Congratulations to the 2019 PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award Finalists

Performance-based Standards (PbS) is proud to announce the finalists for the 2019 PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award. PbS received 24 applications from youth correction, detention, assessment and community residential facilities and programs in 15 states describing how they improved conditions of confinement and the quality of life for youths and staff and exemplified PbS’ vision that all youths in custody are treated as one of our own. The facilities and programs described the strategies and practices they used to make a variety of changes, including reducing isolation and restraints, increasing youths’ perceptions of fairness and safety and involving families in treatment using PbS’ continuous improvement model. All the facilities and programs demonstrated commitment to teamwork, communication and thorough planning to overcome challenges and showed how data can be used to integrate research-based practices and monitor the ongoing effects of their interventions.

“This was another year of outstanding applications and examples of how juvenile justice agencies work to help youths continue on the path to healthy development while in out-of-home placement,” said Kim Godfrey, PbS executive director. “The correction field in particular was almost too close to call this year. It’s inspiring to know so many dedicated leaders and professionals and read their stories of creating culture change.”

Congratulations to:

Correction Finalists:

• Green Hill School, Chehalis, WA: Superintendent Jennifer Redman, Institution Program Administrator Debbie Lyne and Washington Juvenile Rehabilitation Assistant Secretary Marybeth Queral
• Juvenile Corrections Center- St. Anthony, St. Anthony, ID: Regional Quality Improvement Specialist Katie Withers, Quality Improvement Services Director Jessica Moncada and Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections Director Monty Prow
• Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility, Miles City, MT: Executive Assistant Teza Holland and Superintendent Steve Ray

Detention/Assessment Finalists:

• Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center, Covington, LA: Training Coordinator Courtney Casnave and Florida Parishes Juvenile Justice District Executive Director Joey Dominick
• Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center- Durango, Phoenix, AZ: Operations Manager Bryan LaBrake, Deputy Chief of Detention Services Bureau Michaella Heslin and Maricopa County Juvenile Chief of Probation Eric Meaux
• Stevenson House Detention Center, Milford, DE: Superintendent Katherine Kenney, Deputy Director Renee Ciconte and Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families Director John Stevenson

Community Residential Finalists:

• Luther Hall, Fargo, ND: Behavioral Health Services Team Lead Ryan Daniel, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota CEO Jessica Thomasson, Quality Assurance Director Casey Traynor and North Dakota Division of Juvenile Services Director Lisa Bjergaard
• Ramey-Estep Homes Residential Services, Rush, KY: Residential Clinical Director Christa Wiley and CEO Ginny Anderson
• Snowden Cottage, Wilmington, DE: Program Manager Nikesha Sanders, Deputy Director Renee Ciconte and Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families Director John Stevenson

PbS also would like to congratulate two correction facilities as Honorable Mentions:

• IYC-Chicago, Chicago, IL: Assistant Superintendent of Programs Michael Byrd, PbS Agency Coordinator Judy Davis and Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Director Heidi Mueller
• Robert F. Kennedy School, Middleton, MA: Clinical Director Jacqueline DiSarro, Director of Residential Operations Nancy Carter and Massachusetts Department of Youth Services Commissioner Peter Forbes

One finalist in each category will be selected as the winner by the PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award Selection Committee and honored at the annual awards ceremony on Aug. 2 in Boston. PbS will post a spotlight blog about each finalist's specific efforts to treat all youths in custody as one of our own over the next few months. Please look for these inspiring stories all summer and join us in honoring this year’s finalists.

Thank you to all of our applicants!