Successes and Setbacks of Implementing Evidence-Informed Programs Statewide

SESSION INFO

Monday, February 6, 2023
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Session Type: Workshop

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the successes and setbacks of implementing evidence-based practices across an entire state. We discuss the hurdles of establishing common outcomes, shared definitions and defining risk factors, in order to build a system that examines the effectiveness of juvenile justice programs in the state of Nebraska. We will address the pros and cons of conducting program evaluations on a macro scale, including defining and measuring contact with the legal system and aligning it to cases entered into the Nebraska Juvenile Case Management System (NJCMS). Presenters will identify the challenges of implementing an evidence-informed platform and evaluation system across an entire state. Further, after discussing the implementation process, panel members will present relevant findings by program type.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Julie Garman
Research Associate , University of Nebraska - Omaha


Dr. Julie Garman earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha. Her research interests include special populations and program and policy evaluations, primarily in the areas of juvenile justice and correctional treatment. Julie is passionate about examining the effectiveness of policies and programs in the criminal justice system and how these impact the lives of individuals. As a Research Associate for JJI, Julie works primarily on the Evidence-Based Nebraska project, collecting and analyzing data on the effectiveness of various programs for youth throughout Nebraska.


Dr. Anne Hobbs
Director,


Dr. Anne Hobbs is a licensed attorney, special appointment faculty, and the Director of the Juvenile Justice Institute at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is passionate about translating research into practice, and thereby improving services for youth. Dr. Hobbs has extensive experience evaluating and training on a variety of Nebraska projects ranging from diversion to mentoring. She led the design and implementation of the Evidence-based Nebraska project which evaluates over 200 community-based programs annually. She often gets her inspiration from international partners. She has volunteer in Haiti, taught criminal justice in China, presented at the international youth dialogue in Malaysia, and serves on the Lutheran Community Care Services Board based in Singapore. In 2022, she was awarded a Fulbright to study reentry in Singapore. Dr. Hobb’s research interests include restorative practice, inequality in access to justice, translating research into practice, juvenile re-entry after incarceration, and mentoring youth who have been involved in juvenile justice system.


Monica Miles-Steffens
Juvenile Justice Coordinator, Nebraska State Probation


Monica Miles-Steffens, MPA, has over 25 years of experience in juvenile justice, policy, training, and leadership development. She has experience working in both government and non-profit sectors. In her role as the Juvenile Justice Coordinator at the Juvenile Justice Institute (JJI) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she leads the training and technical assistance activities of the institute, including the juvenile justice certificate program, Evidence-based Nebraska project training, and JJI’s role on a technical assistance team to the Eastern Caribbean. Monica has a passion for restorative practices and is a trained mediator and restorative conferencing facilitator.