehensive guide to help professionals support immigrant children and families amid rapidly changing immigration policies. The guide highlights practical resources and organizations, including Ohio Immigrant Alliance Public Page, Us Together, Inc. - Columbus, Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS) and others that help safeguard children's well-being, educational access and family stability.
For more information on the 40th Anniversary of Plyler v. Doe, visit https://tinyurl.com/mrx73mp6; to find the Schubert Center for Child Studies Immigrant Children & Families Resource Guide, visit https://shorturl.at/cFMKS

Yesterday marked a historic step forward in Ohio’s transformation of juvenile justice with the groundbreaking of new, smaller-scale youth facilities in Grafton to partially replace the larger Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility.
The shift to smaller facilities follows recommendations from the Ohio Juvenile Justice Working Group. It reflects research showing that smaller, more therapeutic environments can improve safety, strengthen rehabilitation and support better long-term outcomes for youth and staff alike. The new facilities will include enhanced educational spaces, vocational training, mental health treatment areas and recreation spaces designed to better support young people in their growth and reentry into their communities.
We were especially proud to see our very own Gabriella Celeste, JD, Policy Director at the Schubert Center for Child Studies, at the groundbreaking ceremony. Gabriella served on the Governor's Juvenile Justice Working Group, which helped shape the recommendations behind this important systems transformation for Ohio’s youth.
Read more at https://shorturl.at/cYMp7

Don't miss these reflections from Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson and Habeebah Rasheed Grimes following our recent Kessler Freedheim Lecture at Case Western Reserve University.
In their piece, they challenge common narratives that doubt young people and instead highlight youth — especially youth of color — as powerful drivers of social change, creativity and justice. They also remind us that hope is a practice reflected in how we support and believe in young people today, not just in who they may become in the future.
We’re grateful for their insights and invite you to read and reflect on their message about the power and promise of the next generation.

The Generation We Keep Doubting May Be Our Most Powerful Hope For Real Change | Successful Black Parenting Magazine Why today’s youth are our greatest hope and the generation for real change. Discover how Black youth are shaping the future through resilience, activism, and powerful identity development.

Join us tomorrow at 1PM to hear from Dr. Melisa Moore!

In partnership with the CWRU Moll Institute, we invite you to attend the Mental Health Distinguished Speaker Series, where Dr. Melissa Moore will discuss her new book ‘The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids.’

In her book, Dr. Moore redefines the meaning of ‘healthy’ sleep for neurodiverse families and provides a toolkit for finding what works!

This event will take place on May 1st, at 1p.m. in the Mandel Community Studies Center on 11402 Bellflower Rd.

Click here to register: https://cglink.me/2cS/r2278827

Join a special presentation tomorrow, April 30, from 8 to 9 a.m. in the Rainbow Babies & Children’s (RBC) Amphitheater or via Zoom, for a Pediatrics Grand Rounds presented by The Mt. Sinai Health Foundation, Dr. William Herman Pediatric Lecture.
The presentation, “Distress Is Inevitable, Coping Is Teachable: Protecting and Promoting Youth Mental Health,” features Lisa Damour, PhD, author of three New York Times bestsellers, including Untangled, Under Pressure and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers. This is an important opportunity to learn practical, evidence-based strategies for supporting youth mental health from one of the nation’s leading experts.
The Zoom link is: https://uhhospitals.zoom.us/j/93287056908?pwd=UWPQzNwFPPwY2apCM4UwNXZY9hdLiJ.1

Congratulations to our Spring 2026 Schubert Intersections Winners! We were impressed by the quality of your projects and are inspired by your commitment to child- and adolescent-focused research.

- In first place - Valentina La Marca - ‘Hybrid Machine Learning Approach for Personalized Photoplethysmography Monitoring in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease.’
- In second place - Joo Young Kim - ‘Exploring the Impact of Autism-Related Stigma on Caregiver Mental Health, Unmet Needs, and Health-Seeking: Qualitative Study.’
- In joint third place - Ayati Lala - ‘Re-Evaluating TAPS-3: A Neurocognitive Analysis of Predictors of Persistent Speech Sound Disorders.’
- In joint third place - Kala Mitcham - ‘Building Health Literacy Early: Interactive Strategies for Teaching Children Health Science Concepts.’

Once again, congratulations to all of our winners for their outstanding achievement!
Case Western Reserve University

Across Cuyahoga County and Ohio, too many young people are still being pushed into the adult criminal legal system through youth bindover, a legal process in which a juvenile court judge transfers a youth's case to adult court, resulting in their being prosecuted and sentenced as an adult.
A new report released on April 15 takes a hard look at how bindover is being used in the Buckeye State, who it impacts and what it means for young people’s futures. It also lifts up research on adolescent development, including the Schubert Center for Child Studies’ 2024 policy brief, “The Impact of Adolescent Developmental & Brain Research on Juvenile Justice Reform,” which is cited as a key resource. Read more at https://shorturl.at/YdQE6
The takeaway is clear: our laws and court practices should reflect what we know about youth development, rehabilitation and fairness.
“Rushing to criminalize and unnecessarily incarcerate kids is just bad policy. It has a scarring impact on our children and only serves to push them deeper into the criminal justice system and inhibit their ability to become healthy, productive adults,” said Robin Dahlberg, a previous senior staff attorney with the ACLU Racial Justice Program.
Read the full report at https://tinyurl.com/y97ra8h4 and learn why reforming youth bindover is an urgent public responsibility in Cuyahoga County and across Ohio.

Last week, we came together for a powerful and timely conversation: “Responding to the Mental Health Needs of Youth of Color by Any Means Necessary.”
Held at the TVUC Ballroom, this year’s Kessler Freedheim Lecture featured Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson, licensed clinical psychologist, founder of RACE Space Inc. and Associate Professor at Columbia University’s School of Social Work, whose work continues to shape how we understand and support the mental health of Black youth and families.
Dr. Anderson shared critical insights on how racial discrimination impacts youth and highlighted the importance of racial socialization — intentional, healing conversations within families about race and identity. She also explored how clinicians, communities and even technology can better support youth of color in navigating race-related stress and trauma.
We were honored to be joined by community respondent Habeebah Rasheed Grimes and moderator Jennifer King, who helped deepen the conversation with community-centered perspectives and thoughtful dialogue.
📸 Pictured (top left to right): Gabriella Celeste, Habeebah Rasheed Grimes, Jennifer King, Riana Elyse Anderson, Sonia Minnes and Anastasia Dimitropoulos.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this important event. A recording will be available soon. Stay tuned!

Join us for the Schubert Center’s end-of-year networking celebration! 🎉
This event is open to Schubert Associates, as well as faculty and graduate students engaged in youth-focused work. Feel free to invite colleagues who would benefit from being part of the conversation!

To RSVP, visit https://tinyurl.com/2tptpvwd

In partnership with the CWRU Moll Institute, we invite you to attend the Mental Health Distinguished Speaker Series, where Dr. Melissa Moore will discuss her new book ‘The Good Sleep Guide for Neurodivergent Kids.’

In her book, Dr. Moore redefines the meaning of ‘healthy’ sleep for neurodiverse families and provides a toolkit for finding what works!

This event will take place on May 1st, at 1p.m. in the Mandel Community Studies Center on 11402 Bellflower Rd.

Click here to register: https://cglink.me/2cS/r2278827