The Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services will pick up a major award this fall after it was announced that it has been selected as one of the top 50 most Innovative Programs in American Government by Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

As the Washington Post reported this morning, the honor went to the “Positive Youth Development” approach taken by the District’s long-troubled juvenile justice agency. 

According to a press release issued by the agency, the 50 best innovations for the 2008 innovations in American Government Awards demonstrate effective solutions to some of out nation’s most pressing issues.