TH
36 ANNUAL STAFF RECOGNITION
CELEBRATING OUR 2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT
CHIEF'S WELCOME I want to welcome you to the 36th Annual Staff Recognition Event! As many of you know, this is normally an evening event where we have the opportunity to socialize and enjoy dinner together while celebrating our staff. As with everything else in our lives, the pandemic has forced us to adapt this year’s celebration. While I miss seeing everyone in person, I am thrilled to have innovative staff that have helped us re-envision our event into a virtual one! At the start of the program, I normally acknowledge the retired chiefs who are present and the incredible mark they had on our Department and me personally. Hopefully they are each enjoying our virtual celebration! This year, I want to acknowledge one of my first mentors that recently passed, and the first person that predicted I would eventually be Chief! Supervising JIO Hasani Subira worked at the Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall (SBJH) at the start of my career, he took me under his wing and helped me understand this work. Hasani was a true presence at the Juvenile Hall and mentored many new staff over the years. He believed in the youth that came to us. He wanted them to succeed, he let them know they mattered regardless of their circumstances and he did the same for me and so many other staff. Regardless of gender, race, education or circumstances, Hasani believed we could succeed in the field of probation and encouraged us to lead. Whether it was a unit activity or a shift, he called all of us to be leaders and to lead from the heart.
Tanja Heitman
Chief Probation Officer
Many staff are being recognized this year, individually or through team efforts, and they have all served as leaders. I want to thank them for all leading at a time when being in the field of corrections has been challenging. Through a racial reckoning and a pandemic, we were all called to serve and lead in new ways and under new circumstances while contemplating the impact of systemic racism and the public health, housing, mental
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health and economic needs of our community. Thus while we are celebrating staff who are receiving awards, we are also celebrating all of our staff. Staff that showed up each day, in person or remotely. Staff who were willing to be stretched and do something new because our community needed it. At SBJH, Hasani would assemble the youth on the black top for storytelling. His stories were not made up or fictional. They were based on his life experiences. Experiences that molded and changed him. They were Supervising JIO Hasani Subira the experiences that allowed youth and staff to see firsthand that we don’t have to be defined by our past and our mistakes, instead we have an opportunity to learn from them and find ways to lead others toward a preferable future. Our staff, peace officers and civilian, all did that this year. They persevered through Zoom school, family crisis, illness, quarantine, absence of loved ones and so much more while coming to work each day. They were leaders in every assignment and in every challenge. When others said they couldn’t, Probation staff said they could and they did. I think Hasani would be proud of the Department and the leaders he impacted. While you might not have known him, those of us who did will continue to lead with our hearts and ensure the lessons he imparted to us live on. This past year was like no other and it presents a life experience that has shaped us and we now get to decide whether it will be for better or not. I chose to honor Hasani by incorporating him into my story in such a way that hopefully others can also appreciate his lessons. Congratulations to all of our award winners and all of the staff that make up our Probation family! In honor of Hasani Subira, a memorial Scholarship fund is being established through the United Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara County. Hasani served as the Director at the Westside Boys Club in Santa Barbara before he came to Probation and greatly valued the impact that they had on the lives of youth. Through this scholarship fund, Hasani’s impact will live on. Please contact Chief Heitman (heitman@co.santabarbara.ca.us) to learn more or to make a tax deductible donation.
OPENING COMMENTS Gustavo Lavayen Presiding Judge
2020 SERVICE PIN RECIPIENTS 35 YEARS
15 YEARS
Debra Marsh
Jessica Carrillo Monica Cowger Lucila Esparza Rochelle Faanono Julianna Groves Donald Heath Laura Hernandez Patrick Kiesling William Krantz Ella Lewis Angelica Munoz Denise Murillo Maria Nava Maria Ortiz Miguel Rivera Eusevio Rodriguez Monica Ruiz Rosa Sanford Danielle Strother Lindsay Whitmeyer Paul Williams
30 YEARS Elisa Robles
25 YEARS Jenny De La Cerda Cristina Pedroza Sandra Stout
20 YEARS Tina Centeno Melanie Davis Amber Flores Stephanie Haro Buffy Harrington Jose Macedo Dean Sleigh Nancy Veliz Rose Zamora
10 YEARS Jerome Balecha Josh Clem Danielle Robles Christina Sibley Elizabeth Vaca Jon Vittone
SOUTH COUNTY SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR Torben Ytting COMPUTER SUPPORT SPECIALIST Resilient, responsive and customer focused! In 2020, Torben Ytting was the foremost ground force covering the Information Technology (IT) Unit for the entire county. He provided excellent computer support to the Department. He impressively completed 491 IT requests in 2020. Torben exhibited outstanding analytical, technical and customer relations skills. He keeps things calm even when required to make quick decisions under high pressure. He can multi-task, stays focused and always has a positive and a professional attitude. Staff noted that Torben was always available to them, regardless of the level of troubleshooting required, that he’d take time to hear their concerns, and would stay connected until their issues were resolved. Also noted was his consistent follow-up. Staff described him as thoughtful and helpful, and appreciated his time spent resolving issues, as well as his communication with them. Mr. Ytting is a pleasure to work with and a valuable asset to the Probation Department IT team. Congratulations Torben Ytting, the 2020 South County Support Staff of the Year!
NORTH COUNTY SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR Tiffany Espinoza ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE PROFESSIONAL (AOP) Positive, resourceful, and reliable! The only constant is change and that is especially true in the criminal justice system where new legislation and research continually modify the work we do and how we do it. That constant change requires that the Department be adaptable, resilient and resourceful. AOP Tiffany Espinoza makes that adaptability, resiliency, and resourcefulness possible. Tiffany is a task driven, hard worker who thrives in a hectic and ever changing work setting, which is essentially the daily operations of the Santa Maria Juvenile Hall (SMJH). She is extremely reliable and a team player who goes above and beyond. One thing that stands out about Tiffany is her clear communication. Tiffany is highly respected by her co-workers at SMJH for sharing concerns when they arise and offering solutions. Under normal circumstances Tiffany would be worthy of recognition; however, 2020 proved to be anything but ordinary. The COVID pandemic created additional challenges. As the operation at SMJH and the safety of the youth is of utmost importance, there was plenty of opportunity for her to step up and shine. Many staff from other units were temporarily reassigned to SMJH for cross training. Tiffany wasted no time and quickly assisted with training of the staff in both the intake duties and the Master Control Room. She has proven she works well under pressure and maintains a positive attitude when problems arise. Please join me in recognizing and congratulating Tiffany Espinoza as the 2020 North County Support Staff of the Year!
PRETRIAL ASSESSMENT UNIT STAFF OF THE YEAR Kiere Grothe PRETRIAL ASSESSOR Experienced, organized, and positive! Kiera Grothe brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Department’s new Pretrial Services Assessment Unit. Having transitioned to our Department from the Superior Court, Kiera’s knowledge, work ethic, integrity, meticulous attention to detail and organization, helped her rise above and set a high benchmark for herself and others. Regularly handling and staffing complex cases with her peers, and assisting her supervisors with proofing reports, her leadership and guidance are well regarded by all. In the face of the sometime arduous work demands and the ever-changing workflow inherent of a new unit and organization, Kiera maintains the same positive attitude every day, ensuring the work produced was completed well and on time, all the while keeping the team calm in the face of adversity. With the introduction of complexities never seen before in pretrial reports, schedule changes to ensure staffing coverage across expanded hours of operations, workload increase, and a worldwide pandemic, Kiera maintained an encouraging and calm attitude, which helped lead the Unit onward and upward. She is a tremendous asset to the Unit and the Department, and deserving of this recognition! Please join us in congratulating Kiera Grothe as the 2020 Santa Barbara County Probation Pretrial Assessment Staff of the Year!
SANTA MARIA JUVENILE HALL OFFICER OF THE YEAR Stephanie Haro SENIOR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER Creative, caring, and passionate! “Ms. Haro is very supportive and understanding. She knows how to approach new staff and make them feel comfortable no matter what the conversation.” “Ms. Haro truly cares about the youth in our community and invests in their future.” Comments like this are heard over and over from staff about Sr. DPO Stephanie Haro. Since her return to SMJH, her leadership, initiative, positive attitude and work ethic has been impressive. You can witness the passion she has for embracing accountability and opportunity with our youth. During the last year, Stephanie was the primary staff to oversee Schedule Express and worked closely with the Probation Manager to create and successfully implement a new shift bid for staff. Stephanie was also tasked with coordinating all of the facility trainings and vacation requests for approximately 50 officers. Stephanie puts forth great effort to maintain and improve staff morale. Specifically, Stephanie created and oversees the Staff Recognition Team (SRT), which focuses on recognizing staff. Recently, the SRT acknowledged several staff for being ‘team players’ for volunteering to adjust their schedules to assist the facility. She works to develop creative strategies to improve officers' performance and addressing facility processes. She is looking forward to attending the Renew 22 Innovate Santa Barbara County Green Belt training this summer with the goal of further improving processes at SMJH. Please join us in congratulating Sr. DPO Stephanie Haro as the 2020 Santa Maria Juvenile Hall Officer of the Year!
LOS PRIETOS BOYS CAMP OFFICER OF THE YEAR Crystal Crockett SENIOR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER Respected, approachable, and dedicated! It is said that a good leader gets the job done, but a great leader gets the job done by connecting and collaborating with those around them in a positive and approachable manner. Sr. DPO Crystal Crockett is that great leader who connects with staff and youth at Los Prietos Boys Camp (LPBC). Crystal is described as, “a breath of fresh air to the facility” as she is a “natural” at building rapport and gaining trust of the youth. Staff describe her as an “up and coming star” as well as “an excellent leader who is supportive of staff and respected by staff.” Additional comments include, “As a new Sr. DPO, she came to LPBC with fresh eyes and a positive attitude. She seamlessly collaborates with staff and youth and garners their respect. This clearly reflects her ability to meet people where they are which highlights her flexibility. She is calm even in the face of adversity, and takes the time to talk things through. She is steady, approachable, and works to keep the facility running smoothly. She is dedicated to learning and growing and making a stronger LPBC program for both youth and staff. She is firm, but gentle, has a big heart and always goes the extra mile." Everyone is confident in her skills and abilities to lead LPBC during COVID challenges, as well as the program redesign to bring into EBP alignment with new and proven juvenile justice programing and approaches. Simply put, she is confident, inspiring, steady, and composed! Please join us in congratulating Sr. DPO Crystal Crockett as the 2020 Los Prietos Boys Camp Officer of the Year!
SANTA BARBARA PROBATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR Deborah Pena DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER Ambitious, encouraging, and dedicated! DPO Deborah Pena is assigned to the Pretrial Supervision unit in South County. Due to the pandemic and implementation of the Emergency Zero bail order and associated workload surge, DPO Pena immediately stepped up to the plate and began to assist with extra duties and never complained, nor shied away from any request sent her way. As officers redeployed to the unit to assist with the wave of workload, she showed leadership through training and supporting the new staff, all the while managing her own caseload as it doubled in size. Clearly, her professionalism and engagement in her work have garnered the respect of her clients, co-workers and supervisor. Some of the comments that staff have shared about DPO Pena are in reference to her teamwork, knowledge and leadership attributes , “She is helpful to new officers as she offers support and encouragement to her fellow peers in times of fear during a global pandemic,” and, “She treats every single person with the outmost respect on a daily basis.” As one client described it, she rated DPO Pena a “10!” In the words of American novelist, James Lane Allen, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” DPO Pena demonstrated her true character during the pandemic by demonstrating her dedication, being a forward thinker, and all while making the time to develop and influence others to be just like her, without even knowing it. Deborah Pena is more than deserving of the award for 2020 Santa Barbara Officer of the Year!
LOMPOC PROBATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR Alejandra (Alex) Hernandez SENIOR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER Committed, empathetic, and persevering! Alex Hernandez is a hardworking, responsible, and conscientious Sr. DPO, currently assigned to the Lompoc adult unit. Some examples of her commitment and versatility throughout this challenging year include assisting with housing referrals and placement, insuring domestic violence clients county-wide were placed in risk appropriate programming, and auditing and converting clients length of probation to align with Assembly Bill (AB) 1950. But wait, there is more. Alex was deployed to work at the Santa Maria Shelter assisting individuals struggling with homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alex juggled a variety of situations, all while creating a streamlined intake system. Alex’s high level of engagement and empathetic nature positioned her as a go-to person throughout a very tumultuous and unpredictable year. Some comments from her co-workers include, “Alex always goes out of her way to assist and guide others. She is a true team player”; “Alex is one of the best seniors I’ve ever worked under. She’s approachable, knowledgeable and extremely hard working. She checks in on us and makes us feel like more than just a PO assigned to a caseload. She’s my go-to person.” Her supervisor comments, “When an email is forwarded regarding an upcoming project, Alex is working on it before I am able to discuss it with her. Alex is one of the most thorough staff I have ever worked with. She has assisted me with all of this years’ above and beyond projects. Alex is a closer.” Congratulations to Sr. DPO Alex Hernandez as the 2020 Lompoc Officer of the Year!
SANTA MARIA PROBATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR Polly Armstrong SENIOR DEPUTY PROBATION OFFICER Passionate with hefty doses of contagious optimism and compassion! Anyone who knows Polly Armstrong knows she is passionate about her work. Her high energy, spirit, and optimism is contagious, and she works hard to make sure officers in her unit benefit from her vast years of experience. She started 2020 at the Probation Report and Resource Center and in May transferred to the Santa Maria Adult Supervision Unit where she has become a valuable resource. Throughout the pandemic, Polly has been steadfast in making sure clients receive the appropriate services to address their needs by identifying processes to accelerate case transfers from court to supervision in a timely manner. When someone has a question, Polly is the go to person to find the answer. She works tirelessly to find the solution while also finding additional questions. In 2020, the shortening of probation grant periods through AB1950 was a challenge to officers. She brought forward multiple issues and worked with the courts and fellow officers, to find solutionsresulting in work being done correct the first time, while increasing efficiencies for staff. Polly is someone who can always be relied on and is well deserving of yet another Probation Officer of the Year award in her career. Congratulations, Polly Armstrong is the recipient of the 2020 Santa Maria Probation Officer of the Year award!
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR Alejandra (Ale) Ochoa SUPERVISING PROBATION OFFICER Have you heard the terms, Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enabling Others to Act, and Encourage the Heart? Some of you might recognize the above tenets as the five practices of exemplary leadership. All of these characteristics are ones that an exemplary leader should strive to achieve and certainly Supervisor of the Year, Alejandra “Ale” Ochoa meets the mark. Ale has been an integral part in the expansion of the Pretrial Supervision Unit as well as continuing to monitor the GPS Unit. In January of 2020, as the relatively new Pretrial supervision unit was hitting its stride, the COVID-19 Pandemic and the subsequent Emergency Zero Bail orders, dramatically altered the course of operations. Springing to action, Ale adapted and led her unit through the tremendous workload increase from approximately 170 individuals to more than 300 in a short period. During this time of extra stress and added work demands, Ale lead by example, maintained composure, and made sure staff were supported so they could focus on the task at hand. When reading the comments that staff submitted to support Ale’s nomination for this honor, it was clear that she has exemplified many of the five leadership principals. While she may present as a quiet leader, she leads with compassion, and of the five principals, Ale may shine the brightest at encouraging the heart. She believes in her staff, pays attention to the little details in their lives, personalizes recognitions, and celebrates small victories. If you go to find Ale during a work day, you may have to search any one of her staff’s offices, where she is likely finding a moment to make someone’s day a little better (Of course, with a mask and remaining a safe six feet of social distance!). Please join me in congratulating Ale Ochoa as the 2020 Supervisor of the Year!
BULLDOG AWARD Juliana Groves
Michael Sam
Veronica Santana
Nadia Gonzalez
Lesli Stamm
The Bulldog Award is issued in recognition of individuals or teams who have exhibited creativity, endurance, and tenacity in addressing departmental challenges. Bulldogs are known for being sociable and easygoing, but with a reputation for being courageous, persistent, and loyal. When a pandemic hits, and a team must spring into action to assist in reducing jail population to minimize the spread of an infectious disease, you need all of these attributes and more! Being redirected from their assignments when zero bail hit, some with only hours notice, these staff sprung into action, determined eligibility for release for hundreds of inmates, interviewed inmates regarding discharge plans, communicated with the Court to assist in release decisions and much more. They responded not only to a departmental challenge but a system and community challenge. They worked quickly and diligently to ensure every individual’s situation was thoroughly reviewed and appropriate conditions of release were pursued. Congratulations to this year’s Bulldog Award recipients and thank you to these officers for stepping up, for their teamwork, and for their awesome work ethic and attitude that contributed to reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus!
Bill Krantz
Monica Hernandez
Sandra Stout
Arlene Baez
Jorden Clem
Stephanie Eson
Zenia Jimenez
Rhonda Kohler
STAR AWARD Kristina Brumbaugh, William Roberts, Daniel Meza, and Cristel Perez
Walt Disney once said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” This year’s Star Award goes to a team of staff that did just that! They took hold of a vision the Chief talked about and went from talking about how this could change the culture of our Juvenile Hall to doing it! Across the country, juvenile justice systems are evolving in response to research about adolescent brain development, Positive Youth Development (PYD), trauma informed care, youth voice and the influences of a positive adult role model. In an effort to best incorporate these approaches, the Probation Department is moving to further implement PYD and other approaches that directly influence youth in positive and meaningful ways. Integration into our detention facilities presents a fundamental shift in culture and approach from the historical framework of compliance and consequences, to one that builds a youth’s strengths and assets through incentives and achievement. Probation Manager Kristina Brumbaugh, Supervising Probation Officer William Roberts, Sr. Juvenile Institutions Officer (Sr. JIO) Daniel Meza and JIO Cristel
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Perez embraced the vision of bringing all of these concepts to a unique new unit within the SMJH. They cooperatively developed a new and innovative behavior modification program. Using elements of the Missouri Model and other evidence based practices/principles, youth who demonstrate ongoing positive behavior are given the opportunity to apply to live in the “Trust Unit”; a separate unit with extra comforts, privileges and a less restrictive living environment. As staff developed this special living unit they believed that the opportunity to live in the Trust Unit would improve the overall behavior of youth throughout the facility as they strive to be eligible to reside in the unit. The program was designed to increase engagement in treatment while decreasing overall behavior issues, discipline and room confinement thus promoting a safer environment for youth and staff alike. In January 2020, the “Trust Unit” launched and the rest is history. The Trust Unit’s first resident moved in 14 months ago and there has not been a single altercation or emergency response called to the unit since. Please join me in congratulating the Trust Unit planning team as the newest recipients of the 2020 Star Award for their foresight, innovation and endeavor to drive positive change!
CHIEF'S AWARD Melanie Davis
Over the last year, the Probation Executive Team was pulled and stretched into so many different directions that the normal effort to maintain cohesion and unity was not sufficient. We were in need of glue, baling wire, rope, rubber bands, tape, zip ties and more to hold us together! Executive Assistant Melanie Davis serves as a guiding light to hold the team on course and that was never more important than it was in 2020. Melanie has an incredible gift for binding us together, repairing cracks and forcing cohesion in our team and for this and so much more she is 2020 Chief’s Award recipient!
As we all know Probation Staff were dispatched to all ends of the county to assist with a wide variety of duties and community needs. Melanie tracked this chaos and brought order to the order to the disorder. She oversaw action items and gave frequent reminders to ensure deadlines were met, took on numerous county and state reporting requirements associated with Covid19, and helped ensure regular updates were posted for all staff. With a significant number of staff telecommuting, she monitored their paperwork as well, while also planning for new managers to come board during this unprecedented time. She was present in the office and adjusted to mask and social distancing requirements while also mastering Zoom for Brown Act Committee meetings and all of the related legal requirements. As a parent and grandmother, she was called upon to take on even greater responsibility to assist her family throughout this time as well. Much like the rest of us, she had to respond to the needs of young grandchildren, adult children and parents simultaneously. Life did not give her a moment’s rest even when she could have used it most. Yet Melanie rose to the occasion, pulled out
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more tricks from her tool belt and employed a bit more humor to get her through it all. She has served as a shoulder to cry on, a sounding board for venting and a reality check when someone has lost their perspective - all while overseeing her normal duties and more. The Executive Team is well aware of how much Melanie does to get each of us on track and on the same page, but others throughout the Department know that she is a great go-to for advice and suggestions on how best to get information or decisions from us as well. Whether in the office, on Zoom or Skype, via text or cell, Melanie stays connected and ensures that we are all connected as well. Melanie does all of this and more with a smile and some joking along the way. She has served as the Executive Team’s (and by extension, the Department’s) superhero this year, deploying all types of superpowers to ensure we remained cohesive and unified through some of our most challenging times! She is truly deserving to be recognized with this year’s Chief’s Award. Thank you Melanie for grounding and guiding us, even when we wanted to run away. We are glad to have you on our team every year, but we truly appreciated your superpowers in 2020!
COLLABORATIVE PARTNER RECOGNITION DR. CARRICK ADAM, SHANNON GUILLEN, KARYN SCHOEN, AND ELIZABETH MELERO There is no question that the medical staff at SMJH and LPBC perform a critical function for the health and wellbeing of the youth in our care. Over the years, Probation has enjoyed a great relationship with our medical staff; however, most recently that relationship has evolved into a true collaborative partnership. Local Wellpath staff have been an incredible partner and have made tremendous strides in the areas of service delivery, Continuous Quality Improvements (CQI) enhancements, regulatory and accreditation improvements and policy change. 2020 was a particularly challenging year due to the numerous and broad-sweeping impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to medical and institution operations. Not only did the Wellpath team rise to the occasion, they became leaders in addressing the unique needs associated with the pandemic.
COLLABORATIVE PARTNER RECOGNITION CONTINUED Over the course of 2020, Medical Director Dr. Carrick Adam, Supervising Nurse Shannon Guillen, Nurse Karyn Schoen, and Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Melero showed unsurpassed dedication and work to ensure medical operations within Probation’s detention facilities met the increased safety needs of youth and staff alike. They worked tirelessly to: develop COVID-19 related action levels and management plans; oversee facility related Public Health Department contact tracing and testing; coordinate and facilitate surveillance testing of facility staff; served as principal lead in a multi-year preparation for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) accreditation; obtained NCCHC accreditation by way of the first ever virtual evaluation process and unprecedented 100% compliance in all reviewed areas; and administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to staff. They have been incredible collaborative partners but they have also gone beyond partnership and served from the heart like true members of the Probation family! The care they provided showed true compassion and commitment. Please join us in acknowledging Dr. Carrick Adam, Shannon Guillen, Karyn Schoen, and Elizabeth Melero for their outstanding efforts and work to make our facilities and community a safer place.
IN MEMORIAM MEMORIAM IN "As long as we live, they too will live; for they are now are a part of us; as we remember them.” - Jewish Prayer Richard Boulette - Supervising Probation Officer Conrad Sabiron - Probation Assistant Hasani Subira - Supervising JIO Colleen Wise - Support Staff
RAFFLE WINNERS The Winners of this year's Staff Recognition Awards Raffle are: Rosa Sandford - $300 Cash donated by Policy Council Monica Ruiz - $100 Cash donated by SBCPPOA Kay Kuns - $100 South Coast Deli Gift Card Tricia Kelly - $100 The Swiss Restaurant Gift Card Armando Guerra - $100 Sissy's Cafe Gift Card Maria Novatt - Gift Card Bouquet donated by SPOs & Sr.AOPs Martha Mera - $250 Cash donated by SBCPPOA Thanks to all who participated!