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The Hon. Bobbe J. Bridge CCYJ President and CEO, founded the Center for Children & Youth Justice in 2006. She served on the Washington State Supreme Court from 1999 to 2007 before retiring to lead the Center full-time in January 2008. She was a King County Superior Court judge from 1989 to 1999, served as Presiding Judge of the 51-member Superior Court for two years, and was the Chief Judge of King County Juvenile Court from 1994 to 1997. Before joining the bench, Justice Bridge was the first female partner at the Seattle law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer. Recognized statewide and nationally as a leading advocate for foster care reform, domestic violence victims, truancy prevention, juvenile justice reform and a host of other issues, Justice Bridge also serves the community as a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist. She has been a member of the Boards of many nonprofit organizations, including YouthCare and the YWCA. In 1999, she helped establish and fund the Pacific Northwest's first court-based child care center at the Regional Justice Center in Kent, offering a safe place for parents and guardians with business before the court to leave young children. Among her many awards as an advocate for children and youth are the 2010 Advocacy Spirit Award from the National Network for Youth, the 2009 Strategies for Youth Award from the Washington State Lieutenant Governor, the Passing the Torch Award from Washington Women Lawyers, the Seattle Civil Rights Champion Award from Lambda Legal, the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Washington School of Law and the Judge of the Year Award from the King County Bar Association. Justice Bridge also has been inducted into the Washington Generals for special service to the citizens of the State and into the Warren E. Burger Society of the National Center for State Courts. "Our kids deserve a fighting chance to become strong, self-sufficient and thriving members of the community," Justice Bridge says. "More unified, better informed child welfare and juvenile justice systems will give them that chance." |
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Michael Curtis CCYJ Managing Director, is responsible for the overall management and coordination of the Center's programs and projects. He joined the Center in December 2006 as its first employee following a 31-year career in juvenile justice. He began his career as a court officer and probation officer in the Tri-Cities at the Benton and Franklin Counties Juvenile Justice Center, where he served for 11 years before working with judges in juvenile and family courts for 15 years. Just prior to joining the Center, Michael was an analyst with the King County Superior Court Juvenile Court Services, where he was the lead staff member involved in the creation of Family Treatment Court program. |
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Kelly Warner-King CCYJ Mental Health Projects Coordinator, oversees initiatives related to infant, child, youth and family mental health. An attorney with extensive legal and policy experience in child welfare and education, Kelly holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and earned her law degree from New York University. Before coming to the Center, she worked in the Governor’s Office as an education ombudsman and legal analyst for the Office of the Education Ombudsman. Kelly has worked directly with youth and families involved in the child welfare system, both as an attorney and as the manager of the King County Family Treatment Court. She has also served as a policy analyst with the RAND Corporation, Washington Appleseed Center on Law in the Public Interest and the University of Washington's Center on Reinventing Public Education. "Our challenge in mental health advocacy is to find effective ways for courts, schools and mental health providers to work together and support youth with mental health issues," says Kelly. |
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Theresa Wea Project Coordinator for the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change Initiative in Washington, leads the Center's efforts to accelerate promising models for juvenile justice system reform by working in partnership with other public and private entities in Benton, Clark, Franklin, King, Pierce and Spokane counties. An attorney with experience working with juveniles, low-income families and mental health proceedings, Theresa joins CCYJ from the nonprofit Treehouse, which serves King County foster children. She also worked for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office, litigating civil mental health matters, and as an attorney with TeamChild (one of our Washington Models for Change state partners), advocating for juvenile justice system-involved youth. She earned a Bachelor's degree in society and justice from the University of Washington and received her law degree from the University of Chicago School of Law. "I've learned through years of working with children as a teacher and an advocate that, for far too many children, the anticipated beauty of childhood is tainted by the realities of poverty, abuse, addiction, incarceration, neglect and many other societal ills," Theresa says. "Children are the sum of what we as a society contribute to their lives. Consequently, collective mankind must give each child the best that we have to offer. I believe working to improve the lives of young people is the most satisfying form of employment. I am honored to join the Center's efforts to enhance the lives of children and youth through systems reform." |
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Gina Cumbo Project Coordinator, manages the Center's truancy intervention and child welfare systems reform efforts. An attorney with experience in criminal law, disability law and working with children and youth, Gina joins CCYJ after serving as Assistant Regional Counsel for the Social Security Administration. She also worked as a staff attorney at the Snohomish County Public Defender Association. Gina holds an undergraduate degree from Fairhaven College of Western Washington University. She earned both her law and master of social work degrees at the University of Michigan. "I feel privileged to be part of an organization committed to researched-based interventions. I believe that CCYJ's thoughtful, deliberate approach to advocacy will improve outcomes for all young people involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems." |
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Leila Curtis Truancy Project Coordinator, is tasked with facilitating statewide truancy reform efforts and prevention/intervention strategies under the guidance of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the Washington State Becca Task Force, chaired by Justice Bridge. A licensed attorney and certificated teacher in Washington state, Leila is committed to helping kids recognize and access opportunities through education. She has served in various capacities in both law and education, namely as a law clerk to The Honorable Gerald L. Knight in Snohomish County Superior Court and as education director of the North Seattle Boys and Girls Club. Her experience also includes work in education and truancy for various public and private entities, including the Prosecuting Attorney’s offices in King and Pierce counties, Seattle Public Schools, and Columbia Legal Services. Leila earned both her law and master in teaching degrees from the University of Washington. “Truancy is usually a sign of a bigger problem. Often, our kids are faced with challenges in their schools, families or communities that affect their ability to go to school. It’s important to address truancy through a holistic lens and provide ongoing support to our youth in their educational endeavors. I am honored and excited to support the efforts of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and Becca Task Force, which have been champions and innovators in finding ways to keep youth engaged in school and out of the criminal justice system.” Sarah Lysons Perkins Coie Community Service Fellow, Lawyers Fostering Independence Program. Through the end of 2010, Sarah will recruit and train attorneys, match attorneys with clients, oversee and track cases, secure funding, and give clinics for present and former foster care youth on various legal issues. Sarah also hopes to expand the program beyond King County. "I'm excited to work with Justice Bridge and to continue development of a relatively new program," says Sarah, who took the option of deferring her job with Perkins Coie LLP for one year. She will start there in January 2011. "I've always valued public interest law, so I jumped at the opportunity," she says. Before attending Seattle University School of Law (summa cum laude, May 2009), Sarah taught history and English literature to the children of expatriates at an international school in Shanghai, China. "A lot of these kids were left in China while their parents worked abroad," she says. "As a teacher, you become one of the most stable influences in their lives. Young people aging out of foster care also experience instability and isolation, but are even more vulnerable because they also lack resources."
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Rachelle Nesta As CCYJ's Development Director, Rachelle oversees all fundraising strategies. She enjoys being able to share her passion for our work and mission with existing and prospective donors as well as policy makers, business and community leaders and others with an interest in child welfare and juvenile justice reform. Before coming to CCYJ in May 2010, Rachelle was Vice President for Resource Development at Ruth Dykeman Children's Center, a non-profit organization that provides services to families and residential treatment to youth with serious behavioral and emotional disturbances. Her experience also includes managing employees and volunteers, planning special events, and communications and marketing. Rachelle holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Women's Studies and Sociology from the University of Wyoming, where she was named an Outstanding Graduate in the College of Arts and Sciences, was on the President's Honor Roll for four years and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. "Working at Ruth Dykeman, I encountered kids who have lived in 15 different foster homes," says Rachelle. "I've seen why the system needs to change. Supporting CCYJ is socially responsible and saves the community money in the long run. With help, these kids will go on to raise stable, happy and healthy families, and there will be fewer children in foster care."
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Maria Howard Maria's duties as Executive Office Manager include overseeing CCYJ's office operations and providing executive support to Justice Bobbe J. Bridge and administrative support to the CCYJ Board of Directors and project staff. Hired in May 2010, Maria came to CCYJ with more than 12 years experience in legal administrative services, including more than a decade as a legal secretary for corporate law firms. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Law and Justice Degree, with a specialization in law enforcement, from Central Washington University and is fluent in Spanish. Maria's interest in law started in childhood, when she came to know and look up to the Chief of Police in her hometown of Toppenish. She's thrilled to be working for CCYJ: "My passion has always been in criminal law and youth justice, and this is a perfect fit," she says. "Youth who have been in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems need the skills and resources to succeed in the community. These young people are our future." |
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