Anyone Can Excel (ACE): We Believe in You, and We Will Work with You to Find Your New Now

SESSION INFO

Monday, August 28, 2023
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Session Type: Workshop

The New York City Department of Probation (DOP) launched Anyone Can Excel (ACE) in January-2016 in all 5 boroughs, with the intent of being more responsive to the unique needs of Probation clients 27 years old and younger. DOP is mindful of the need to implement supervision practices that focus on addressing the unique needs of this age group. The principles and underpinnings of the ACE Model are grounded in research on adolescent brain development and Best Practices, all of which have shown a positive impact in improving outcomes for young adults. ACE supervision allows the Client’s voice to be heard and for the Client to build skills to advocate for their own autonomy and self-efficacy. This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of the one size fits one ACE approach, with tangible milestones built into the model.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Nancy Andiloro
Director of Research and Assessment, NYC Department of Probation


Nancy Andiloro, Ph.D. has over 13 years of research experience in criminal justice and criminology and is Director of Research & Assessment for DOP, designing and executing research projects to monitor and evaluate operational and policy initiatives. Dr. Andiloro earned her Ph.D. at the Graduate Center—CUNY, specializing in Quantitative Research Methods, she earned her M.Phil. in Educational Psychology there, her M.A. in general psychology from Queens College—CUNY and a B.S. in psychology from Wagner College.


Karen Armstrong
Assistant Commissioner, Queens Adult Operations, NYC Department of Probation


Karen Armstrong is currently the Assistant Commissioner of Queens County Adult Services at the New York City Department of Probation. Karen oversees the daily operation of 120 staff members who are responsible for the supervision of over 5,000 adult clients who have been sentenced to a term of Probation and reside in Queens, New York. Karen began working with the City of New York in 1988 as an Investigator with the Department of Investigations. In 1989, she accepted a position as a Probation Officer trainee with the Department of Probation and was assigned to work with adult clients in Brooklyn. Karen has held several positons in the agency and has worked in both the juvenile and adult divisions, and as an Executive Assistant to a borough Assistant Commissioner. Karen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business Administration from St. John’s University. She is an alumni of NYC’s prestigious Leadership Academy. Karen has received numerous awards for her work in the communities where our probation clients reside and in 2017 was awarded the Sloan Public Service Award for by the Fund of the City of New York.


Marcia Hernandez
Branch Chief, NYC Department of Probation


Marcia Hernandez is a Branch Chief of the ACE (Anyone Can Excel) Unit with the NYC Department of Probation. Prior to her work at Probation, she spent several years as a Substance Abuse Counselor. She received my bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice where she majored in Forensic Psychology with a specialization in Criminology. BC Hernandez went on to work at NY Center for Living, a substance abuse program for adolescents. Working with this population made her want to further pursue her career. She returned to John Jay College and obtained her master’s degree in criminal justice with a dual specialization in Correction Administration and the Use of Computer Applications in Criminal Justice. BC Hernandez then went on to work at Harlem East Life Plan as a Substance Abuse Counselor. She joined the NYC Department of Probation in 2016. This is where she found her passion. She currently works with adolescents and young adults. She has seen the importance of having dedication to helping those who are in need. Currently, she strives to continue to utilize innovative ways to help our youth make positive life changes towards a crime-free lifestyle.


Rodney Levy
Assistant Commissioner, Manhattan Adults Services, NYC Department of Probation


Rodney Levy holds an M.A. degree in Political Science (Public Policy and Administration) from Brooklyn College. He has over 30 years' experience working in the public sector. He began his career in public service in 1989 as a caseworker with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. He initially provided services to children placed in Kinship foster care settings and then led a team of caseworkers providing those services. Before he moved from that agency to the NYC Department of probation; he investigated reports of children and neglect as part of that agency’s centralized nighttime/weekend unit. He has risen through the ranks at the Department of Probation since 1996 and is presently Assistant Commissioner of Manhattan Adults Services. He is also a graduate of the NYC Leadership Institute.