- Preferred Name, Title, and How Many Years You’ve Worked with CIYJ? Dan Schaub, Community and Parole Administrator for DCYF/JR. DCYF/JR has been working with Performance-based Standards now CIYJ since 2005 in our secure facilities. I started working with CIYJ in April of 2022 when DCYF/JR began doing Community Residential. This year we are also implementing Community Supervision with the October 2024 data collection. We will then be utilizing Performance-based Standards across our entire continuum.
- What is the most challenging aspect of your role? What aspect is the most rewarding? One of the most challenging aspects of my role is the amount of staff turnover that occurs with the facility Performance-based Standards leads. This requires quite a bit of training and orientation and being available to answer questions. The benefit of this is it helps me to become more of an expert in Performance-based Standards so my knowledge continues to grow and strengthen. In addition, one of the things I find most rewarding is the excitement and enthusiasm I see in new staff when they learn how Performance-based Standards works and see the benefits of the data collection process and how we can use the Performance-based Standards process to improve the work we do.
- Looking back over the past two decades, what do you consider to be CIYJ’s most impactful contributions to the youth justice space? The CIYJ principle of treating the young people we work with as if they are one of our own I think is one of the most impactful contributions. The opportunity to be able to evaluate yourself and how you are doing in comparison to National Standards and other similar programs is extremely valuable. Working to improve how we best serve the young people we work with using best practices across the country is very impactful. Also, the ability to learn from other states and programs either during the Annual Agency Coordinators Conference or at any time is extremely helpful. On an individual basis, I think the awards and scholarships provided by CIYJ has greatly impacted young person’s lives.
- Can you share a particularly poignant success story, milestone, or impactful moment that CIYJ has achieved during your tenure with us? Besides the great information provided through the data collection process, I feel the awards provided by CIYJ for young people, Kids Got Talent, Reentry Scholarships, Employment Matching, etc. have had a significant impact. Each year young people in our care are excited to demonstrate their talents and compete to win the Kids Got Talent contest. It gives them hope and a chance to have fun and feel good about themselves. Washington state has had many winners over the years and this has allowed young people to attend the Annual Conference to show off their talents. The scholarships are also very helpful to assist young people in their rehabilitation and reentry journey.
- What message would you like to convey to our supporters, partners, and advocates as CIYJ celebrates this significant anniversary? The Performance-based Standards process is an extremely valuable tool/process for continuing quality improvement. I would also like to comment the staff at CIYJ, namely Kim, Patricia, Brendan, Nahom, Kapiolani and all the coaches, especially Akin and Janice who I have worked most closely with. (I know there are others but can’t name everyone) They are a dedicated and enthusiastic team. They are extremely responsive and helpful, providing motivation and guidance. Keep up the good work.
- What inspired you to pursue a career dedicated to youth justice? I actually stated my career in juvenile justice as a second job as an on-call staff. I quickly realized that I really enjoyed the work and believed I could make a difference if I made this work a full-time career. Looking back after 34 years, I am glad I made the decision to work with young people and hopefully make a difference in their lives.