Sunday, January 19, 2025 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Registration – Walch Haus Conference Center, Inn on Barons Creek 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM Welcome: Honorable Robert R. Hofmann, 452nd District Court Judge, President of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (M) Opening Session: TJJD Updates - Shandra Carter, TJJD Executive Director – An overview and updates on current issues affecting TJJD
Monday, January 20, 2025 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (M) Navigating Concerns on Youth Crime, Violence, and Behavioral Health: Present Crime Trends and Trends in Racial and Ethnic Disparities - Hunter Hurst, Director, National Center for Juvenile Justice, Chaz Puzzanchera – Policymakers, public agencies, and communities are increasingly concerned about youth crime, violence, school absences, and behavioral health. This session will analyze the most recent behavioral health, arrest, and juvenile justice system data to help stakeholders better understand current national trends, place them in historical context, and identify key implications. The goals are refocusing the juvenile justice system on youth who commit serious and violent offenses to ensure that limited resources are invested in programs and practices demonstrated by research to reduce violence and improve public safety and youth outcomes; and develop a plan that addresses the systemic reasons for youth’s behaviors and ensures that they receive the services and supports they need to transition to a safe and healthy adulthood. 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM Break 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM (M)The Role of Probation Chiefs in Community Violence Intervention - David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform - In many jurisdictions, a significant portion of both victims and suspects of community violence are youth with prior arrests, often under probation supervision. This positions probation departments to implement positive youth development strategies that can effectively reduce incidents of violence. This session will focus on the critical role probation departments can play in implementing interventions and system reforms that impact community violence. 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Lunch on your own 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM CSEY Advocacy Programs Filling the Gaps for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth – Vicki Maestas, CSEY Special Advocate, Midland County Juvenile Probation Officer - This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of what CSEY advocacy entails and its significance in fostering healing and resilience among the at-risk and affected youth in the Texas Juvenile Justice System. 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Break 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (M) Using Youth Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) Mapping to Strengthen Your Local Continuum of Care - Layla Fry, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Matt Smith, Williamson County Juvenile Services, and Airika Crawford, Bexar County Juvenile Justice Continuum of Care Project Director, MMHPI - This workshop will provide an overview of Youth Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) mapping, a powerful planning tool being used in communities across Texas that brings together cross-sector stakeholders to identify the multiple factors (or "intercepts") that contribute to youth justice involvement. Presenters will demonstrate how juvenile justice leaders can bring this tool to their local communities to map out the decision points, intervention options, barriers, and resources at each system contact point to identify opportunities for diversion. Participants will also learn more about the Statewide Continuum of Care Project, where Meadows Institute is using SIM mapping tools with juvenile chiefs in each of the seven TJJD regions to identify where service gaps exist and develop strategies to enhance local capacity to meet youth needs further upstream.
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM (M) Strengthening Community- and School-Based Mental Health Supports for Justice-Involved Youth Amy Felker, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, Kaila Williams, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, and Melissa True, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute - This session will explore the critical role of community and school-based mental health supports in addressing the needs of justice-involved youth. Presenters will discuss concrete strategies for enhancing mental health services for this population, highlighting evidence-based approaches and Texas-specific models that have shown success, with tips for how juvenile probation chiefs can bring these programs to their communities. Topics will include fostering cross-sector partnerships between schools, community organizations, juvenile justice systems, and mental health providers, as well as navigating funding streams and policy challenges. This interactive session aims to equip stakeholders with actionable strategies to improve mental health outcomes for justice-involved youth, helping them thrive both within and beyond the justice system. 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM Break 10:15 AM – 11:45 AM (M) Probation Transformation: From Referees to Coaches and Connectors – Steve Bishop, Deputy Director of System Transformation, Juvenile Justice Strategy Group, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Dr. Brian Lovins, President, Justice System Partners, Elijah Norris-Holliday, Founder/Executive Director, Project Restore Minnesota - This session will explore ways community supervision departments have embraced a new service delivery model, shifting officers to coaches and connectors and emphasizing guidance, support, and resource linkage over traditional surveillance and compliance models. It will also highlight innovative practices to reduce recidivism and promote positive youth development. 11:45 AM – 1:15 PM Lunch on your own 1:15 PM – 2:45 PM (M) Bridging Gaps of Mental Health Youth in the Justice System - Amanda Peters Britton, Senior Technical Assistance Advisor, Office of Forensic Coordination, HHSC – This session will focus on how collaborative efforts of the Office of Forensic Coordination can assist in the prevention and reduction of justice-involved youth with mental illness, substance abuse disorders, and intellectual and developmental disabilities through statewide and cross-agency initiatives and coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM Break 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Regional Meetings
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (M) Outlook for Juvenile Bills during the 89th Texas Legislature Session - Tina Lincoln, Hill County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, and William Carter, Lubbock County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer - An overview of bills that have been filed or are expected to be filed in the current legislative session that will affect the field of juvenile justice. 9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Break 9:45 AM – 11:45 AM Closing Session: Probation Field Updates – Lou Serrano, TJJD Deputy Executive Director for Probation Services - An overview and updates on current issues affecting the Texas juvenile probation field.
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