Events

Overview & Conference Presentations

The 2016 National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth (NDTAC) National Conference—“Moving the Needle”— brought together State Title I, Part D coordinators; experts in the field; U.S. Department of Education (ED) and NDTAC staff to explore Federal and State topics related to effective program administration and implementation and other issues that impact education for youth who are neglected, delinquent, or at-risk. Conference sessions also discussed the value of revising or modifying State Part D plans as well as engaging in annual goal setting.

Access select conference presentations, handouts, and activities by clicking on the sessions below:

Pre-Conference Workshop: Addressing Administrative Challenges
 

In this preconference workshop, NDTAC reviewed coordinators’ responsibilities in three administrative areas: (1) planning and funding, (2) monitoring and compliance, and (3) reporting and evaluation. Participants discussed common issues and challenges that occur in these areas, such as facility closures, State agency and local education agency fiscal and monitoring oversight, and missing or poor CSPR data.

 

Presenters

  • Liann Seiter, NDTAC State Liaison
  • Katie Deal, NDTAC State Liaison
  • Rob Mayo, NDTAC State Liaison
  • Jake Sokolsky, NDTAC
  • Heather Denny, Montana Part D Coordinator
  • Kenya Haynes, Wyoming Part D Coordinator
  • Jim Lovett, Arizona Part D Coordinator

Presentation

Keynote Session: Capstone of the Year: The Washington Education Advocate Model
 

Two N&D State Coordinators, an expert panelist and partners from Washington State kicked-off the 2016 NDTAC National Conference.  The School Justice Certificate program co-sponsored by the American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform (CJJR) at Georgetown University was highlighted by Shay Bilchik, Executive Director and NDTAC Expert Panelist.  The focus of the school justice certificate program is to provide school and district staff, court professionals, law enforcement, and other child-serving community leaders with the knowledge and understanding necessary to address the immediate and long term needs of students known to, or at risk of entering, the juvenile justice system. The goals of this certificate program are to promote an ongoing engagement in school among youth at risk, re-engage students who have been disconnected, and improve academic outcomes for all.

Kathleen Sande, N&D State Coordinator from Washington discussed their outstanding Education Advocate Program. Kathleen, who participated in the CJJR certificate program had her capstone selected as capstone of the year.  Four of Kathleen’s colleagues joined the presentation virtually to discuss specifics about the role of the education advocate from the perspective of their different  responsibilities in addressing the educational needs of youth who are transitioning from a secure setting to the community.  Finally a youth and parent who are recipients of the supports and services provided by the Education Advocates program shared the benefits of the program.

Concluding the keynote session, Jim Lovett, N&D State Coordinator from Arizona, and a recent school justice certificate program participate shared information about the capstone created by the state of Arizona while at Georgetown University last fall designed to reduce disproportionate contact of minority youth in the juvenile justice system in their state.  

Presenters

  • Shay Bilchik, NDTAC Expert Panel and Director of CJJR
  • Kathleen Sande, WA Part D Coordinator and 2015 Capstone of the Year Award Winner, CJJR Multi-System Integration Certificate Program Capstone Project: Education Advocate Case Management Model
  • Kristin Schutte, Student Services Center Director of Olympic Educational Service District (ESD) 114
  • Jeff Allen, Principal of Kitsap and Clallam County Detention Center Schools
  • Michelle Dower, Student Services Center Program Coordinator of Olympic ESD 114
  • Mike Smitley, Transition Counselor of Olympic ESD 114
  • Cherie Thaheimer, Education Advocate of Olympic ESD 114
  • Jim Lovett, AZ Part D Coordinator CJJR School-Justice Partnership Certificate Program Capstone Project: Reducing Disproportionate Minority Contact

Presentation

Plenary Session I: Moving the Needle Part D Coordinator Presentations
 

In this session, State Part D coordinators shared ways in which they are carrying out their administrative duties in exemplary ways that are affecting positive changes in program quality, performance, and student outcomes. Presenters represented eight different States and focused on different subgrantee program implementation topics providing a brief overview of their work followed by roundtable discussions to allow participants to engage in deeper conversation with their peers.

Presenters

  • Julie Turner (AL), Developing data dashboard with the use of NDTAC’s dashboard guide
  • Karen Neilsen (CA), Data Lacunae: Finding meaning in gaps, spaces, and holes in data
  • Stacy Wojdak-Goodman (CO), Improving CSPR and annual count data collection systems
  • Murray Meszaros (UT), Sound fiscal management

Presentation

Plenary Session II: Addressing Students’ Mental Health Needs to Improve School Climate and Academic Performance
 

This session described: 1) an overview of students’ mental health needs featuring the Northwestern Juvenile Project, 2) the relationship of these needs to student outcomes and Part D, and 3) strategies, initiatives, programs, and resources to address these needs.

Presenters

  • Katie Deal, NDTAC State Liaison
  • Karen Abram, Northwestern University 
  • Ingrid Donato, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
  • James Wright, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Presentation

Federal Panel
 

During this session, ED staff provided updates and answered questions on the Part D program. Topics included ESSA reauthorization, the IDEA self-assessment instrument, correctional education, human trafficking, and TIPD monitoring

Speakers

  • Monique Chism, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Curtis Kinnard, Education Program Specialist, Office of Special Education Programs
  • Sean Addie, Director, Office of Correctional Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
  • Eve Birge, Liaison on Domestic Human Trafficking and Gender-based Violence, OSHS

Presentation