From Framework to Field: Building Consistent Supervision Through CCP, DBT, and ACT

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 18, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Session Type: Workshop

Community supervision agencies are increasingly expected to manage high risk, high need cases involving emotional dysregulation, behavioral health challenges, resistance to authority, and safety concerns—often within brief, high stress supervision contacts. While Core Correctional Practices (CCP) provide a strong evidence based framework, agency leaders frequently report challenges with consistent implementation, staff confidence, and translating theory into day to day practice. This session is designed for agency leaders, supervisors, and training staff seeking to strengthen supervision outcomes through practical, scalable implementation strategies. Participants will explore how integrating Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills into CCP can support officer decision making, reduce escalation, and improve behavior change across diverse supervision populations, including high risk, justice involved individuals. Grounded in Risk Need Responsivity (RNR) principles, the session focuses on supervision models, training priorities, and policy level supports that enable officers to move beyond compliance driven check ins toward more effective, skill based supervision.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Liz Barnhart
Principal Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts


Liz Barnhart, MS, is a Principal Court Management Consultant at the National Center for State Courts. Liz leads a diverse portfolio at NCSC exploring the intersection of justice and wellbeing and the court’s role in system change. Her work helps courts become more responsive to community needs through collaboration with specialized law enforcement, prosecution, defense, pretrial, probation, and community partners. She provides training, technical assistance, facilitation, and program evaluation—supporting initiatives from implementation through long term sustainability. Liz has extensive hands on experience with justice involved individuals and those at risk of system involvement, translating evidence based practices into organizational improvement strategies. Prior to joining NCSC, she managed county level justice and behavioral health programs and coordinated multi agency initiatives, including the DVMDT. Previous experience includes clinical case and therapeutic milieu management for children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders, and administration of a YouthBuild AmeriCorps program for emerging adults. Liz holds an MS in Sociology and is certified in multiple therapeutic and justice related practices, including Moral Reconation Therapy, Seeking Safety, ODARA Assessment, Trauma Informed Justice Response, and Mental Health First Aid.


Danielle Young
Senior Court Management Consultant, National Center for State Courts


Danielle Young, MPA, is a Senior Court Management Consultant for the National Center for State Courts with over 25 years of justice system experience. In her current role, Ms. Young has worked on several behavioral health projects, including community mapping (Sequential Intercept Mapping and Upstream Mapping) and Assisted Outpatient Treatment/Mandated Outpatient Treatment/competency dockets. She has also presented on various topics including probation best practices, emerging adults, case planning, effective interviewing, and various treatment court topics at national, state and local conferences and workshops. Prior to working with the NCSC, Ms. Young was the Program Manager in the Probation Services Division with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC), where she worked for over 8 years. While at the AOIC, Ms. Young had the privilege of leading several state-wide initiatives including training all probation managers and officers in Core Correctional Practices, adult risk assessments and juvenile risk assessments. Ms. Young also assisted in the development and implementation of statewide problem-solving court standards as well as certification of many treatment courts throughout Illinois. Prior to the AOIC, she was a Probation Officer in McHenry County and Fulton County, working with adults, juveniles, mental health court and specialized drug offenders. Ms. Young graduated from Arkansas State University with a Master’s in Public Administration and received a BA in Political Science from Western Illinois University.