Learn more about the winners of the 2024 CPOC Awards from earlier this month, and the incredible work that they are doing in their communities as part of probation across the state of California.
The CPOC Foundation is excited to announce the open registration for our 8th Annual Foster Care Conference, Advancing Opportunities: Empowering Youth and Families through Engagement to be held at the Anaheim Marriott on April 1-2, 2025. This event will provide opportunities to explore ways to enhance services and supports for foster youth on probation and their families.
Location: Anaheim Marriott, 700 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802
From the County News Center.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. – December 13, 2024 – A San Diego County Probation Youth Development and Community Support Services special projects supervisor has received the California Probation Employee of the Year.
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Yvonne Salgado first received the Southern Region Employee of the Year award along with four other Region Employees of the Year. Then she was selected among the five region award recipients.
Nelson said Salgado’s exceptional leadership, dedication and innovative approach to community collaboration and youth development has had a transformative impact on County Probation and the broader California Probation profession. She had made significant contributions on numerous critical projects and initiatives.
Recognizing a need to note in the Probation case management system if the child was affected by the Child Welfare Act (ICWA), she led an effort to develop a ICWA Node in the Probation system. She did this by implementing ICWA policy and procedures in collaboration with Tribal Star for planning and working with County staff to assist with the technological set up.
She worked with community partners to create the Community Resource Directory, a comprehensive system facilitating referrals to community programs. Then, Salgado spearheaded a virtual resource fair where community partners showcased their unique programs and answered participant questions. Now, she has expanded the directory to include ICWA partners.
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Read the full article here.
From the SanBenito.com.
SAN BENITO COUNTY, Calif. – December 13, 2024 – The Chief Probation Officers of California recently introduced the Joseph Frontella Award for Distinguished Service in Institutions, an honor recognizing “exceptional contributions to juvenile institutions across the state,” says a press release from the Chief Probation Officers of California.
The inaugural Joseph Frontella Award will be presented to Kilee Willson, Juvenile Hall Division Director for Sonoma County Probation, at this year’s awards ceremony.
Frontella, who retired in 2023 after 28 years of dedicated service to the field of probation, passed away on Feb 29, 2024, following a bicycle accident, says the press release. Known for his unwavering compassion and dedication to youth and community, Frontella’s loss was deeply felt by all who knew him.
Frontella’s career was defined by his quiet strength, resilience and an unrelenting drive to create opportunities for justice-involved youth, says the press release. As Chief Probation Officer, he worked to guide young people toward positive pathways while mentoring colleagues and fostering a culture of integrity and fairness. His deep commitment to justice, community and collaboration left an enduring mark on the probation field.
“Chief Frontella believed in the power of compassion and collaboration, and his legacy lives on in the hearts of those he mentored and the lives he helped change. The Joseph Frontella Award is a fitting tribute to his extraordinary contributions and a reminder of the standards he set for all of us in this field.”
The new annual award is bestowed upon a probation department staff member working in a juvenile institution who embodies Frontella’s qualities, according to the press release, including leadership; compassion and empathy; dedication to justice; innovation and mentorship.
The award presentation to Willson will take place during the annual ceremony hosted by CPOC, where probation professionals gather to celebrate the achievements of their peers and honor the memory of a man whose life exemplified service, justice and hope, says the press release.
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Read the full article here.
From the Mammoth Times.
MONO COUNTY, Calif. – December 12, 2024 – Darcie Perkins, Behavioral Health Services Coordinator III for Mono County, was recognized at the 2024 annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony as the organization’s Central Region Employee of the Year.
As the primary liaison for mental health services, Perkins coordinates psychiatric and psychological assessments, substance abuse programs, and individual and residential treatment services. Her leadership role in the Reentry Committee — a multi-disciplinary team that meets weekly to plan stable living and resource connections for probationers exiting custody or treatment — is instrumental in fostering successful transitions for both adult and juvenile clients, according to the department.
From the Corning Observer.
Red Bluff, Calif. – December 11, 2024 – Tehama County Probation Officer Oscar Morales, who is a dual member of the Probation Business Managers Association (PBMA) and Probation Information Technology Managers Association (PITMA), was honored at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony with the Affiliate Employee of the Year Award.
Morales helped lead initiatives to modernize the affiliate organizations and embraced the challenges with enthusiasm and skill. Creating backend systems and enhancing technology for probation work, he contributes fundamentally to the work of probation to create safer communities and help connect offenders to transformative rehabilitation services, she added.
From County of Sonoma.
SONOMA COUNTY, Calif. – December 10, 2024 – The presiding judge of Sonoma County Superior Court and the director of Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall were recently honored by a statewide group of probation officers for their efforts to improve the local justice system.
Sonoma County Superior Court Presiding Judge Shelly J. Averill was recognized as Judicial Officer of the Year by the Chief Probation Officers of California at its annual awards ceremony. Kilee Willson, director of Sonoma County’s Juvenile Hall, received the group’s Joseph Frontella Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership, compassion and dedication in juvenile justice.
Judge Averill was honored for leadership and innovation that significantly impacted community corrections and the justice system.
From The Appeal-Democrat.
YUBA COUNTY, Calif. – December 10, 2024 – Lisa Cunningham, a manager with the Yuba County Probation Department, was honored at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony with the affiliate employee of the year award.
Lisa was recognized for her dedication, adaptability and leadership as the Yuba County Probation’s business systems analyst, contributing to the success of the Probation IT Managers Association (PITMA) and Yuba County Probation.
From the New Santa Ana.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – December 9, 2024 – The Orange County Probation Department’s Division Director Scott Chandler was recognized at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony with the Affiliate Employee of the Year Award for the California Association of Probation Services Administrators (CAPSA). This honor highlights Scott’s exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to advancing the probation profession in California.
From the Red Bluff Daily News.
Red Bluff, Calif. – December 7, 2024 – Dual member of the Probation Business Managers Association and Probation Information Technology Managers Association Oscar Morales has been honored at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony with the Affiliate Employee of the Year Award.
This recognition celebrates Morales’ outstanding initiative, technical expertise, and dedication to advancing the mission of the probation profession.
From the Contra Costa News.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. – December 6, 2024 – Training Coordinator for the California Association of Probation Institutions Administrators (CAPIA) and dedicated leader within the Contra Costa County Probation Department Malkia Crowder, has been recognized at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony with the Affiliate Employee of the Year Award.
This prestigious award celebrates Malkia’s exceptional contributions to advancing professional development and fostering a diverse and inclusive community within probation services.
From the The Union.
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. – December 5, 2024 – Nevada County Probation Department Officer Karyn Mueller was recognized at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony as the Sacramento Region Employee of the Year, honoring her tireless dedication to improving opportunities for youth and her innovative approach to community service in Nevada County.
A passionate advocate for youth development, Officer Mueller leveraged her extensive experience and social capital to establish Beyond the Barriers California, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping transitional-aged youth (18-25), with a focus on former foster youth, access to reliable transportation. Recognizing the significant barrier that lack of transportation presents in rural areas, Officer Mueller mobilized a network of youth-focused community members to serve on her nonprofit’s board, partnered with local repair shops, and collaborated with the high school advanced auto shop.
…This holistic approach ensures youth are set up for success as they transition toward independence, accessing education and employment opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.
From the KTLA.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – December 4, 2024 – The principal of a San Bernardino school for students in juvenile detention has been honored with an esteemed award for her services.
Monica Hatcher, the principal of the Central Valley Juvenile Detention and Assessment Center and A.R.I.S.E. Secure Youth Treatment Facility, was presented with the Tim Fitzharris Award, which honors a non-probation professional who has made an extraordinary contribution to corrections, recognizing their impact on individuals, communities and systems of care.
Hatcher, whose career in the justice system spans over two decades, showed “dedication to improving the lives of at-risk youth” through transformative programs, according to Chief Probation Officers of California.
From the KRCR.
DEL NORTE COUNTY, Calif. – December 4, 2024 – Emily Johnson, a Supervising Deputy Probation Officer, has been named the North Region Employee of the Year at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California Awards Ceremony.
Johnson was celebrated for her significant impact on her team and her unwavering dedication to helping young people overcome challenges and build brighter futures…
San Mateo, Calif. – December 3, 2024 – San Mateo County Probation Department Deputy Chief Moniay Wade was recognized at the 2024 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony as the Bay Region Employee of the Year, an honor celebrating outstanding service, leadership, and dedication to the field of probation.
