JJTA Award for Excellence 2008 — Individual

James C. Johns
Director
Policy and Employee Development
Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services
Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare

JJTA Award for Excellence 2008 — Organization

Annsville Residential Center
Rich Hogeboom, Mark French, and Staff
New York Office of Children and Family Services

Neal Willemse Achievement Award
This award will be made to an individual for contributions to the Juvenile Justice Trainers Association (JJTA).

Margaret W. Davis
President
Juvenile Justice Trainers Association, 2000-2008

Mr. Jim Johns began his employment with the Youth Development Center/Youth Forestry Camp System in 1979 as a Youth Development Aid. During his career with the YDC/YFC system he held several direct care positions, including that of counselor and supervisor. Jim left direct care only after being selected as a Program Specialist for the first Bureau of State Children and Youth Programs (BSCYP). During his time in this role he was instrumental in the opening of a new residential program including the development of the staff training program. Jim’s career continued when he was appointed the Executive Director of the Loysville Complex, which was comprised of six facilities, and where he was responsible for all daily operations including the training function.

After several years in this position he was appointed the Director of BSCYP, now known as the Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services (BJJS), where again his dedication and commitment to the residents and staff was extremely evident. During his tenure as Director, he was instrumental in the opening of five new programs and the consolidation of four training units into one division under the guidance of the Bureau.

His foresight provided for an efficient use of training resources and to the development of consistent, quality training for all employees regardless of their worksite. In addition he was responsible for the development of a centralized academy for new employees that was responsive to the needs of the various regions by being mobile due to the creation of team trainers built by the consolidation.

After serving as the longest tenured Director, Jim continued his career by becoming the first Director of Policy and Employee Development. During his time in this position he has done more to further the importance of training in the YDC/YFC system than had previously been accomplished.

His accomplishments to date include among others, the development of the first Annual Training Plan and Report, the first revised Training Policy in over 10 years, the first ever Peer Trainer Protocol, the development of a unified training function and certainly one of the most important, the development of curriculums and lesson plans using “ITIP” to be used throughout the system. His efforts and guidance have led to the development of a consistent, defensible, and qualitative training function un-paralleled in the YDC/YFC system.

Annsville Residential Center is one of the first juvenile justice facilities in the nation to become a “Sanctuary Community.” The Sanctuary Model was begun by Dr. Sandra Bloom and by following her model they have created a facility which provides trauma-informed care, and which actively involves both staff and youth in creating and maintaining a positive and therapeutic facility culture that fosters a non-physical environment that provides for staff and resident safety. In addition they have carried their learning to the rest of the New York State juvenile justice system and have therefore become leaders in our field. Mark French, the Sanctuary Project Supervisor for the State Office of Children and Family Services, has served as liaison between the state agency, the facilities incorporating Sanctuary and the consultants providing guidance on the process. As such, he has shepherded the process, successfully coordinating and guiding the various groups in their interactions with each other. Through his efforts and the efforts, dedication and commitment of all the staff of the Annsville Residential Center they have taken the training provided by the Sanctuary Model and used it to become a model for safety and treatment for their residents, the staff and the community.

Margaret W. Davis is an independent consultant retired from the position of Assistant Director of Training for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. In that position she was responsible for the staff training for juvenile justice programs operated directly by the agency, as well as the child welfare training provided to local county social service districts. She worked for this agency, formerly known as the Division for Youth, for 31 years. She began her career as a direct-care worker in facilities and has been in the field of staff training since 1981. She was instrumental in the creation of the agency’s residential training academy, which provides a 5-week program to all new direct-care staff.

Some of the areas she has provided consultation and technical assistance in are: conducting needs assessments, developing curricula, developing policies and procedures, improving delivery of services, designing a training academy, marketing the training function, disproportionate minority contact, mental health issues, and interviewing and interrogating juveniles.

Ms. Davis is a founding member of the Juvenile Justice Trainers Association and has been the President for the past 8 years. Previously she served as JJTA’s first Treasurer and held that office for many years.

Achievement: (please describe the nature of the individual’s contribution to juvenile justice training or the JJTA, and how their efforts impacted locally, statewide, and/or nationally)

Margaret’s presidency has spanned eight years – 2000-2008. In January of 2000, when Sue Yeres was still JJTA President, we were just beginning to consider joining into an “Alliance” with NJDA and NAJCA, which later became the Partnership for Juvenile Justice Services. During Margaret’s presidency, the Partnership was officially formed in 2004, then incorporated. Her thoughtful consideration of thorny issues, her diplomacy and her willingness to work hard to resolve the challenges helped JJTA take a major role in development of the final organization. She kept the JJTA membership informed and invited their input at each phase.

JJTA maintained and strengthened its relationships with other organizations over the last eight years, which brought a number of projects to place on our combined resume, including Building Leadership Development Capacity, the Montana Juvenile Justice Academy development, and the Hawaii trainer development program.

Margaret gave JJTA an Internet presence by creating and maintaining the JJTA Web site, with the help of her husband, Bill Cosgrove. Due to their efforts, JJTA was also first to transfer its newsletter to electronic form.

Margaret hosted the JJTA Spring Conference in Asheville, NC, in 2004 and supported the development and hosting of each Spring event during her tenure.

Margaret has been an active and creative participant in JJTA’s life for over 25 years and as she steps down as President, we feel it’s appropriate to give her this award for her dedication and accomplishments.