1. Preferred Name, Title, and How Many Years You’ve Worked with CIYJ? Carol Ann Miller, Deputy Director Residential Placement Support, Oklahoma Juvenile Affairs. I am the current CIYC Agency Coordinator and have worked with CIYJ for 13 years.
2. What is the most rewarding aspect of my role? Positively shaping the future of juvenile justice-involved youth. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the efforts of staff and the agency come to realization. I hear my name called while I am out shopping in the community, and I turn to see one of the youth who were in our secure care treatment program at Central Oklahoma Juvenile Center (COJC). They share with me their success story of how far they have come since being at COJC and often thank me for giving them hope and a pathway for the future.
3. What do I consider to be CIYJs most impactful contributions to the youth justice space? It is hands down the fact that CIYJ brings us all together across multiple jurisdictions to gain knowledge of evidence-based best practices and share resources. We discuss what is working and what is not working, gain insight into meaningful analysis of our outcome measures and how those outcomes interact together on our facility improvement plans (FIP) to create consistent improvement in Juvenile Justice facilities and communities.
4. What was an impactful moment that CIYJ has achieved during my tenure with CIYJ? The moment Russ Jennings became our Performance-based Standards Coach. CIYJ provides coaches that are knowledgeable and assist in FIP development and monitoring for effectiveness. Coach Russ Jennings was exceptional, driven by an intense passion and years of experience. He shared his extraordinary knowledge with us with a fatherly method that drew us all closer to listen and reach out to him for advice consistently throughout the years. The changes he suggested through data analysis were implemented, and we started the pathway to being two-time Barbara Allen Hagen Award winners which has impacted staff, residents, and the agency as a whole to look to the future for successful pathways for Juvenile Justice involved youth.
5. Can you give a message to supporters, partners, and advocates as CIYJ celebrates their 20th anniversary. You’re not an island, we are all in the same boat. The data shows what is working and what needs to be changed. CIYJ and our coaches provide the blueprint. Reach out to share your knowledge and resources with others. As Coach Russ Jennings stated, “It’s one thing to turn the ship, now we have to steer the ship to sustain continuous improvement”.
6. What inspired me to pursue a career dedicated to youth justice? Giving back to others. I have been blessed to overcome adversity in my life through resiliency, hope, my faith and a pathway that has allowed me to give back to others. I want to share with our youth that their future can be brighter and better than their past and that they have the power to make it so.