Moving from Competencies to Mindsets: Building Your Bench with Intention
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SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 29, 2023
3:15 PM - 4:15 PM
Session Type: Workshop
If you were to google ‘hire the right people’ you would get more than 455,000,000 results in under one minute. We all know how important it is to select people who are good at their jobs, engaged in their work, and a good fit for our cultures. But getting it right often feels more like magic than science. For decades we have focused on educational backgrounds, skills, competencies and, if we are being frank, seniority, as drivers of staff selection for new hires, promotional opportunities and alike. Yet most organizations are struggling with staggering vacancy and turnover rates. The bottom line is, hiring for mindset is far more effective for your organization and your culture than hiring for anything else. In this session we will outline how the 2nd Judicial District in Iowa used an implementation science lens to get clear on the mindset qualities necessary for different roles within their agency and how it has impacted their staff selection process.

SESSION PRESENTERS
Ms. Allison Brookes
Director of Strategic Operations, The Alliance for Community & Justice Innovation


Allison Brookes has over 17 years of experience leading innovation and change in the criminal justice system. After working in community-based corrections for many years, Allison became a champion of implementation science in the state of Colorado by leading a large-scale, multi-agency effort to implement Motivational Interviewing across behavioral health centers, halfway houses, probation offices, parole offices and prisons statewide. Allison knows that the principles of implementation science offer game changing tools for leaders in justice agencies to achieve socially significant outcomes and is a strong believer in strategies that involve co-elevating system players. Leveraging her experience leading teams in a progressive pretrial service agency, Allison specializes in complex implementation environments that require tackling wicked, often historical, adaptive challenges that get in the way of implementing transformational change.

Joel McAnulty
District Director, 6th Judicial District Department of Corrections


Joel McAnulty has been the Assistant District Director for the Iowa Second Judicial District Department of Correctional Services for the past 10 years. He has worked in Community-based Corrections for 28 years having served as a Probation/Parole Officer, Probation/Parole Supervisor and Residential Manager. Joel has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Northern Iowa.

Amanda Milligan
, 6th Judicial District Department of Corrections


Amanda Milligan is the District Director for the Second Judicial District Department of Correctional Services in Iowa for the past 10 years. She has worked in adult community based corrections for 18 years. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, Master of Science degree in Psychology, and Master of Science Degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Iowa State University.

Dr. Alexandra Walker
Director of Community Relations and Strategy, The Alliance for Community & Justice Innovation


Dr. Alexandra Walker is the Director of Community Relations and Strategy for the Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation (ACJI). With more than 20 years of experience in the field of reentry and behavioral health, she offers a diverse background in evidence-based practices, training, program development, implementation science, and treatment modalities. As a practitioner in the field, Alex worked on a myriad of federal, state, and local justice initiatives and research projects and most recently was the Vice Chair of the Colorado Parole Board. Alex brings a wealth of experience in both community based and institutional corrections and is well versed in the development, implementation, and measurement of implementation related and decision-making tools. and is committed to helping organizations reach fidelity to their highest impact practices and programs. At ACJI, Alex’s super power is dreaming big! She provides tools, strategies, research and evaluation supports for implementation efforts at the state and local level, coaches leaders on implementation and staff engagement efforts, and develops practices and resources for specialized populations with organizations across the country.