Achieving Success through Organizational Change (ft. Julie Austin & Staci Denney)

Episode Description

In this episode of “Youth Justice Transformation in Action,” our Executive Director, John Tuell, speaks with Julie Austin, Director of Youth and Family Program, and Staci Denney, Director of Case Management, for the Greene County Juvenile Office in the 31st Judicial District of Missouri. Through their conversation, Julie and Staci delve into the critical topic of fostering success within youth justice through transformative organizational change. Join us as we explore the power of effective communication at every level of an organization and among key partners. Our experts emphasize the significance of sharing a unified philosophy, shedding light on how it can drive meaningful change within the youth justice system. From their experience with the System Review, Julie and Staci share their key strategies and insights that paved the way for improving their system’s performance leading to better outcomes for youth and families in their community.
SEASON TWO: Episode Five | RELEASE DATE: September 28, 2023

About the Guests

Julie Austin

Director of Youth and Family Program | Greene County Juvenile Office | Springfield, Missouri

Julie Austin is the Director of Youth & Family Programming for the Greene County Juvenile Office in Springfield, Missouri.  She received her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Missouri State University and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Missouri, Columbia.  Julie focused her Bachelor’s and Master’s work on Positive Youth Development and Juvenile Justice.  She has a passion for moving the work of youth and family justice forward by embracing proven best practices, building collaboration, and creating lasting change in our communities.

Staci Denney

Director of Case Management | Greene County Juvenile Office | Springfield, Missouri

Staci Denney is the Director of Case Management for the Greene County Juvenile Office. She brings multifaceted experience working in juvenile justice. Beginning her career in 2013, she has served in roles supervising youth to provide services, offering victim court assistance, and more administratively in community-based services and case management. Prior to work in juvenile justice, Staci has also held positions at multiple non-profit organizations providing mentor services to youth and shelter for domestic violence survivors. Staci has a passion for working in juvenile justice due to her own experiences in the community she grew up in and ability to influence the practice for youth in the future. Staci earned her bachelor’s degree with a double major in Criminology and Psychology from Missouri State University and her master’s in Criminology with a certificate in Child Forensic Psychology from the same institution. Staci also has a love of scary movies, yoga, and large fluffy dogs! She enjoys her time away from work by spending quality time with her husband and young daughter.