DJJ at the American Probation and Parole Association 2017 Winter Training Institute

Photos and information from Deputy Commissioner Margaret Cawood

Recently, the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA) held its 2017 Winter Training Institute in Reno, Nevada. The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice was a proud participant in this educational event for youth justice programming.

Training Program Manager Tania Appling served as the National Program Chair for the APPA Institute, where she worked with 15 committee chairs to review and approve over 100 workshop submissions. In addition, Appling was responsible for securing and introducing the speakers for the plenary sessions. Speakers included Chef Jeff Henderson, a panel of experts led by Margaret diZerga, project director from the Verda Institute and Dr. Emily Salisbury from the University of Nevada.

During the event, Appling worked closely with APPA Executive Director Veronica Cunningham, APPA President Susan Burke and others from the APPA staff to ensure the successful facilitation of workshops. Appling's hard work was successful as the workshop topics and the speakers were well-received by the over 400 individuals in attendance in Reno.

Appling is the current Juvenile Justice Committee Chair for APPA. Working with a group of dedicated individuals from across the United States, she helps to address juvenile justice topics and concerns within community correctional agencies. As Chair, Appling worked to develop strategic goals for the committee as well as review the current Juvenile Justice Position Statement on Disproportionate Minority Contact for the group.

Currently, the Juvenile Justice Committee for APPA is working to develop a statement on the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and the School to Prison Pipeline. APPA is preparing to participate in the National Center of Juvenile Justice’s model data project. Several current and former Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice staff members are also members of this committee including Lalita Appling, Dee Bell, Carl Brown, DeBaja Coleman and Michele Stanley. As the Juvenile Justice Committee chair, Appling is also a member of the APPA Board of Directors.

In addition, Victim and Volunteer Services Director Latera Davis and Secure Campuses Program Director Lalita Appling are members of the Victim Services Committee. Their involvement has provided several opportunities for them to present to various conferences and to work closely with victim advocates such as Anne Seymour and Angie McGowan. They are both active members of the Committee for Justice-Involved Women and Girls.

As Co-Chair of the APPA Diversity Committee, DeBaja Coleman helped to organize the 2nd Annual Diversity Community Dialogue Event. This event was created to facilitate an open dialogue regarding diversity-related issues in community corrections and how APPA can be a driving force to correct these issues.

The Community Dialogue in Reno focused on reducing the increased tension in communities involving race and policing. As part of this dialogue, agencies are taking actions to address community concerns with APPA supporting reducing inequities within the criminal justice system.

Training Director Debaja Coleman attended other committee meetings including Community Justice and Prevention, and Juvenile Justice. These committees looked at ways to partner with outside groups to increase membership and share information on major projects taking place in other states.

Ms. Coleman also moderated a presentation DJJ’s Latera Davis and Lalita Appling that discussed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: the Pathology of Males and Sex trafficking.“ This presentation gave attendees the opportunity to raise awareness and education on issues of commercial sexual exploitation of males with a focus on juvenile males.

The 2017 APPA Winter Training Institute offered a large number of varied opportunities to network and make contacts with other national juvenile justice agencies and organizations. The participating DJJ staff looks forward to the next APPA conference in New York later this year.

Training Program Manager Tania Appling takes the stage at the 2017 APPA Winter Training Institute

Tania Appling with Chef Jeff Henderson

Lalita Appling, Chef Jeff Henderson, Tania Appling and Debaja Coleman