To Register:

Session 1: Reducing Racial Disparities in Juvenile Detention with Effective and Innovative Alternatives to Detention

Wednesday, July 22^nd  12:00 p.m.– 1:00 p.m.  (CDT)

This conference is FREE to all individuals who work with young people and families in the Juvenile Justice System. Please download the NJJA Mobile App to register for this free virtual conference. If you have any questions about registration or the NJJA App – email ChristyBeckman@outlook.com

Click here to download a PDF of this information.

Click here for a recording of the session.

Click here for the slides presented during the session. Douglas County Opening Webinar PP-(FINAL)

Alternatives to Detention (ATD): why culture matters, targeting intervention for specific populations and building a continuum

Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 12pm-1pm (CDT)

Nebraska ATD RED Presentation Slides no video

Webinar Recording

Presenters:

Cody W. Jewell HE/HIM/HIS-Is a Project Coordinator for Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma Washington. Cody received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and History from Washington State University in 2008 and has been working with incarcerated youth since 2009.  He started at a state facility in Washington, working with youth who had been removed from their communities for placement.  He transitioned to Pierce County Juvenile Court in 2014 and began working as a probation counselor.  For the past three years he has been the local JDAI site coordinator and has been focused on implementing Deep End and Probation Transformation reforms.  Building up community program opportunities and working to reduce the number of youths who receive an out of home placement, with a goal of keeping all youth close to home for their programming needs.  Cody has also been a member of the PCJC equity team for three years and works on the learning opportunities subgroup.

Carrie Ojeda-Is a Juvenile Probation Counselor for Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, Washington. Carrie supervises up to 10 African American youth who are a part of the Pathways to Success program. She received her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor is Psychology and Sociology at Eastern Washington University in 2013. She started her journey working with youth in 2014 when she worked at Child Study and Treatment Center as a Psychiatric Counselor, working with youth who were involuntarily placed. Carrie then moved on to work for the court in 2017 as a Probation Counselor. She has been working specifically with African American youth since February 2019. She also is an active member in the PCJC equity team and works on the learning opportunities subgroup to help provide education and training to the organization.

Areas of Interest

• Juvenile Probation
• Probation transformation
• Racial/Ethnic Disparities

Purpose:

The Alternatives to Detention Webinar is part of a larger series of events under the Racial/Ethnic Disparities Sub-committee of Douglas County, Nebraska. This event will be put on by the Alternatives to Detention sub-committee in collaboration with our RED team. In this webinar, the audience will be educated on the journey of Tacoma Washington as they worked to change the culture of their jurisdiction to allow for reform. We will also learn about the Pathways to Success program created specifically for African American youth. This program serves youth who are considered a high risk to reoffend.  They will share data from this alternative to detention that is aimed at reducing RED and is showing positive outcomes. The webinar will assist the audience in understanding how changing the culture of jurisdictions to allow for reform as well as understanding how to use data to create strategies. Presenters will also share the robust ATD continuum being used in Tacoma to assist officers in understanding what alternatives are available.

Alternatives to Detention (ATD): Multi-Agency Resource Centers (Assessment Centers)

September 23, 2020,  Noon to 1 pm CDT

SESSION 3 RECORDING.

Presenter:

Anthony Celestine

Anthony Celestine is the Assistant Director of the Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Services. Their mission is to provide quality rehabilitative services to youth and families in a manner that is responsive to their needs, while always being mindful of public safety.  Anthony strives to find solutions to make certain that every child in Calcasieu Parish lives a happy, healthy and successful life.

Anthony has been a part of the Parish Police Jury for more than 25 years. A past detention center director, training and special projects coordinator, and Juvenile Probation Officer. Anthony is also a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

-Annie E Casey Applied Leadership Network

-McNeese State University: Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

-Leadership Track Training

-Crisis Prevention Intervention

Areas of Interest

• Racial/Ethnic Disparities
• Juvenile Probation
• Culturally responsive service

Purpose:

The Alternatives to Detention Webinar is part of a larger series of events under the Racial/Ethnic Disparities Sub-committee of Douglas County, Nebraska. This event will be put on by the Alternatives to Detention sub-committee in collaboration with our RED team. In this webinar, the audience will hear about the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) in Calcasieu Parish Louisiana.  The MARC has served over 11k youth since June of 2011, diverting 82% (27% did not enter any system at all).  Absenteeism has been reduced by 26% with their school based diversion.  All of this with only 13 Staff members.  The MARC is a single point of entry into the Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice and Prevention systems.  It operates as a community center and allow for outside groups to hold meetings on site with families.  Staff can also work in family homes if needed.  There are 3 ways to obtain service: 1- Walk in: families in crisis or any need can simply walk into the MARC and meet with someone 7 days a week. Staff can complete JIFF and MAYSI-2 when needed.  They have a crisis team able to respond if needed. 2- County Attorney: when youth is not appropriate for Court intervention, they are referred for MARC diversion services.  3-Law Enforcement (LE): LE can use MARC to request diversion services for youth with non-violent offenses.  The MARC, in turn, contacts the County Attorney to consider.  The MARC does house ATD providers to allow for immediate service.  The MARC also employees two Expeditors, once for pre-adjudicated and post-adjudicated, court involved youth.  MARC holds non-traditional hours to allow for more efficient case processing and service delivery.  The have developed both Pre-Court Diversion and Restorative Justice programming; they are using less funds as a result.  MARC emphasizes use of BOTH evidenced AND Faith based services. Attention to continuous improvement and staff training assist in keeping staff motivated and the work innovative.

Target audience: The ATD training is geared to educate all front line staff in the State of Nebraska and community stakeholders.  The training will be open to all stakeholders around the State. This is possible due to collaboration with the Nebraska Juvenile Justice Association

Mental Health in the Black Community

October 21, 2020,  Noon to 1 pm CDT

Presenter:

Doris Moore,

MS, NCC, CPC, LIMHP, Founder and CEO of the Center for Holistic Development-Omaha

The Racial/Ethnic Disparities Sub-committee of Douglas County, Nebraska aims to provide the audience with information about mental health issues in the black community that are oftentimes overlooked. Mental Health impacts all aspects of livelihood for youth and families in underrepresented areas. Doris Moore MS, NCC, CPC, LIMHP is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Holistic Development (CHD) in Omaha. She has practiced in the Omaha area for over 20 years. Doris and her team take and approach to behavioral health work that includes looking at the whole person and their environment. CHD staff provide services that include education programs, community outreach, and activities for the youth and their family.  The staff works alongside families to fulfill the agency mission of “serving a diverse community by providing holistic behavioral healthcare services and education programs to individuals, families, and groups”.

Objectives:

• Signs, Symptoms, and Statistics
• Systematic Barriers
• Impact on the African American Community and Beyond
• Reducing risk and implementing solutions

This course will help attendees understand the impact mental health can have on behaviors and how to impact behavior change with clients and their family.    Each of the above risk factors, once identified, could be addressed by this therapeutic approach.  This course will assist attendees in understanding why the creation of culturally competent service is imperative in 21st Century social service work.  The session will also discuss how this approach aims to reduce the criminogenic risks associated with youth.

Healing Communities

October 29, 2020,  Noon to 1:30 pm CDT

Keynote Speaker:

. Shawn Ginwright Ph.D., Founder Flourish Agenda-Oakland, California

The Racial/Ethnic Disparities Sub-committee of Douglas County, Nebraska aims to provide the audience with information about strategies to unlock the power of healing and how to engage youth of color and adult allies in transforming their schools and communities. Dr. Shawn Ginwright will share his insight into his research that examines the ways in which youth in urban communities navigate through the constraints of poverty and struggle to create equality and justice in their schools and communities.

This course will help attendees understand the power of transformative change and healing to cultivate a positive organizational culture grounded in the values of love and justice. Flourish Agenda works with youth-serving institutions and systems to craft strategies and environments that change the way we work with younger generations and families. This course will further provide new ways of working with young people of color to create durable and lasting solutions through a healing-centered approach.

Through the information shared, communities will begin to understand why healing generational trauma works to lessen criminogenic risks. Youth living in areas of high poverty and high absenteeism rates often suffer from risk related to anti-social behavior, thoughts/cognition, as well as hold a higher likelihood of antisocial associates and family/marital disruption. As these are the top for criminogenic risks associated with youth offenders, lessening the instances in a community assists providers in working with youth.  Assisting stakeholders in understanding the relation of these risks to targeted intervention will assist individual youth in lowering their overall risk level.

Why Credible Messengers?

October 30, 2020,  Noon to 1:30 pm CDT

Keynote Speaker:

Antonio Fernandez – Founder and CEO: Grow Up Grow Out, LLC

Mr. Antonio Fernandez (also known as King Tone) was the Leader of the New York chapter of the Latin Kings gang. He has worked directly with street organization members in Washington, D.C., Newark, New York City, Spain and Ecuador to redirect their energies toward community building. Antonio uses his life story as both a cautionary tale and a message about self-transformation.

Mr. Antonio Fernandez has partnered with Clinton Lacey and Washington D.C.’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation on a brand-new initiative called “Credible Messengers.” Antonio’s organization “Grow Up and Grow Out” currently focuses on serving youth charged as adults in Washington, D.C.’s  juvenile detention center. Antonio and his team of formally incarcerated mentors work inside the institution 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the goal of helping young people Grow Up and Grow Out of the mentality and conditions in which they find themselves. Antonio has provided a plethora of workshops and trainings to government organizations, justice departments, probation departments, schools, and communities so they can work better with and serve young people. According to Antonio in “Grow Up and Grow Out,” we are “Credible Messengers” who lead by example in providing young people ways on how to make an honest living after spending time incarcerated, and how to save our communities.

This course will help attendees understand the power and influence Credible Messengers can hold in communities and how Credible Messengers educate youth to transform and heal through relationship building. This course will show Nebraska stakeholders the innovation other jurisdictions are using to work with youth and families. Due to the focus on detained youth, data shows this to be a population in which youth of color are heavily overrepresented.  The work of the Credible Messenger involves sharing information and personal experiences to assist our young people in their own healing and rehabilitation.

Research indicates voice and choice in services decrease rates in which youth re-enter the system. With race being declared a public health issue in Douglas County, healing through the lens of race is imperative. Incarcerated youth are overwhelmingly found in areas of high poverty and high absenteeism rates whom often suffer from risks related to anti-social behavior, thoughts/cognition, as well as hold a higher likelihood of antisocial associates and family/marital disruption. Credible Messengers work to identify and educate young people about criminogenic risks and needs associated with them and their families.

Considering Culture – Service to Native American families

November 18, 2020,  Noon to 1:00 pm CST

Speaker: NICOLE TAMAYO-BENEGAS

Nicole Tamayo-Benegas is currently employed as the Youth and Family Program Director for the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC). Nicole will provide insight into special considerations for professionals working with Native families. She will assist us in understanding barriers the system presents to this distinct population. The webinar will address fears clients may have in working with system professionals. Nicole will explore issues related to guardianship, family structure, ICWA and building cultural plans for Native youth to ensure they maintain connection to community. She will address some customs related to funerals, medication compliance and considerations when placing Native youth that participants may not be aware of that can inhibit the ability of professionals to engage with families.

Probation staff as well as community providers complete assessments with youth and their families. Those assessments assist in identification of drivers of criminal behaviors. These same staff also work to identify needs youth and families may have that are acting as a barrier to success. Many times, due to professionals not understanding different cultures, assessments do not provide results that allow for responding to the youth and family culture appropriately. This session will assist professionals in understanding cultural considerations that may appear non-compliant, and assist in discussions of “why” in order to serve.

Impacting Behavior through Culture

Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Keynote Speakers:Mahatma Largaespada and Carmen Chagolla, Latino Center of the Midlands

The Latino Center of the Midlands (LCM) provides service to youth and families in Douglas County Nebraska. As a part of the National Compadres Network, LCM has a long history of community-based interventions. Services are rooted in culture and are trauma and healing informed. La Cultura Cura is a philosophy of healing that acknowledges the values, traditions and practices that exist in families to assist in change. Using natural supports and beliefs, the LCM assists youth in understanding interconnected as well as family and community P.R.I.D.E; 1. Purpose 2. Responsibility 3. Interdependence4. Development 5. Enthusiasm Presenters will highlight programs at LCM to include the Pathways to Success (P2S) program. LCM staff assist in student goal setting, improving attendance while enhancing pro-social engagement. Students will identify and cultivate leadership potential that will help them succeed in school and life.

Probation staff as well as community providers complete assessments with youth and their families. Those assessments assist in identification of drivers of criminal behaviors. These same staff also work to identify needs youth and families may have that are acting as a barrier to success. Many times, due to professionals not understanding different cultures, assessments do not provide results that allow for responding to the youth and family culture appropriately. This session will assist professionals in understanding cultural considerations that may appear non-compliant, and assist in discussions of “why” in order to serve. As well as providing an evidenced-based example of culturally relevant services.

Justice for Youth of Color: Paradigms and Challenges in the Douglas County Juvenile Justice System

February 24, 2021, 12pm-1:00pm CST

Keynote Speaker: Ajamal Byndon, Douglas County RED Coordinator

A’Jamal-Rashad Byndon is a native of Hastings Nebraska. However, he grew up in North Omaha and worked for 25 years with Catholic Charities. He is the current Racial and Ethnic Disparities Coordinator for Douglas County. He served two years in the Peace Corps in the Republic of Botswana, where he met and married his wife of 42 years.

A’Jamal is from a family of 14 children and grew up in poverty in North Omaha.

A’Jamal has taught racial, African American Family, cultural diversity, and poverty courses in local colleges and universities. He was one of Omaha Table Talk (OTT) founding members and has enjoyed dinner in over 100 homes and nonprofit locations and helping to facilitate racial conversations during his tenure at OTT.

This session will explore the controversial aspects of Racial and Ethnic Disparities (RED) in Douglas County.

A’Jamal will provide an overview of terms and the challenges we face in addressing the juvenile justice system’s racial disparities. He will educate the community on recommendations that will help youth and families navigate the disparate juvenile justice system.

This presentation offers challenges to the criminal justice departments, as well as legal and judicial system to improve racial intelligence when dealing with youth of color, who are treated differently as indicated by the data. Opportunities will be provided to participants to share their best practices and examples of racial and cultural issues within their respective systems.

Serving Refugee Communities

March 24, 2021, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Keynote Speaker: Rosy Htu, Refugee Advocate with Heartland Family Services

Rosy Htu is a Refugee Advocate with Heartland Family Services (HFS) in Omaha.  Rosy will assist attendees in beginning to understand culture when working with families and professionals from the many refugee communities.  Rosy will discuss family structure, views of education/government as well as the importance of a cultural connection for youth navigating two worlds. She will assist us in understanding barriers the system presents to this distinct population. The webinar will address fears clients may have in working with system professionals.  It will also enhance the professionals understanding of refugee culture to increase the ability of professionals to engage with families of refugee populations.

Probation staff as well as community providers complete assessments with youth and their families. Those assessments assist in identification of drivers of criminal behaviors.  These same staff also work to identify needs youth and families may have that are acting as a barrier to success.  Many times, due to professionals not understanding different cultures, assessments do not provide results that allow for responding to the youth and family culture appropriately. This session will assist professionals in understanding cultural considerations that may appear non-compliant, and assist in discussions of “why” in order to serve.

Understanding “Conditioning” and how it contributes to Racial and Ethnic Disparities

April 28, 2021, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Keynote Speaker: Patrick Taylor, Metro Area Youth Services

Patrick Taylor is the Co-Founder of Metro Area Youth Services (MAYS) in Omaha, NE. Patrick is the Director of Youth Development at MAYS and responsible for creating and implementing  creative curriculum that makes MAYS a unique service provider. Patrick believes understanding the culture of our youth today and building positive relationships with adolescents is key to long lasting positive change. Patrick will provide attendees with a historical context of racism and how “conditioning” of adolescent behavior manifest into acceptable high risk behavior amongst adolescents.  Patrick will discuss how imageries of music, social media, gang culture and education presents itself to the young and highly impressionable adolescents we provide services to daily.  This presentation will further explain how conditioning shapes micro-aggressions, biases, behavior and decisions that could lead to disparate treatment of youth involved in Juvenile Justice systems. Patrick will also discuss strategies on how to improve cultural competency when working with youth and families in our communities.

SOGIE

June 23, 2021, 12pm-1:30pm CST

Keynote Speaker: TBA

Description to come.