TWO WAYS TO EXPERIENCE THIS HYBRID TRAINING INSTITUTE!
APPA’s training institute delivers a comprehensive learning experience designed to support professionals across all levels of community supervision. Through a wide range of accredited workshops, focused intensive sessions, and both in-person and virtual options, attendees can tailor their experience to meet their professional development goals.
Ahead of the training institute’s opening, APPA offers intensive sessions, which are extended, four-hour trainings held on Sunday, August 16, 2026. These sessions provide participants with the opportunity to explore specific topics in greater depth and offer a more focused learning environment for those seeking to build skills and engage more deeply with key issues in the field.
What IN-PERSON attendees receive:
- Access to 80+ accredited workshops covering pretrial, probation, and parole practices
- Entry to featured plenary sessions with nationally recognized speakers
- A half-day of intensive sessions focused on specialized policies, programs, and practices
- Signature experiences, including the Community Corrections Chase (C3) and Women’s Symposium
- Structured networking opportunities designed to build lasting professional connections
- Optional tours and community service projects connected to the host city
- Full access to the Expo Hall, showcasing leading products, services, and solutions in community supervision
What VIRTUAL attendees receive:
To provide flexibility for attendees, all virtual event offerings will be available as pre-recorded sessions; live streaming options will not be offered.
- On-demand access to a curated selection of accredited workshop recordings
- Access to a virtual exhibitor area featuring products, services, and resources
- Opportunities to earn certification and continuing education credits
- Access to a bonus library of previously released webinars and workshop sessions
- Expanded digital learning including e-learning modules, micro-animated series, and masterclasses
Continuing Education Credits
APPA supports your continuing education needs!
Flexible Credit Opportunities
Whether attending in-person or virtually, participants can earn certificates of attendance, APPA Contact Hours, and continuing education credits to support your professional development.
- In-person attendees receive full access to both on-site sessions and virtual on-demand content, expanding opportunities to earn credits across multiple formats
- Virtual attendees can engage with pre-recorded and on-demand sessions, allowing for flexible participation while still earning continuing education credits
The American Probation and Parole Association is committed to supporting professional and personal growth through a wide range of educational offerings. Our training institutes feature workshops, symposiums, and other educational sessions designed to help individuals build customized learning paths. Most sessions have been approved for credit hours. Continuing education is available through APPA contact hours, as well as partnerships with the Ohio Chief Probation Officers Association and California’s Board of State and Community Corrections.
Join us this summer in Chicago for a comprehensive learning experience designed to support professionals across community supervision. Whether participating in person or virtually, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with field leaders, gain practical knowledge, and connect with peers working to advance community corrections.
*To register by Email, Mail, or Fax, download registration form. (Required for PO Payments)
MONDAY PLENARY
Monday, August 17 | 10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Iason Nachkebia
Dr. Ioan Durnescu
Julie Truschel
Iason Nachkebia is the Head of the Analytical Department at the National Agency for Crime Prevention, Execution of Non-Custodial Sentences and Probation under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. In his current role, Iason oversees the agency’s research and analytics, policy and capacity development, and international relations. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Expert Group on Technology at the Confederation of European Probation (CEP) and since 2025, a member of the International Relations Committee of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). Before joining the agency in 2021, Iason held managerial positions in the Strategic Communications Department of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia. He is a graduate of Tbilisi State University, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies, and the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
Dr. Ioan Durnescu is a professor at the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, where he engages in the teaching and research of probation, prison reform, and deradicalization. His academic interests are deeply rooted in the comparative study of probation systems, the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, and the development of effective interventions with justice-involved persons.
Julie Truschel, CEO/Founder of Supervision Around the World (SAW) Project leads the SAW Project , which connects and documents community supervision and restorative programs across continents. Her research highlights practical models of Compassionate Justice, bridging global innovation with frontline practice. She also chairs the International Relations Committee of the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA).
What Travels Well in Probation? Global Lessons, Practical Ideas & Transformative Practices
As community supervision agencies across the world navigate increasingly complex challenges, opportunities continue to emerge through global collaboration, shared learning, and the exchange of practical ideas across borders.
This APPA international plenary brings together probation and parole leaders from multiple countries for an engaging moderated conversation exploring the innovative practices, leadership philosophies, and day-to-day approaches shaping community supervision efforts around the globe. Moderated by Julie Truschel, CEO and Founder of the Supervision Around the World Project, the discussion will focus on practical lessons and transformative ideas that may “travel well” across agencies, cultures, and systems.
Through candid discussion and storytelling, panelists will explore topics such as officer wellness, staff development, rehabilitation initiatives, organizational culture, compassionate justice, morale-building, and the realities of supporting both professionals and justice-involved individuals in evolving correctional environments.
Designed to be interactive, practical, and thought-provoking, attendees will leave with fresh perspectives, actionable ideas, and a renewed appreciation for the shared mission connecting community supervision professionals worldwide.
APPA's 2026 Women's Symposium
Sustainable Leadership – Empowered Women, Balanced Lives, Stronger Communities
Monday, August 17 | 08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
The American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) invites female community corrections professionals to be part of an inspiring and empowering experience at the 5th Annual Women’s Symposium, a special one-day event to be held during the 51st Training Institute in Chicago, Illinois. Designed to bring together like-minded women in community corrections, this free, dynamic symposium will help participants visualize their full leadership potential; develop practical strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance; and assess their career paths while creating realistic plans for future personal and professional growth.
Space is limited to just 100 attendees, so mark your calendar to join a powerful network of career-driven women, engage in meaningful presentations, and gain valuable insights on expanding your professional network, strengthening communication skills so your voice is heard and respected, mapping out career mobility, and developing a personalized leadership action plan. Attend the symposium dressed in PURPLE (optional) because, as you know, purple is a symbol of wisdom, power, creativity, and spirituality. Come to the symposium to engage in introspection; leave reinvigorated, inspired, and equipped with strategies to pursue your goals and embrace the limitless possibilities ahead.
Pre-registration is required.
Special Session
Innovative Problem-Solving by Implementing the Standards
Learn More About National Standards
The National Standards for Community Supervision (Standards) were developed to provide a comprehensive resource for community supervision agencies, drawing upon the latest research in the field and the perspectives of both practitioners and researchers committed to evidence-based practices. This session offers an opportunity for officers and agency leaders to review and brainstorm supporting resources that supplement the Standards, including quick reference guides that highlight essential elements of each standard and the Putting the National Standards Into Action: An Organizational Framework for Effective Community Supervision resource for agency considerations when implementing the Standards. To ensure the Standards are accessible, this session will include facilitated discussion around how standards are currently reflected in participants’ agency policy and procedure and what changes are needed to better embed standards into practice. Specifically, this session asks participants to consider resources needed to implement the Standards; questions agencies should discuss to anticipate challenges to implementation; and practical considerations around timeline and outcomes the agency might expect to observe from changes that are implemented. This session will forecast and solicit feedback about future in-person regional training and webinar opportunities designed to help agencies implement the Standards, as a step towards an accreditation process APPA plans to develop.
Learning Objectives:
● Develop a deeper understanding of each standard’s purpose and how to measure success.
● Understand how your agency’s current operations either in alignment with or departure from the Standards to identify areas of improvement.
● Brainstorm ways agency decision-makers and officers can implement each standard in a sustainable way.
● Outline implementation challenges and propose solutions that advance your agency’s consistent integration of the Standards into daily practice.
Speakers
Valerie Meade
Deputy Director, Crime and Justice Institute
Valerie Meade is a Deputy Director with the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI). Valerie brings nearly three decades of experience in the adult and youth justice field, with a robust background in both community and institutional settings. Her expertise encompasses cognitive-behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, case management, model fidelity, staff development and continuous quality improvement. In her role as Deputy Director at CJI, Valerie oversees initiatives aimed at assisting jurisdictions with the sustainable implementation of evidence-based practices. She supports staff and stakeholders through culture change to foster improved outcomes. Valerie is dedicated to enhancing the quality of justice system programs and practices through collaborative efforts that lead to improved public safety. Valerie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.
Caitlin Flood
Senior Policy Specialist, Crime and Justice Institute
Caitlin Flood has provided training and technical assistance to different jurisdictions working towards criminal justice reform through treatment courts and community supervision initiatives. Caitlin leads CJI’s community supervision and reentry work, assisting states with data-driven, evidence-based strategies to improve supervision outcomes. Caitlin is committed to improving the justice system through the use of data-driven approaches that reduce the reliance on incarceration, strengthen community supervision practices, and include diverse voices in planning and implementation work. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Government & Law and Philosophy from Lafayette College and her Juris Doctorate from New York University Law School.
Community Corrections Chase (C3)
Tuesday, August 18 | 1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Sponsored By:
APPA’s interactive learning experience, the Community Corrections Chase (C3), is back with another rewarding and competitive challenge for training institute attendees!
It is a take on the popular CBS show, The Amazing Race, where contestants “race” to win a cash prize. In our competition, community corrections/supervision professionals will team-up to “chase” knowledge about practices, theories, and policies that increase understanding of this industry, while learning about New York and its important role in the history of Community Corrections.
- Participants should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers.
- Registration for the training institute is required.
- To sign up, add Community Corrections Chase (C3) to your registration or contact Kimberly Mills at kimberly.mills@csg.org.
University of Cincinnati Corrections Institute Pop-up Sessions
UCCI’s mission is to research, develop, disseminate, and implement evidence-based practices in corrections.
Session One | Monday, August 17 | 11:50 AM – 12:10 PM
Belief in Change: What Our Everyday Actions Communicate
With Dr. Mindy Smith, Executive Director, and Jen Scott, Director of Innovation and Outreach, from UCCI
Big Idea
Everyday words and actions communicate a belief in the possibility of change.
Description
What do our interactions signal about people, power, and possibility? This pop-up invites correctional professionals to examine how everyday words and actions communicate belief—or doubt—in the capacity for change. Through shared real-world examples, we’ll explore how aligning mindset, organizational conditions, and evidence based practice can strengthen impact, support growth for staff and clients, and advance safer, more effective systems. A belief in change carries real power, and how we exercise it—especially in ordinary moments—shapes whether learning and change are possible.
Pre-work QR code/link
Agenda
– Share results of the survey
– Share a couple quick case studies
– Invite the group to share their case studies
Take away
A belief in change is a powerful tool, and aligning mindsets with this power can start to impact the work tomorrow.
Session Two | Tuesday, August 18 | 12:20 PM – 12:40 PM
From Belief to Practice: Creating Learning Environments Where EBPs Work
With Dr. Mindy Smith, Executive Director, and Jen Scott, Director of Innovation and Outreach, from UCCI
Big Idea
Evidence‑based practices only work when the environment supports learning, practice, feedback, and adjustment.
Description
Change is not just an individual act—it’s an environmental one. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) are often introduced as tools for staff to implement and clients to complete and/or comply with. When implementing EBPs, it can be easy to overlook conditions needed for people to learn, practice, and improve. Without these conditions, even the strongest tools will lose their impact. This popup invites professionals to reframe EBPs not as tools or techniques alone, but as practices that require bringing life through words and actions a belief that people can change. Together, we’ll explore how everyday environmental signals—such as consistency, psychological safety, feedback, and responses to mistakes—either support or undermine the use of evidence-based practices and change. Through real-world examples and brief reflection, the session highlights how belief in change must be embedded in the environment for EBPs to move beyond checklists and into meaningful practice. From here, we can begin to understand how learning conditions grounded in a belief in change make evidence-based practice possible, sustainable, and real.
Agenda
– Value in aligning mindset with belief that people can change
– EBP–Environment Bridge (psychological safety, consistency & predictability, feedback that teaches, response to mistakes)
– Activity: Same EBP, two environments
– Reflect on which environment encourages greater impact
Take away
The power of belief in change shapes meaningful learning environments required for evidence-based practices to work.
First Time Attendees Networking Event
Sunday, August 16 | 01:30 PM - 02:30 PM
New to APPA training institutes or APPA in general? You are in good company at the First-Time Attendees Networking Event. Connect with other first-time attendees, learn more about APPA, and engage in a relaxed environment. Light refreshments will be provided.
HEALTHY WALKING CHALLENGES
Monday, August 17 & Tuesday, August 18
Grab a friend and participate in the Healthy Walking Challenges during non-training institute hours on Monday and Tuesday in Chicago! Hit your stride – push yourself to reap the many health benefits of walking. Walking can help you maintain a healthy weight by burning calories and toning and strengthening muscles; increase cardiovascular and pulmonary (heart and lung) fitness; reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke; improve management of conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, and diabetes; and build stronger bones and improve balance.
Come on – embrace your fitness through walking – aim to walk a mile in 30 minutes!
30-Minute Mile Instructions
- Challenges will take place on:
- Monday, August 17th at 6:30 am
- Tuesday, August 18th at 6:30 am
- Tuesday, August 18th at 12:15 pm
- Fifteen minutes prior to start time, meet APPA’s Project Coordinator, Delores Johnson, at the Local Host Table to pick up the walking route instructions.
- Use your electronic device to monitor your distance and time.
- Within 45 minutes of the start time, return to the Local Host Table to verify your accomplishment and claim your achievement medal.
5TH Career and Resource Fair for Justice-Involved Individuals
Wednesday, August 19 | 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Co-Host
The American Probation and Parole Association and Honest Jobs are proud to host the Fifth Career & Resource Fair for Justice-Involved Individuals. Employers and community-based service providers are invited to participate in this impactful, no-cost event.
Sponsored By:
Employers - If your organization is open to hiring individuals with criminal records, you are invited to reserve a complimentary recruitment table at the fair. This event provides an opportunity to connect with motivated, job-ready candidates from across the Chicago area. Many of the justice-involved individuals attending are already participating in job training, mentoring, counseling, and workforce development programs, helping to reduce onboarding time and training costs. Research shows that individuals given a second chance often become highly committed, reliable, and productive employees. Hiring justice-involved individuals is not only a socially responsible decision, but also a strategic one that can strengthen employee retention, support community stability, and contribute to long-term organizational success. Access to meaningful employment is a critical factor in successful reentry, and these candidates bring valuable skills, determination, and resilience to the workforce.
Community-based Service Providers - APPA welcomes community-based organizations that provide supportive services—such as housing assistance, job training, substance use treatment, veteran services, education programs, and other reentry resources—to participate in this no-cost career and resource fair. This event offers an opportunity to connect directly with justice-involved individuals seeking services that support their successful reentry. Access to housing, healthcare, employment support, and workforce training plays a critical role in helping individuals achieve long-term stability. By participating, your organization can help connect individuals with the resources they need to rebuild their lives and move toward stable employment and greater opportunities.
If you are interested in connecting with pre-screened Chicago-area individuals currently on probation or parole who are prepared to work and rebuild their lives, this event is for you. To reserve your spot, please contact APPA’s Project Coordinator, Delores Johnson, at djohnson@csg.org.
Join us in creating opportunities that strengthen businesses, support successful reentry, and build safer, more resilient communities.
Cancellation Policy
- In-Person: A full refund, less a $50 processing fee, is available until June 1, 2026. No refunds will be issued after June 1, 2026. To receive a refund, written requests must be sent to the APPA training institute, in care of The Council of State Governments, 1776 Avenue of the States, Lexington, KY 40511, or by emailed to Kimberly Mills. All requests for refunds must be postmarked or emailed by June 1, 2026. Registrants with an outstanding balance as of this date are still responsible for payment in full. Registrants with any outstanding invoices or unpaid balances must remit full payment prior to check-in; failure to do so will result in denial of entry to the training institute. Substitutions may be made at no additional charge.
- Virtual: Due to the cost of the virtual training institute platform, no refunds will be issued.
- Exhibitors: For booths cancelled in writing by June 24, 2026, 50% of the full payment may be refunded. After June 24, 2026, no refunds will be issued, and previously paid amounts will not be applied to any future APPA exhibit shows or other marketing opportunities. Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing by email to: Darlene Webb, APPA's Director of Operations.
PREMIER PLATINUM SPONSOR
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS CHASE SPONSOR