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This practice group is committed to working across stakeholder groups
to advance knowledge and best practice related to effectively
integrating school mental health with juvenile justice and dropout
prevention. We believe that, for youth to be successful, effective
coordination and communication across systems is needed, and
resources and best practice guidelines related to this work need to be
readily available. Key priority areas include effective strategies for:
addressing the School-to-Prison Pipeline (STPP); reducing truancy,
unnecessary suspensions and expulsions, dropout, and delinquency;
promoting successful school reentry and transitions; and professional
development for school and juvenile services staff.
There are currently no discussions.
Barbara Brady Ashcraft, MA, LPC is the School Counseling Coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Education. She has extensive experience developing behavioral health curriculum and contributed to the wraparound system serving adults. Barbara served on the American School Counselor Association Governing Board for over five years. Barbara is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. Her experience and education are a natural fit with this practice group.
Mark Ferrante, BS, currently serves as Director for Leadership and Training Programs for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ). In his role he is charged with the development, implementation and oversight of CJJ’s training initiatives for CJJ members and State Advisory Groups (SAGs). Mark has over fifteen years of experience in juvenile justice policy and program development at the local, state and national levels and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Jerry Hime is a retired school administrator who has had special education as a main area of focus. He also worked in the area of student services. He is still active with professional groups in both areas, currently serving on the Executive Committee of the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE). Jerry brings the school administrator perspective to the group and has significant experience in addressing issues related to juvenile justice and dropout prevention.
Nancy Lever, Ph.D. is the co-Director of the Center for School Mental Health and Director of the University of Maryland School Mental Health Program. A psychologist with over 10 years experience providing expanded school mental health services to high school youth at risk for dropping out of school, Nancy is particularly interested in advancing best practice in dropout prevention.
JoAnne M. Malloy, MSW, has been a Project Director at the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire since 1991 where she has directed several state and federally-funded employment and dropout prevention projects using Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and projects for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). She is most interested in applied research in high schools, with particular attention to PBIS and school-to-career transition for youth with EBD.
Judith Storandt, JD, is a Senior Staff Attorney at the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN). Judith has played a leading role in the dissemination of Tools for Promoting Educational Success and Reducing Delinquency. Judith is particularly interested in advancing policy, best practices and resources for youth served in the juvenile justice system