Kentucky Juvenile Justice Reform Evaluation – Findings and Implications for the Field

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Rachel Bingham serves as the Executive Officer of the Department of Family & Juvenile Services for the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). Ms. Bingham holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration. Ms. Bingham oversees and supports the Citizen Foster Care Review Boards (CFCRBs) to expedite the permanent placement of Kentucky’s abused and neglected children. She also administers programs which provide technical assistance, training, and support services to judges, court personnel, attorneys, social workers and community partners regarding family law and juvenile justice initiatives. In addition, Ms. Bingham oversees the Court Designated Worker Program (CDW). CDWs are responsible for placing children in alternative placements prior to arraignment, conducting preliminary investigations, and formulating, entering into, and supervising diversion agreements and performing such other functions as authorized by law or court order. She manages the Truancy Diversion program to address truancy issues. In closing, Ms. Bingham’s primary role is to continually enhance and develop court-community partnerships to improve the lives of the commonwealth’s children and families.

Megan Foster is a Program Analyst with the American Probation and Parole Association. In this role, she manages and works on a variety of APPA’s grant-funded projects. These projects range from training and technical assistance to research and evaluation of community supervision programs. Her projects have included workforce and workload issues, tribal issues, victims’ issues in community supervision, justice reform and implementation of evidence-based practices. Prior to coming to APPA, she worked as a direct practitioner and program manager in victims’ services and reentry programs. She has specialized experience working in reentry with women and families as well as training and implementation of trauma-informed practices and programs. Megan received her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Kathryn Kulbicki is a GIS Research Analyst at Westat with 15 years of experience in justice, health, child welfare, and human services research. Ms. Kulbicki has led numerous GIS projects within children health and safety including exploring transportation solutions, optimization of resources, and placement stability for children in foster care. Ms. Kulbicki holds a Master of Arts in geography and a Master of Science Administration in regional planning and is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science at George Mason University (expected graduation date, 2019).

Kristi Meadows is a Research Analyst at Westat with 4 years of experience in public health research focusing on juvenile justice and health care delivery. Ms. Meadows has conducted evaluations of multiple projects using qualitative analyses including implementation of juvenile justice and sexual assault reform, health care delivery processes, and hospital employee perceptions of patient safety culture. Ms. Meadows holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science with a focus on community health and health education and is currently a Master of Public Health Candidate at University of Maryland College Park focusing on burden and burnout of employees working within the sexual assault field during major reform (expected graduation date, 2019).