2023 ACA Orlando Program Book_Winter Conference

Moderator: Vernise Robinson , Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Columbus, Ohio Speakers: Jennifer Sanders , OCSS School Superintendent, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Columbus, Ohio; Jennifer Urra , Deputy Director of Holistic Services, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Columbus, Ohio B-1C Implementation of a Young Adult Father’s Unit: The Future of Correctional Culture Crystal Ballroom C Track: Jails The workshop will cover a practical overview of Massachusetts DOC’s unique unit for 18-26 year-old incarcerated fathers employing innovative strategies and age appropriate approaches and building on existing initiatives. The focus will be on the development of this (BRAVE) unit, staff training, communications, physical environment, daily operations and more. Further focus will be on building a sense of community with staff, young incarcerated young fathers and older inmates who act as mentors. This will include the application of strength-based approaches, other innovative initiatives to create a successful model beneficial to participants, their children and families, the larger correctional culture and their returning communities. Learning Objectives: 1. Develop an understanding of training and communication strategies utilized in opening the BRAVE unit for staff working in the unit, administration in the facility and agency-wide as well as external stakeholders. 2. Learn methods applied for the successful implementation of a specialized unit targeting young adult incarcerated fathers, their children, families and others in the community, including lessons learned and what has “worked.” 3.Applying the research on positive youth development and Adolescent Brain Development to operational practices in prison (Sanders, J., & Munford, R. (2014).

Youth-centered practice: Positive youth development practices and pathways to better outcomes for vulnerable youth. Children and Youth Services Review, 46, 160–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. childyouth.2014.08.020); (Telzer, E. H., van Hoorn, J., Rogers, C. R., & Do, K. T. (2018). Social Influence on Positive Youth Development: A Developmental Neuroscience Perspective. Advances in child development and behavior, 54, 215–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/ bs.acdb.2017.10.003) Eaton, S., Cornwell, H., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C., & Fairchild, G. (2022). Resilience and young people’s brain structure, function and connectivity: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 132, 936–956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. neubiorev.2021.11.001); and (Sawyer, S. M., Azzopardi, P. S., Wickremarathne, D., & Patton, G. C. (2018). The age of adolescence. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(3), 223–228. https:// doi.org/10.1016/s2352-4642(18)30022-1). Moderator: Rhiana Kohl , Ph.D., Executive Director, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Milford, Massachusetts Speakers: Kyle Pelletier , Special Projects Director, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Milford, Massachusetts; Meghan Winston , BRAVE Unit Manager, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Concord, Massachusetts

WORKSHOPS

Sunday, Jan. 29 ▼ 8–9:30 a.m.

ACA 2023 Winter Conference | Orlando — 79