Hello WJCIA Members!
I hope by the time you are reading this spring newsletter it is actually looking and feeling like spring! It seems like it has been a long winter which started shortly after last year’s annual conference. Thank you to all who attended. I hope you found it an educational and valuable experience. We have been meeting regularly, driving through all Mother Nature has thrown at us, to try to bring you the quality trainings you deserve.
The curriculum committee has been hard at work putting together the Spring Training opportunities. They will be held on May 22, 2018 at the Holiday Inn and Suites in Rothschild, and May 24
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, 2018 at the Kalahari in the Dells. The two topics that will be addressed are, “Developing Informed Approaches to Intake Decision Making,” and “Online Trends, Apps, and Exploitation.” The cost is only $25.00 for members and $40.00 for non-members. For further information and to register, please go to the WJCIA.org homepage.
Speaking of the website, we are in the process of upgrading and making it more user-friendly. The recognition award is currently online and updated, so please take the time to nominate someone worthy of this acknowledgement.
The conference planning committee has, again, put together an amazing line-up of presenters on topics you requested on your evaluations. This year’s conference will be September 19-21
st
at the Kalahari in the Dells. The sessions will be finalized in the next few weeks and then we will begin work on the brochure. An email will be sent notifying you of when you can register online, so make sure to open emails from WJCIA as they contain valuable information and training details.
Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your dedication to the social work profession. We live in an ever-changing world with tougher issues, fewer resources, and increased demands to do more with less. I am in constant awe of what you all do selflessly each and every day. I am humbled and proud to be a part of this organization! I look forward to networking with you in September!
Respectfully,
Melissa Williams
WJCIA President Elect
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JOY LYNN GEORGE
President
Pierce County
LINDSAY CAMPBELL
Secretary
Waushara County
STACY LEDVINA
Manitowoc County
RENEE HANDROW
Rock County
BARB HAFFA
Wood County
JOEL ZIMMERMAN
Washburn County EDC
JODI PETERSEN
Portage County
LINZI LUCK
LaCrosse County
SANDY CRAIG
Outagamie County
KARI MCKENNA
Monroe County
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MELISSA WILLIAMS
President Elect
Washburn County
KATHY GOURDINE
Treasurer
Fond Du Lac County
SARAH SOCHA
Price County
CINDY WALLER
Eau Claire County
MELISSA ZARCZYNKI
Dodge County
JEFF WEILER
Sauk County
KERRY ROOT
Chippewa County
KRIS FLEMING
Lafayette County
BARBARA KULTGEN
Sheboygan County
JOHN MOCK
Jefferson County
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Newsletter Committee Update
The Newsletter committee has been proud to assemble the Prima Facie. We are excited about the results of distributing it electronically. It gets sent to over 700 readers that consist of juvenile court intake workers, ongoing juvenile justice social workers, supervisors, directors, vendors, cps social workers, service providers, educators, and law enforcement, just to name a few. it has allowed us to see how many readers are opening the document and how many clicks certain links get. One of our most recent goals is to provide our readers with updates from all the committees assembled under WJCIA. We are always looking for interesting articles to share, as well as new initiatives that are occurring in counties across Wisconsin. Please feel free to share these instances with us.
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Plans for the 2018 Annual WJCIA Conference are well underway. As in past years, it looks to be three days of great information presented by national, regional and local experts. Some of the hot topics for conference include: providing services to sex offenders, reducing violence while increasing pro-social behaviors, effective trauma practices, responsibilities to victims of crime, Ethics & Boundaries, suicide warning signs and risk factors, and great State of Wisconsin updates and resources. The conference brochures should be in the mail early-to-mid summer so please watch for them. Additional specifics will be available on the WJCIA website as soon as it becomes available. Until then…keep September 19-21, 2018 open on your calendar so you can be at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in the Dells!!
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Technology Committee Update:
The technology committee is proud to announce that we've switched to a reliable, faster, and more secure server for our website. There are minor differences in the appearance at the moment, but information is constantly being updated. We want to assure our members that the website will remain functional and be a reliable source of information for future events and news updates.
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Providing Professional Services for Wisconsin Juvenile Justice
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Nominations are
due by:
SEPTEMBER 1, 2018
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WJCIA is currently seeking nominations for the annual recognition award. Please consider nominating a fellow co-worker for the honor. This worker must be a current member of WJCIA and have 5 years of relevant work experience. They should have superior job performance, positive work relationships, and a commitment to the profession.
The award will be presented at this year’s 2018 annual conference in September. Please email Melissa Williams at
mwilliam@co.washburn.wi.us
or visit the WJCIA website for the nomination form.
Complete the
NOMINATION FORM
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Basic Intake Training Changes
Basic Intake Worker training is designed to provide a newly assigned intake worker with the basic knowledge to take and hold a child/juvenile in custody and timelines that must be adhered to during the intake process, as specified in state statutes. It is not designed or intended to cover all of Chapter 48 or 938. It is designed to provide the worker with the basic information that they will need to perform the job functions of an intake worker. Determining whether or not the youth is within the jurisdiction of the court is one of the most important tasks of the intake worker. Therefore, a significant focus in the training will address establishing jurisdiction in Chapters 48 and 938, and on understanding the elements of a crime for delinquent acts.
The required Basic Intake Worker training is currently 12 hours of online training and 3 days of face to face training. In July of 2018, Basic Intake Worker training will consist of 3 days of face-to-face training, followed by 2 more days of face-to-face practical application training 4 to 6 weeks following the initial 3 day training. Content changes focus on teaching a developmental approach to making intake worker decisions. Examples of newly added curriculum include training on trauma informed decisions, adolescent brain development and child development and research on the effects of custody and family dynamics. The goal is each worker will leave the 5 days of training understanding the roles of their CPS and YJ coworkers, as well as the responsibilities of intake. Understanding the whole process will give intake workers a more informed platform from which they can make these crucial and life-changing intake decisions.
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Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Membership Update
Currently we have 234 WJCIA members. Our goal is to have all seventy-two counties represented in our membership. Currently we have 56 counties represented and sixteen counties are not represented. The state of Wisconsin is divided into seven regions. I challenge each of you to inquire if your neighboring counties are a member of this Association and if not encourage them to become a member!!
The calendar year runs from September to September of the following year. This is from conference to the following year’s conference. The dues are $20.00 a year. This fee allows you to receive the newsletter, the Prima Facia, which is sent out via email. This also includes a statewide intake directory for all counties, even those counties without membership representation. This is also available on the website. As a member, you receive advance notice of trainings, special events, and conferences. As a member you are also eligible to be nominated for the recognition award at our annual conference. By attending conference each year, your membership is automatically renewed.
If you are unable to attend conference, a membership form can be printed from the website, copied from the Prima Facia, or requested by contacting the membership chairperson, Cindy Waller at
cindy.waller@co.eau-claire.wi.us
. I welcome new and existing members to provide suggestions, comments or ask questions.
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CURRICULUM COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Curriculum Committee has been planning for a Spring Training this year. There will be two training locations planned, one in Wisconsin Dells and the other in Rothschild. Registration Now!!
WJCIA 2018 SPRING TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
WJCIA will be hosting a training opportunity for workers who supervise youth this spring:
Thursday, May 24 at the Kalahari Resort and Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells
or
Tuesday, May 22 at the Holiday Inn in Rothschild, WI
From 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM with lunch provided
Presenters:
A. Developmentally Informed Approach to Intake Decision Making
Jonathan I. Cloud
B. Online Trends, Apps and Exploitation
DOJ Special Agent Ryan Klavekoske
DOJ Special Agent Lindsay Conrad
DOJ Special Agent Melissa Fus
DOJ Attorney Morgan Young
Cost:
Members: $25.00 Non-Members: $40.00
Registration is open!
Go to the WJCIA website homepage
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LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Legislative Committee met on 1/12/17. We had discussion and provided feedback on the “Child Sex Trafficking CPS Response” draft memo. The new policies and procedures regarding Sex Trafficking are scheduled to go into effect 5/29/17. Committee member - Kris Fleming will be the WJCIA designee on the Forms Committee. She will be invited to attend those meetings when Juvenile Forms are being discussed. We are excited to have this representation! We discussed issues that are coming up as several counties attempt to regionalize their Access services. Committee member – Daina Dobbs will keep us updated.
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Nomination Committee
This committee coordinates the recruitment and receipt of nominations of candidates for the WJCIA Board of Directors. If you are interested in being on the WJCIA board of directors, or have any questions about being on the board, please contact Melissa Williams at (715)468-4766 for details.
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By-Laws Committee
The annual goal of the By-Laws Committee is to review the WJCIA by-laws for needed updates and changes. The by-laws were last amended in 2010 when language was removed from Article 6.2 regarding eligibility requirements for Nomination Committee appointments. This change no longer prevented active members who were seeking election to the Board of Directors, or who were already serving on Board of Directors and were seeking re-election, to serve on the Nomination Committee.
There have been suggestions made in recent years to revise the term limits for board members, but no amendments have been made to the by-laws. There have also been discussions of changing requirements needed to remove members serving on the Board of Directors. Currently, Article 3.6 requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership during any special or regular meeting to remove a Director from the Board. No changes have been made to this requirement as of this date.
WJCIA members interested in reviewing the by-laws can access them through the WJCIA website. They can be found by hovering over the “About Us” tab.
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Conference Site Committee
The WJCIA Annual Conference will by held at the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center through the year 2030.
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WJCIA is always updating our Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Directory so county workers can connect across the state. Please send your county changes to Kris Fleming at kris.fleming@wicourts.gov
Kris Fleming
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Division of Juvenile Corrections Updates
Did you know that Copper Lake School (CLS) and Lincoln Hills Schools (LHS)have both a Youth Advisory Council and a Family Council? A youth advisory council was started in May of 2017. Youth are on the council either by staff recommendation or per a request to participate. Meetings are held monthly and have representatives from each CLS and LHS living unit.
Included in each meeting are the Corrections Management Services Director, Deputy Superintendent, Unit Managers, and other staff representatives from different areas of the institutions. Topics discussed vary, but have included unit schedules, recreation activities, incentive ideas, meal options, questions, concerns, and how to make LHS/CLS a more effective and positive environment.
Youth have been asked to provide input on a number of topics. Based upon their suggestions a new recreation trail was built, a music program was started, the Douglass recreation building was furnished and re-opened, and meal options have changed. All involved are looking forward to more meetings, which will help Copper Lake and Lincoln Hills move forward in a positive direction!
A family council was started to provide a forum for family members to voice suggestions and concerns; stay informed about facility life; represent the family perspective; and communicate initiatives and programs at Lincoln Hills/Copper Lake Schools (LHS/CLS).
Family council meetings take place monthly at the institution and are followed by a facility tour. All family members who are on the facility approved visitors list and over the age of 18 are welcome to participate. To promote the Family Council and to involve the family members in shaping these meetings, the facility sent out a survey and a flyer announcing the Family Council and the date of the first meeting in December 2017. Staff also hosted an informational booth on Saturday, December 30 during the family bus visit to increase and encourage family participation.
The first meeting was held on Saturday, January 20, 2018, and was attended by 7 family members and 3 staff members: a Correctional Management Service Director, Social Worker, and Policy Analyst from DJC Central Office. The meeting was held during a family bus visit to encourage participation. Follow-up emails and flyers, located at the front entrance, are a couple different ways to spread the mission and entice future involvement. Monthly meetings will focus on different areas of the facility and have leadership and staff representatives in attendance to highlight facility initiatives and listen to family members’ ideas, concerns, and questions.
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Youth Justice Data Update
When DCF conducted input gathering in 2016, the need for consistent statewide data on the youth justice system was a theme. Counties vary widely in their use of eWiSACWIS to enter youth justice data, and the system is not designed specifically for youth justice. To begin to address this need for standardized youth justice data collection statewide, DCF formed a workgroup in July 2018 to address this issue.
Workgroup participation was solicited through WCHSA. Twenty-three (23) counties were represented on the workgroup, along with representatives from various departments within DCF. County members included directors, managers, supervisors, data specialists, and workers.
The first three meetings of the data workgroup focused on developing a short-term strategy for collecting a limited number of data elements statewide related to youth justice. The workgroup identified factors to use to prioritize what to track short term: ease of entry, useful to counties, has a common definition, and captures basic information about the youth justice system.
The work group and DCF decided to require counties to track two items in eWiSACWIS: (1) referrals to juvenile court intake, and (2) human services intake decisions. DCF also decided to make enhancements to eWiSACWIS to allow counties to track some additional information over the life of a case. Starting in January, DCF and county representatives went through the design process to determine how to track these items in eWiSACWIS; those changes should be rolled out in the end of June 2018. DCF also came to multiple WJCIA board meetings to get valuable input from WJCIA board members about the changes to eWiSACWIS.
On March 20, 2018, DCF issued an info memo (DSP Informational Memo Series 2018 – 11i) with more detail about the upcoming changes to eWiSACWIS. A policy regarding entry of YJ data will go out in June and is currently with WCHSA for comment. The info memo also explains that Counties will have the choice of being Basic or Advanced users. Counties at the Basic level will enter referral and intake information into eWiSACWIS. Counties who want the benefits that come with being an Advanced user will enter a limited amount of additional information for all YJ cases. Once the data policy is issued, counties will be asked to decide whether they will be Basic or Advanced users.
BYS is very appreciate of all the WJCIA and other stakeholder input that has gone into this process thus far, and welcomes any input or questions.
If you want to give input or have questions, please email or call Bryn Martyna, Youth Justice Policy Coordinator, at
bryn.martyna@wisconsin.gov
or (608) 422-6897.
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Meet Your New Board Members
Kari McKenna
graduated from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2008 with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and Human Services. Her career in Human Services began in 2010 working as an Ongoing Case Manager with Children's Service Society of Wisconsin in Milwaukee County. In 2013, she relocated to Monroe County where she began Ongoing Case Management for CPS until December 2014, when she accepted the position of Juvenile Justice Intake worker and still holds the position currently. Kari works with Juveniles through the Intake Process and Court Systems in Monroe County providing both supervision services and referrals to other services to help Juveniles, as well as works with the Truancy Court and JIPS systems. Kari resides in Wilton, WI, with her husband, two young boys and their dog, Ranger.
Linzi Luck
is an Ongoing Juvenile Justice Social Worker for La Cross County. She graduated in 2013 from UW-Platteville with her B.S. in Psychology and minor in Criminal Justice. Following college she took a year off from school and worked full-time providing in-home Autism therapy in the Beaver Dam, WI. area. In 2014, she went back to school for her Master’s in Social Work from UW-Madison and graduated in 2016. While in graduate school she interned from Briarpatch Youth Services during the 2014-2015 school year. While at Briarpatch, she provided intensive supervision to youth on county supervision in Dane county. During the 2015-2016 school year, she decided to try her hand at policy and program development and interned at the Dane County TimeBank helping with running and developing their new community based Youth Court Program. This program worked to divert those youth that received municipal citations and other minor delinquency charges (i.e. Disorderly Conduct) out of the juvenile system by providing them with restorative justice alternatives. These alternatives included, community service, research papers, or apology letters, to name a few. After graduation she wanted to continue working with youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system which led her to her current position at La Crosse County.
Sandy Craig
graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from UW-Green Bay in 1994. She was employed by Family Service Association in Green Bay for 5 years. Sandy developed and implemented the Learnfare Program. She worked with low income youth who were truant or dropped out of school. For 10 months Sandy worked for the State of Wisconsin as a Program and Policy Analyst. She soon learned she missed working with youth and began working at Outagamie County Division of Youth and Family Services as a Juvenile Court Intake Worker. Sandy has worked as an Intake Worker for the past 18 years. Sandy has been involved in program development and implementation. She has facilitated groups such as Clean Break, Families in Action and Trauma Workshop. Sandy worked collaboratively with Outagamie Counties Child Protection Services to develop and implement an intra-familiar sexual assault protocol.
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Facebook: Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Association
Twitter: WJCIA @WJCIA_tech
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