Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Reflects On Leadership Academy
The Executive Leadership Team from Maricopa County Juvenile Probation recently participated in ACJI’s Fall 2024 Implementation Leadership Academy. The team put together the below article and testimonials to share internally and have generously allowed us to share their insights with the ACJI audience as well.
Positioning Ourselves and Our Organization for Change
By Deputy Chief Celena Angstead
As juvenile justice professionals, we must constantly be learning, growing, and adapting. It’s like being a probation officer and having your caseload change dramatically every few months, requiring you to constantly adjust your approach. Does that sound familiar or resonate with you? The challenge is to embrace the ever-changing landscape and develop the skills to thrive in this dynamic environment. This is particularly true in our work, where implementing new initiatives can be challenging.
Change is often met with resistance because individuals within organizations often resist change. This is understandable and expected as we are all creatures of habit. From the perspective of many, just when you think you’ve mastered your area of work, the rules change. It’s like the justice system is a never-ending game of “what’s the new soup du jour?” – always evolving, always adapting. This is why the ability to navigate change effectively is crucial for leaders today.
Recognizing this, the Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Executive Leadership Team recently participated in ACJI’s Fall 2024 Implementation Leadership Academy cohort, gaining valuable insights and practical skills to enhance our capacity for successful implementation, particularly in effectively communicating the rationale for change and engaging the team in the process.
The ACJI Implementation Leadership Academy is an eight-week virtual training program that equips leaders with the knowledge and tools to successfully navigate the change process. Drawing upon the principles of implementation science, the Academy provides a structured approach to overcome obstacles, address potential barriers, and ultimately achieve sustainable and equitable outcomes.
Through a blend of interactive learning, including live sessions, group discussions, and personalized coaching, participants develop the skills to identify and address both technical and adaptive challenges, including effectively communicating the need for change and mitigating resistance. Below, division directors share their personal experiences in this journey, providing valuable insights into how the ACJI Academy has equipped them with the tools and strategies to lead successful change within our organization.
Photographed from left to right: DSB Director Jaime Sandoval, DSB Director Aundrea Newman, CSB Director Vanessa Roberts, CSB Director Jennifer Kennedy, CSB Director Karna Tommeraasen, CSB Director Charlsie Cordova, & CSB Director Marina Lantsman-Waugh
DSB Director Aundrea Newman
“Attending the Implementation Leadership Academy alongside my fellow Directors and Executive Leadership was a wonderful teambuilding opportunity. The trainings and weekly assignments were insightful.
The journal prompts that were included in the assignments allowed me to really dig in and be honest about my past and current experiences as a leader and staff member in this organization, as well as made me think about how I would like to lead moving forward. In our weekly sessions, we were able to network and exchange ideas and information with other justice professionals from across the nation.
I realized that we are not alone in some of our struggles and challenges. I also gained sound advice and examples of how they addressed the challenges they faced or the positive programs they implemented in their organizations. The 2 Principles that stood out to me the most, were Principle #3: Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable and Principle # 9: Take the Leap. The reason these stood out to me is because we have to be uncomfortable if we want to grow. If we want to advance and continue to be change agents in the lives of young people and the juvenile justice system, we can’t be afraid to try new innovative things.”
CSB Director, Vanessa Roberts
“I am new Division Director at MCJPD and new to the department from another agency. This Implementation Leadership Academy helped guide my #1 goal, which is to gain trust from a new agency and team of supervisors.
The journal entries were very insightful and helped me identify many thinking traps that could be altering my ability to lead effectively. I enjoyed this part of the academy the most. The confidential feedback was instrumental in this. The Academy helped me identify areas of focus as a leader in this organization.
I hope to use the skillsets learned and connect the work we did for eight weeks in real-time at MCJPD to work on improving MCJPD’s culture, promote healthy change, build a trustworthy team of supervisors, be collaborative in decision-making, and continue to interpret and set forth quality assurance practices.”
CSB Director, Jennifer Kennedy
“I am grateful for the opportunity to have participated in the 8-week implementation leadership class. It was valuable to take this training as a team alongside the other executive leaders in our department. This allowed us to learn together and engage in thoughtful discussions.
Given the frequent implementation of new initiatives within our department, it is crucial that we apply the skills we’ve acquired to ensure sustainable practices and effective procedures. As we move forward, I am hopeful that our leadership will effectively implement these tools, enabling us to create a strong foundation for success.
I believe that with a focus on clear communication, stakeholder engagement, and continued collaboration, we will be able to foster growth, improve processes, and successfully implement new strategies. As always, I look forward to working together to drive meaningful change and achieve positive outcomes for all.”
CSB Director, Karna Tommeraasen
“My 8-week experience in the Alliance for Community and Justice Innovation’s Implementation Leadership Academy provided me with a unique opportunity to reflect on and reevaluate the strategies we use to drive change within justice organizations.
Through engaging with peers from our own department, across the country, and other countries, I gained valuable insights into the challenges and successes other leaders face in similar roles.
This collaborative environment allowed me to explore effective change management strategies, while also recognizing the barriers that often impede progress. Over the course of the program, we examined real-world examples of successful initiatives, and the obstacles leadership teams encounter when implementing change. The weekly journaling exercises encouraged self-reflection, allowing me to consider both the successes and struggles I’ve experienced as a leader.
Some key insights I gained through this process include:
- Empowering Every Team Member: One of my biggest takeaways is the importance of encouraging leadership at all levels within our organization. Regardless of job titles or roles, every member of the team has the potential to influence positive change. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to ensure that change is implemented with our staff, not to them.
- Communicating the “Why”: I also learned that when implementing change, it is essential to clearly communicate the rationale behind it. When everyone understands the “why,” they are more likely to be invested and aligned with the change process. Without this understanding, navigating through transitions can become much more challenging.
- Failing Forward: A powerful insight I gained was the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. “Failing forward” means using setbacks as stepping stones, identifying lessons from challenges we face (individually or as an agency), and applying those lessons to future initiatives. As leaders, we should be creating a culture where failure is not feared but viewed as an important part of growth and innovation. This mindset shift helps foster resilience and continuous improvement, both for us and our teams.
This experience was incredibly valuable, as it allowed me to step back and reflect on my own leadership practices. It helped identify areas where I can improve and better support my team through the constant changes we face.”
Join Justice Leaders In The Next ACJI Academy
ACJI holds a public Implementation Leadership Academy three times a year, in the winter, summer, and fall. Join us for the next 8-week virtual program to gain an understanding of implementation science and how your organization can build capacity to create lasting change.
