Podcast Summary: Youth Justice Transformation in Action

Episode: Achieving Success through Organizational Change
Release Date: September 21, 2023
Host: RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice
Guests:

• Julie Austin, Director of Youth and Family Programming, Greene County Juvenile Office, 31st Judicial District of Missouri
• Stacy Denny, Director of Case Management, Greene County Juvenile Office, 31st Judicial District of Missouri

Introduction

In the September 21, 2023 episode of Youth Justice Transformation in Action, hosted by the RFK National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice, John Toole interviews Julie Austin and Stacy Denny from the Greene County Juvenile Office in Missouri. This episode delves into their journey of transforming the youth justice system through strategic organizational changes, effective communication, and a commitment to positive youth development.

Background of the Guests

Julie Austin shared her transition into juvenile justice, highlighting her non-traditional route from a 20-year career in finance and tech to social work. Her dedication to addressing systemic injustices led her to pursue a bachelor's and master's in social work, culminating in a five-year tenure in juvenile justice. Julie oversees the secure detention facility, alternative school, youth empowerment programs, and high-risk victim coordination, managing a team of 35 individuals.

Stacy Denny emphasized her personal connection to the field, having grown up in Springfield and being a recipient of services from the very office she now directs. Her role involves supervising deputy juvenile officers who specialize in adolescent development, ensuring that referrals are met with appropriate services. Stacy's commitment stems from a desire to give back to her community and support the youth and families she grew up with.

Identifying Organizational Challenges

Early in their collaboration with RFK's Dennison Mondoro Probation and Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Project, Julie and Stacy recognized that the existing organizational structure hindered their ability to implement positive changes. They noted that the chief juvenile officer was overwhelmed, supervising 17 managers, which diluted focus and effectiveness.

Stacy Denny (05:42):
"It was all the members of RFK that helped us identify that as an impediment to what we were seeing in our office."

Julie Austin (06:31):
"A lot of us had a feeling that there was something structurally challenging that made it harder to do our job. But from the inside, we weren't able to see it."

Empowering Change through Collaboration

With RFK's support, they formed a change task force dedicated to restructuring the office. This team examined the current organizational setup, identified issues, and educated themselves on effective structures to enhance accountability and direction.

Julie Austin (07:14):
"We're really the three key people that championed the Mondoro coming in. It's a credit to the leadership team that we were even willing to say, hey, this is a good idea."

Stacy Denny (07:14):
"He gets a lot of the credit of being able to say that he needed some additional supports and changed the structure so that we could give more focus to the different areas of our office."

Implementing Change Management and Communication Strategies

The duo emphasized the role of implementation science in providing a structured framework for change. This approach fostered a common language around data, the importance of thoughtful change, and relentless communication.

Julie Austin (09:47):
"Implementation science really brought us a common language and framework to work within."

Stacy Denny (10:39):
"We've been able to really ingrain that in our practices... always thinking about those different levels of communication as well."

They utilized digital tools like Zoom for focus groups during the pandemic, ensuring inclusive participation and fostering trust. Surveys and supervisor meetings further facilitated transparent communication across all organizational levels.

Policy Changes and System Enhancements

Several key policies were enacted to prioritize adolescent development and positive youth outcomes:

1. Staffing Protocols: Established interdisciplinary teams to evaluate and manage youth cases comprehensively.
2. Community Partner Integration: Regular inclusion of community partners in staffing meetings to ensure holistic support.
3. Enhanced Engagement Practices: Revised case initiation and engagement procedures to incorporate adolescent development research and build rapport with youth and families.
4. Incentive Programs: Introduced programs allowing youth to earn early termination from supervision and structural modifications through positive behavior reinforcement.

Stacy Denny (17:30):
"We've been able to pilot an incentive program for our youth that we have on supervision... utilizing a 4 to 1 ratio, as well as recognizing that incentives and sanctions don't have to be mutually exclusive."

Handling Resistance and Staff Turnover

Change invariably brought resistance and staff departures. Notably, the probation unit experienced 100% turnover. However, this turnover allowed Greene County to align its team with individuals who embraced the new philosophies and approaches.

Stacy Denny (26:27):
"We have been able to bring on a great team of people that all really believe in the mission of our office..."

Julie Austin (28:34):
"Staffing anything through a big change takes a leadership team that is willing to stick together when it gets really, really hard."

Regular meetings and open dialogues ensured that remaining staff felt supported and valued, transforming the office environment into a more positive and collaborative space.

Commitment to Data and Quality Assurance

A dedicated team of three now focuses on data analysis and quality assurance, enabling Greene County to measure the impact of their reforms effectively. This data-driven approach has highlighted significant reductions in recidivism, particularly among youth in diversion services.

Stacy Denny (29:30):
"We have been able to see long term recidivism rates within our office... a recidivism rate of, or a lack of recidivism of about 75 to 80% of the youth in our diversion services."

Julie Austin (31:58):
"Making sure that quality is embedded across the units... data is used to enhance services, to improve services."

Successes and Outcomes

The Greene County Juvenile Office has achieved notable successes through its organizational transformation:

• Integrated Detention Services: Detention is now part of the continuum of care, emphasizing safety over punishment and incorporating trauma-informed practices.

  Julie Austin (22:41):
  "Detention is part of the ongoing set of services that try to resurrect a positive behavior change pattern for these youth."

• Enhanced Mental Health Support: Introduction of therapy services in detention has led to the hiring of a full-time mental health professional.

• Reduced Recidivism: Significant drop in recidivism rates among youth engaged in diversion programs showcases the effectiveness of preventive services.

Vision for Youth Justice Reform

Both Julie and Stacy articulated a desire to foster stronger connections among community justice partners, agencies, and educators to provide comprehensive support for youth and families. They emphasized the need for better resource allocation and public education on adolescent development and systemic challenges.

Stacy Denny (35:49):
"We need community partners to be able to come alongside us... making sure that we can all really come alongside and support each other."

Julie Austin (38:05):
"A coordinated effort on education to the general public... have the ability to really do that education for either of."

Final Messages and Reflections

Julie highlighted the critical impact of recent societal challenges on youth, urging for modeling of community care and conflict resolution. Stacy expressed profound gratitude towards individuals dedicated to this transformative work, acknowledging the emotional and professional demands involved.

Julie Austin (39:37):
"If we don't figure out how to reconnect in our communities... let's all be kinder to one another."

Stacy Denny (40:43):
"Thank you to anybody that is willing to dig in and feel those hard feelings and make sure that we're trying to do it the right way."

Conclusion

This episode of Youth Justice Transformation in Action provides a comprehensive look into how Greene County Juvenile Office successfully navigated organizational restructuring to enhance youth justice outcomes. Through strategic leadership, robust communication, data-driven practices, and unwavering commitment to positive youth development, Julie Austin and Stacy Denny exemplify effective transformation in the juvenile justice system.

For more resources and information, listeners are encouraged to visit rfknrcjj.org/podcast and explore the RFK National Resource Center's online library and latest publications.

Notable Quotes:

• Stacy Denny (05:42):
  "It was all the members of RFK that helped us identify that as an impediment to what we were seeing in our office."

• Julie Austin (09:47):
  "Implementation science really brought us a common language and framework to work within."

• Stacy Denny (26:27):
  "We have been able to bring on a great team of people that all really believe in the mission of our office..."

• Julie Austin (22:41):
  "Detention is part of the ongoing set of services that try to resurrect a positive behavior change pattern for these youth."

• Julie Austin (39:37):
  "If we don't figure out how to reconnect in our communities... let's all be kinder to one another."

• Stacy Denny (40:43):
  "Thank you to anybody that is willing to dig in and feel those hard feelings and make sure that we're trying to do it the right way."