Resources to Support Transformational Practices in Juvenile Justice Aligned with APPA’s, "10 Core Principles of Juvenile Probation"

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David Decher is a seasoned data analyst and visualization expert, currently serving as the lead Consulting Analyst at Sequoia Analytics LLC as well as a consulting analyst for Just Solve Inc. With a deep-seated commitment to justice and mental health reforms, David has spearheaded pivotal projects such as the Data Driven Recovery Project and state-wide digital therapeutics initiatives for youth. His tenure at Just Solve Inc. further showcases his adeptness, acting as an administrator for the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Pro-DATA database system and contributing to national justice reform efforts through incisive data analysis and survey research. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BA in Global and International Studies and a minor in Spanish, David harnesses his academic background and multifaceted skills to foster inclusive communication and drive impactful change. Known for balancing professionalism with empathy, he excels in environments with shifting priorities, ensuring team success and client satisfaction while advocating for fair and just practices.

American Probation and Parole Association, Lexington, KY Program Associate 2016-present • Conducted on-site training sessions for 9 APPA professional development institutes while also conducting meetings with grant partners • Coordinated with APPA partners and provided logistical support for creation of webinar content at onset of online training institute. Collected community feedback for adaption of subsequent online training programs. • Scheduled and coordinated recordings of virtual training workshops for 3 virtual institutes. • Conducted outreach to qualified trainers to present at APPA institutes • Developed written products (e.g., reports, articles, briefs, research memos, presentations, etc.) for both grants and membership services departments • Obtained new funding opportunities through positive working relationships with government and private agencies, creation of grant proposals and execution of deliverables • Prepared and monitored timelines, budgets, progress reports, and deliverables to ensure that responsibilities to funders are met in assigned project areas • Maintains training record for programs such as Impaired Driver Assessment, Tribal Law and Order Act, and the Tribal Intergovernmental Reentry Workshops.

Scott MacDonald is the president of Justsolve and consults in the areas of juvenile and criminal justice reform. He is a retired Chief Probation Officer from Santa Cruz County, California and has 40 years of experience in adult and juvenile probation. He works closely with the Annie E. Casey Foundation in the implementation of juvenile justice reforms to transform probation and reduce incarceration and out of home placement. Scott holds a Master of Science Degree in Administration of Justice from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz. He has lectured nationally and has taught at San Jose State University and the University of California at Santa Cruz in juvenile and criminal justice reform.

Opal West is a senior associate with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. As part of the Foundation’s Juvenile Justice Strategy Group, her work focuses on youth probation, the disposition most often imposed on young people who enter our nation’s juvenile justice system. West is helping to transform youth probation nationally into a focused intervention that promotes personal growth and long-term success for youth who pose significant risks for serious offending. Also, she guides juvenile justice agencies to treat families as partners. West began her career as a juvenile probation and parole officer in Louisiana. Working for state government there, she led efforts to improve conditions of confinement in detention centers across the state. She also led statewide expansion efforts for the JDAI® approach to building a better and more equitable youth justice system and was appointed to serve on a task force to develop standards of care for state-run secure facilities and local detention centers. West is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.