Creating, Supporting and Managing Positive Growth Opportunities for Justice Involved Youth through Relatable Technology

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Session Type: Workshop

Maricopa County Juvenile Probation has partnered with the Arizona State University Center for Games and Impact, to advance meaningful opportunities of learning and growth through an innovative mobile platform (Journey.do). Participants will learn how the department uses the growth platform with justice involved youth to give youth a voice, build protective factors, support case management, and promote recidivism reduction. This work is aligned with the national movement focused on positive youth development and outcomes. Youth learning activities in the platform take a re-occurring Connect-Grow-Apply-Inspire cycle used to target dynamic criminogenic factors such as impulse control; substance use; anti-social peers; family relationships and more. The growth process supports the importance of creating social relevance through peer stories, and targeted content and learning challenges with controlled and positive reinforcement. Operating within a mobile platform, Journey.do can be used by youth and staff in a secure care setting as well as the field.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Christina Badilla
Project and Implementation Specialist, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation


Christina Badilla is a graduate of Arizona State University. She holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Justice Studies, with additional minors and certificates in the fields of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Socio-Legal Studies, and Economic Justice. Early into her college career she dedicated her research into the development of programs to reduce the impact of risk factors in the lives of youth to increase school success levels. She has interned with the City of Tempe as a Youth Specialist in 2019, as well as the Arizona Education Association as a Public Policy Intern in 2020. Today, Christina works as a Project Specialist for Maricopa County Juvenile Probation and assists in the development and implementation of projects for the department.


Sasha Barab
CEO, Lifelab Studios

Laura Eller
Innovations and Communication Manager, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation


Laura Eller is a graduate of Arizona State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Laura began her Career in the justice field in 2001 as a Juvenile Detention Officer. In 2007 she went on to become an Adult Probation Officer where her passion for reentry and recidivism reduction efforts grew. In 2011, Laura took on a pilot project with Maricopa County Human Services providing intensive case management and wrap around services to detained youth and adults preparing for reentry. In this role, Laura learned the value of building protective factors and the direct impact they have on individual success. Laura is now the Innovations and Communication Manager for Maricopa County Juvenile Probation and oversees the implementation and rollout of special programs for justice involved youth.


Alejandro Lopez
Juvenile Detention Officer, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation


Alex Lopez started his career in the criminal justice field in 2013 as a Juvenile Detention Officer with Maricopa County. In 2015, he went on to become a Programming Officer designing and implementing various programs for youth in a detain setting. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Visual Arts from the University of Texas. Currently, he oversees the Journey.do platform and other special projects for the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department.


Mrs. Cipriana Elena Rosales
Senior Project Lead, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation


Cipriana Rosales became involved with juvenile justice in 2007 working for Los Angeles County Juvenile Probation as a Detention Officer for the Detention Services Bureau and Residential Treatment Services Bureau. In 2014, after relocating to Arizona, she began working for Maricopa County Juvenile Probation. She has held several rolls in the department including Detention Officer, Surveillance Officer, Evening Reporting Center Liaison, and Project Implementation Specialist for detention alternatives. Cipriana received SO of the year in 2017. Cipriana is currently a Senior Project Lead for Maricopa County Juvenile Probation and brings her experience and passion to all department youth, families, and peers.