Before CJCA was founded, its executive director and key directors provided an annual peer-led training for new directors, funded by OJJDP through the National Institute of Corrections (NIC). Soon after CJCA incorporated, NIC asked CJCA to lead the training under a cooperative agreement. These annual training seminars are an important aspect of CJCA’s work to unify the field of juvenile corrections by supporting new directors’ efforts to administer, lead and improve corrections systems. The annual seminar offers newly appointed directors the opportunity to learn from, interact and connect with more experienced directors from across the country.
CJCA recognizes the high rate of turnover of youth correctional chief executive officers and understands the many challenges new directors face. To help recently appointed directors succeed in their new positions, CJCA provides a New Directors Seminar once a year. The two-day seminar is led by veteran directors and includes inter-active sessions on topics such as leadership, crises management, budget and operations and current issues and trends in juvenile justice. Since CJCA began conducting the New Directors’ Seminar in 1999, 73 directors have successfully completed the training program.
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