It’s a Whole New Ball Game: Motivational Interviewing Training that Works for Criminal Justice Professionals

SESSION INFO

Tuesday, August 30, 2022
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Session Type: Workshop

What if staff are not motivated to learn motivational interviewing?  This session will review Ohio Parole’s innovative Motivational Interviewing training track.  This workshop will review how to increase Officer competency through skill building exercises, which approximate batting practices.  The training events have three trainers with district roles: 1. Lead Trainer, who communicates microbursts of material, 2. Coach, who works with participants to build skills providing real time feedback and 3. Justice Involved Individual, a trainer who plays the role of a client and provides the client perspective. Ohio Parole/Probation Officers who have successfully completed these events have described it as an engaging and energetic training in a comfortable atmosphere loaded with opportunities to participate. Officers are energized with a new perspective on behavior change. This workshop is recommended for policy makers, supervisors and trainers who want to create or improve on current Motivational Interviewing trainings for Criminal Justice professionals.

SESSION PRESENTERS

Kyle Billingsley
Parole Program Specialist, OH Department of Rehabilitation and Correction


Kyle Billingsley is a Parole Program Specialist for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections who currently writes and coordinates grants. Grant projects include involving incorporating innovative solutions and evidence practice into community corrections. He is in his twenty-fifth year with the department, of which the first twenty years, a parole officer. His trainers’ certifications include Ohio Risk Assessment, Decision Points, Core Correctional Practices, Inside Out Dad’s, and Motivational Interviewing. He was instrumental in the development of updated Evidence Practice trainings and applications to be delivered virtually as well as the Department’s Motivational Interviewing Training Track. Kyle obtained a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science from Youngstown State University. He is also a Head Coach for a High School Track and Field program that he developed from the ground up.


R. Jason Nespeca
Parole Regional Supervisor, OH Department of Rehabilitation and Correction


R. Jason Nespeca is a Parole Services Supervisor for the Adult Parole Authority, he currently supervises a Parole unit that serves both Mahoning and Columbiana Counties. He joined the agency as a Parole Officer in 2004, and then became a Parole Services Supervisor in 2012. Previously he worked as a Case Manager and Probation Officer with the Community Corrections Association from 2002 till 2004. He has participated in MI training since 2011. He received his B.A in Applied Science from Youngstown State University in 2001.


Joseph Suciu
Parole Program Specialist, OH Department of Rehabilitation and Correction


Joseph Suciu is a Parole Program Specialist for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections who currently coordinates grant projects. He was instrumental in development of updated Evidence Practice trainings and applications. He was recognized as the Division of Parole and Community Services Employee of the Year for 2020 and Cleveland Region’s Parole Officer of the Year for 2010. With over 26 years of Community Corrections experience, his previous positions include Parole Officer, Jail Coordinator, Program Administrator, Case worker and Cognitive Skills Specialist. Currently, he coordinates grant projects involving the incorporation innovative solutions and evidence practice into community corrections practices. He has trained extensively on evidence-based practices. His trainer certifications include Ohio Risk Assessment Systems, Level of Service Inventory, Thinking for a Change Facilitator, Decision Points Facilitator, Core Correctional Practices and Motivational Interviewing. He obtained a Master of Science from the University of Cincinnati in Criminal Justice.