“Harnessing The Power of Collaboration:” Alliance for the Advancement of Education in Juvenile Justice and Adult Corrections Susan McKee Susan McKee President & CEO President & CEO Pace Learning Systems Pace Learning Systems Dorothy (Dottie) Wodraska Dorothy (Dottie) Wodraska Correctional Education Specialist/ Director of Federal Education Grant Programs Arizona Supreme Court Arizona Supreme Court

Presentation Outline Brief History: The Journey Thus FarBrief History: The Journey Thus Far Alliance DefinedAlliance Defined Collaboration Is KeyCollaboration Is Key Planning for SuccessPlanning for Success Progress To DateProgress To Date Keep The Momentum : Call To ActionKeep The Momentum : Call To Action

What’s In It For Me (Us)? Gain knowledge about the effort to advance education in juvenile justice and adult correctionsGain knowledge about the effort to advance education in juvenile justice and adult corrections Participate in the exciting journey to help build the alliance through shared expertise and experienceParticipate in the exciting journey to help build the alliance through shared expertise and experience Enjoy the personal and organizational rewards of participating in building a unified voice to strengthen and benefit correctional educationEnjoy the personal and organizational rewards of participating in building a unified voice to strengthen and benefit correctional education

COLLABORATION Coming together is a beginning: keeping together is progress; working together is success. Henry Ford, American IndustrialistComing together is a beginning: keeping together is progress; working together is success. Henry Ford, American Industrialist People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, U.S. PresidentPeople acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, U.S. President

The Journey Thus Far 2005: Florida State University Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research was awarded funding by Congress through OJJDP to establish the Juvenile Justice No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Collaboration Project. Funding was extended for this national effort to improve education for incarcerated youth in 2006 and October 2006: Project staff participated in meetings with members of the Correctional Education Association, (CEA) Arizona Correctional Educators, Inc.(ACE), the National Partnership for Juvenile Services and NDTAC to discuss collaborative strategies.

The Journey Thus Far October 2006 – 2008: A series of presentations were made at various conferences and venues as well as meetings to continue to explore collaborative strategies. April 2008: A Correctional Education Strategic Planning Taskforce met in Tampa, Florida in conjunction with the 2008 National Conference on Juvenile Justice Education and NCLB to develop a strategic plan for a national alliance for juvenile justice and adult correctional education. Fall 2008: A press release is issued announcing the establishment of the National Data Clearinghouse at FSU and the development of the Alliance for Juvenile Justice and Adult Correctional Education led by FSU and CEA.

ALLIANCE DEFINED An alliance is defined as a union, relationship or connection formed to advance common interests or causes. American Heritage Dictionary, College Edition

COLLABORATION IS KEY Why Collaborate?Why Collaborate? –Build a unified voice to strengthen advocacy efforts –Eliminate fragmentation and duplication –Increase resources and leverage scarce resources wisely –Improve effectiveness of educational programming –Build capacity for juvenile justice and adult correctional education

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Mission: The Alliance for the Advancement of Education in Juvenile Justice and Adult Corrections will provide leadership, direction and research driven services to advance proven and effective education programming for incarcerated juveniles and adults across the nation.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS 3 Strategic Initiatives: –To prepare juvenile justice and adult correctional students for successful reentry into society by equipping them with academic, career/technical and personal/social skills. –To support juvenile justice educators and adult correctional educators by providing research driven educational programs with opportunities for leadership, networking, publication, professional development and personal growth. –To increase citizen awareness and legislative support for juvenile justice education and adult correctional education through research driven public relations and legislative advocacy.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Five Goals Goal 1:Build Alliances Objectives: –Identify juvenile justice education and adult correctional education agencies –Outreach to invite agencies to join alliance –Develop a plan for collaboration to advance education for students in juvenile justice programs and adult corrections.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Goal 2: Collect, analyze, and report data on the relationship between juvenile justice and adult correctional education and successful community reentry. Objectives: –Develop data clearinghouse for juvenile justice and adult correctional education –Facilitate access to the data clearinghouse for juvenile justice and adult correctional education professionals –Publish an annual report on the state of juvenile justice and adult correctional education

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Goal 3:Codify juvenile justice and adult correctional education program standards towards identifying a uniform model Objectives: –Identify, review and assess existing standards for juvenile justice education –Identify, review and assess existing standards for adult correctional education –Determine the most effective evidence-based education program standards with continuous review and development protocols

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Goal 4: Increase professional development opportunities for juvenile justice and adult correctional educators Objectives: –Offer specialized in-service training on selected topics –Provide participation opportunities at national meetings for juvenile justice and adult correctional educators –Facilitate opportunities for publication by juvenile justice and adult correctional educators –Provide various electronic and print mechanisms for networking and information exchange –Promote and develop continuing education opportunities

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS Goal 5: Promote citizen awareness and legislative support for juvenile justice and adult correctional education Objectives: –Establish a baseline measure of the level of public and legislative awareness –Develop a public and legislative awareness plan based on baseline findings –Utilize the existing media network to implement the plan –Conduct an annual assessment of changes in the level of public and legislative awareness –Develop and implement a policy plan focused on advancing juvenile justice and adult correctional ed

Progress To Date Alliance partners collaborating to support each others efforts through presentations and information sharingAlliance partners collaborating to support each others efforts through presentations and information sharing FSU established a National Data Clearinghouse for Juvenile Justice and Adult Correctional EducationFSU established a National Data Clearinghouse for Juvenile Justice and Adult Correctional Education National press release regarding Alliance and Data Clearinghouse released in October 2008National press release regarding Alliance and Data Clearinghouse released in October 2008 Website links developed for Clearinghouse and AllianceWebsite links developed for Clearinghouse and Alliance Dr. Tom Blomberg invited to testify before a joint hearing of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and the Crime Subcommittee in D.C. on March 12, 2009Dr. Tom Blomberg invited to testify before a joint hearing of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee and the Crime Subcommittee in D.C. on March 12, 2009 Ongoing meetings and conference calls facilitated by CEA for continuing development of the AllianceOngoing meetings and conference calls facilitated by CEA for continuing development of the Alliance

KEEP THE MOMENTUM: CALL TO ACTION What are some next steps?What are some next steps? What additional concerns and issues need to be addressed in the Alliance strategic plan?What additional concerns and issues need to be addressed in the Alliance strategic plan? Are there other organization/agency partners that you think need to be invited to participate in the Alliance?Are there other organization/agency partners that you think need to be invited to participate in the Alliance? How can you help to develop the Alliance?How can you help to develop the Alliance? How can the Alliance support your work?How can the Alliance support your work?

THE POWER OF COLLABORATION “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people (working together toward a common goal) can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people (working together toward a common goal) can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead Margaret Mead

CONTACT INFORMATION Dorothy (Dottie) Wodraska Correctional Education Specialist/ Director of Federal Education Grants Programs Arizona Supreme Court Administrative Office of the Courts Juvenile Justice Services Division 1501 West Washington, Suite 337 Phoenix, AZ Phone: (602) Fax: (602) Web: sd/correctional-ed Susan P. McKee, Ph.D. President and CEO Pace Learning Systems 3710 Resource Dr. Tuscaloosa, AL Phone: (800) Fax: (205) Web: