ABOUT
US
We host a yearly conference that features keynote speeches, breakout sessions, and various training and educational opportunities. Furthermore, we offer multiple training sessions throughout the year for different programs such as Carey Guides and BITS, in addition to ART (Aggression Replacement Therapy) workshops. Our collaboration with legislators enables us to relay information to our members about new legal proposals and their progress within the legislative process.
What We Do
Our team consists of specialists in Youth Justice, dedicated to assisting individuals under the age of 17 who are dealing with delinquency, behavioral challenges, and school absenteeism. Our objective is to provide essential oversight and support services aimed at reducing their risk factors.
Who We Are
Learn more about our goals
Ben Dobson graduated from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee with a Bachelor of Community Engagement & Education. Ben has been employed in a variety of positions at Rock County Human Services Department since 2004. Currently, Ben works as a Youth Justice Supervisor supervising Youth Justice staff working in the field. Prior work experience includes working at Rock County Youth Service’s Center, working in the Youth Development & Diversion Programs, Children’s Long-Term Support Case Manager, Children’s Long-Term Support Supervisor, and currently as the before mentioned Youth Justice Supervisor. Ben has a strong understanding of adolescent brain development, and the impact trauma has on youth and their families. Ben strives to build partnerships with local Law Enforcement agencies to ensure youth are being treated in a fair and equitable manner. Ben also coordinates CPS Substantiation Appeals and is an active member of the Child Death Review Panel in Rock County.
BEN DOBSON - Rock County
Jamie Orr graduated from Marian University in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, minoring in Therapeutic Arts and Psychology. She is a certified Social Worker. Jamie has completed Basic Intake Worker Training and does a substantial amount of on-call work for Fond du Lac County Juvenile Court Services. She has been employed with Fond du Lac County for two years as a Youth Justice Ongoing Social Worker. Prior to this, she worked for the WI DOC as a Corrections Social Worker at Oshkosh Correctional Institution working with individuals incarcerated for sexual offenses and other crimes. While she enjoyed the work she did at Oshkosh Correctional Institution, her passion was working with juveniles. This began during her internship with Fond du Lac County and prior professional positions at local group homes, as well as a private agency for youth with behavioral challenges. Jamie is trained in Thinking for a Change, Motivational Interviewing, Carey Guides/BITS, and Squabbles (Conflict Resolution). Jamie also co-facilitates an Anger Management/Life Skills curriculum to moderate and high-risk youth. When she is not at work, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and creating things with her Cricut.
JAMIE ORR - Fond du Lac County
Manda Young graduated from UW-Madison with a Bachelor of Psychology and Legal Studies and a Certificate of Criminal Justice. Manda is a certified Social Worker. She has been employed with the Chippewa County Department of Human Services for four and a half years as an Ongoing Youth Justice Social Worker. Prior to her work as a social worker, Manda was the Program Coordinator for the Eau Claire County S.P.A.R.K. (Supporting Positive Actions, Resilience, and Knowledge) Program, which was an alternative to detention program which helped divert youth from secure detention holds. While working at S.P.A.R.K., Manda developed a strong passion for facilitating groups and providing youth with new skills and tools to increase their strengths and improve their areas of need. Manda currently facilitates Aggression Replacement Training and Girls..Moving On at Chippewa County and is excited for this opportunity to train other facilitators for ART. In her free time, Manda enjoys hiking, camping, and spending time outside with her family.
MANDA YOUNG - Chippewa County
In 2001, Melissa received her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Melissa is a Social Worker with 23 years of experience working in Dodge County, she is currently an Ongoing Social Worker for Youth Justice. In 2024, Melissa became a certified ART trainer. Additionally, she was a member of the WJCIA board of Directors from 2014-2022 and is looking forward to providing quality training opportunities with the association.
MELISSA ZARCZYNSKI - Dodge County
Mickala Ferge has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology, and an emphasis in Juvenile Corrections. Mickala is also a licensed Social Worker. Mickala has been working in the youth justice field since 2015. She started as a Resident Care Staff at Orion Group Home in Platteville, WI and after graduation, took a job as a Youth Counselor and later a Social Worker at Lincoln Hills School for the WI Dept. of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Corrections. In 2018, Mickala began with the Lincoln County Department of Social Services, first as an Ongoing Social Worker and now currently holds the position of Child Welfare Manager. Mickala has a passion for empowering youth and fostering positive change within her community. Having initially been trained in and taught ART in her position at Lincoln Hills School, Mickala is excited to extend this impact beyond her local community and train other professionals in ART statewide. In her free time, Mickala enjoys spending time outside with her family and traveling to warm vacation destinations.
MICKALA FERGE - Lincoln County
Sofia Widowski graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison and has a Bachelor’s Degree. Sofia is also a licensed Social Worker. and has been working in the youth justice field since 2019. Sofia has been employed at Lincoln County Social Services and has worked as the youth justice initial, and ongoing worker. Sofia has a passion for her work and is always looking for new opportunities to support youth. In her free time, Sofia enjoys spending time outside (in the summertime) with her family.
SOPHIA WIDOWSKI - Lincoln County
Lauren Cowell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work. Since 2010, she has worked in various Wisconsin County-based positions serving vulnerable youth and their families. Having started her career in Child Protective Services, followed by a transition to direct clinical practice with youth, and most recently serving as a supervisor in Youth Justice for the past 6 years; Lauren has a plethora of experience serving system involved children, youth, and their families. In her current supervisory role with Outagamie County, Lauren promotes the philosophy of case managers being the intervention through their relationships with consumers, motivational impacts, and specialized skillsets. Lauren believes that meeting families where they are at is essential to the change process, and having a seat at the table during consumers’ most vulnerable moments of need is a privilege that many professionals never get to experience. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and children, often camping, hiking, or being outdoors.
LAUREN COWELL - Outagamie County
Nicki Laudolff has been working in the youth justice field since 2002. She started as a Youth Counselor at Southern Oaks Girls School for the WI Dept. of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Corrections. After promoting to Youth Counselor – Advanced, she moved to the Madison area and became a Juvenile Probation and Parole Agent. Nicki then promoted to Corrections Field Supervisor, which entailed supervising Juvenile Probation and Parole Agents and Youth Counselors, as well as running The Grow Academy in its first 3.5 years. The Grow Academy is a non-secure, short term residential program for male youth in the state. At the beginning of 2018, Nicki accepted the position of Youth Justice Curriculum Coordinator through the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System in the School of Social Work at UW-Madison, where she trains county social workers in WI Statutes and custody intake across the state. Nicki has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Family Studies and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Counseling and a specialization in Children and Adolescents. Nicki has a passion for working with youth and families that are working through past trauma and striving towards a more positive and safe future. She and her partner love spending time in their yard with their dogs, feeding the wild birds, and gathering fresh eggs from their chickens. She enjoys spending time traveling with her trusty beagle/terrier mix companion – Nala, camping at her off-grid cabin, and reading in her hammock.
Nicki Laudolff- SOUTHERN OAKS
Jennifer (Jen) Hovde, CSW, MSW, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls with a Bachelor of Social Work and from the University of Wisconsin- Madison with a Master of Social Work. Jen is a certified Social Worker. She works as a school social worker for the Menomonie School District. Previously she was employed with Pierce County DHS as the Juvenile Court Intake Lead Worker and as a Youth Justice Ongoing Worker in Pierce County. Jen is trained in Aggression Replacement Training, Motivational Interviewing, and Carey Guides/BITS. She strives herself in working closely with the youth and their family to establish their strengths and their areas of need to ensure positive outcomes in the home, community, and school. Jen is dedicated to using evidence based programming during her work with the youth and their family system.
Jennifer Hovde
Cassie Hubanks graduated from the Upper Iowa University with a Bachelor of Criminal Justice and Completed a Social Work Certification via NASW. Cassie is a certified Social Worker. She has been employed in a variety of positions at Crawford County Human Services Department since 2019, primarily in the youth justice field. Currently, Cassie is works primarily with Youth Justice, but does assist with Child Welfare and Intake and On-Call Duties. Cassie is also a volunteer with the local Sources of Strength Chapter and sits on the Children’s Advisory Board Committee. Cassie’s history with evidence based risk reduction stems back to her combined 12 years experience working at an RCC and the Wisconsin Department of Community Corrections. Collaborating with system stakeholders is one of Cassie’s strengths and has allowed her to find creative interventions to support youth and families.
CASSIE HUBANKS
Ariel Ludlum graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Social Work. Ariel is a certified Social Worker. She has been employed with Sheboygan County Health and Human Services for three years as a Youth Justice Intake Social Worker. Ariel has an understanding of youth brain development and the impact that has on youth and their decision making. Ariel utilizes this knowledge along with developing rapport in efforts to divert youth from further entering the youth justice system. Ariel strives to increase youth's strengths and improve their area of need through skill building and strongly advocating for her youth. Ariel is passionate about her work with victims of human trafficking. Ariel is on the human trafficking task force, receives and attempts to meet with all reported youth run aways, and co-facilitates My Life My Choice (human trafficking prevention group).
Ariel Ludlum
Lance Horozewski is currently employed as the Division of Juvenile Corrections Assistant Administrator overseeing the Serious Juvenile Offender Program, GROW Academy and implementation of Dialectical Behavior Therapy as a System of Care protocol. Lance began his career in residential treatment serving severely emotionally challenged boys. Lance’s 23-year career has focused on working with high risk youth and families as a social worker, supervisor, county division manager and now state department administrator. Lance participates in numerous state and national level projects which include the Wisconsin Juvenile Justice Network, National Juvenile Probation Review Network, The National Partnership for Juvenile Services, Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators. Lance values partnerships with youth justice system stakeholders to move forward research-based improvements.
Lance Horozewski
Trevor Shadick graduated in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Trevor worked at an inpatient psychiatric facility as his first job out of college. From there, Trevor transitioned to Outagamie County in the Youth and Family Services division. While employed by Outagamie County, Trevor went back to school and finished his social worker degree at the University of Wisconsin- Stout. Trevor is now a certified Social Worker. Trevor enjoys working with youth on developing skills and connecting them to resources to better assist them with finishing school, making smart life choices, and building prosocial relationships.
Trevor Shadick
Beka Bartel graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Social Work and a minor in Criminal Justice. While earning her degree, Beka worked at a residential halfway house that focused on mental health and substance use disorder treatment. She is a Certified Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin and has been employed by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections since 2014. Prior to her current role as a Program and Policy Analyst in the Division of Juvenile Corrections, Beka worked as a Probation & Parole Agent and spent seven years as a Social Worker at an adult prison. She is a notable advocate for ensuring development of programs and practices that best fit the target population, evidence-based curricula, and program outcomes that show a reduction in recidivism. Beka is an experienced trainer and is excited to bring BITS and Carey Guides to child welfare and juvenile justice professionals statewide!
Beka Bartel
Nicki Laudolff has been working in the youth justice field since 2002. She started as a Youth Counselor at Southern Oaks Girls School for the WI Dept. of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Corrections. After promoting to Youth Counselor – Advanced, she moved to the Madison area and became a Juvenile Probation and Parole Agent. Nicki then promoted to Corrections Field Supervisor, which entailed supervising Juvenile Probation and Parole Agents and Youth Counselors, as well as running The Grow Academy in its first 3.5 years. The Grow Academy is a non-secure, short term residential program for male youth in the state. At the beginning of 2018, Nicki accepted the position of Youth Justice Curriculum Coordinator through the Wisconsin Child Welfare Professional Development System in the School of Social Work at UW-Madison, where she trains county social workers in WI Statutes and custody intake across the state. Nicki has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Family Studies and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Counseling and a specialization in Children and Adolescents. Nicki has a passion for working with youth and families that are working through past trauma and striving towards a more positive and safe future. She and her partner love spending time in their yard with their dogs, feeding the wild birds, and gathering fresh eggs from their chickens. She enjoys spending time traveling with her trusty beagle/terrier mix companion – Nala, camping at her off-grid cabin, and reading in her hammock.
Nicki Laudolff
Fill out this intake form To become a member.
The Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Association is a professional association for intake workers and juvenile justice professionals. There are two membership categories.
Active Membership refers to those who perform in whole or in part any of the duties of Juvenile Court Intake Worker as defined in 938.067 and 48.067 of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Associate Membership refers to those who are engaged in whole or part in any aspect or works within Wisconsin's juvenile justice system, social services, mental health or education systems, and who are not eligible for active membership.
Please note, if you attended WJCIA's Annual Conference, you are a member of WJCIA for that following year, as the membership fee is built into the cost of conference.
If you were unable to attend conference and would like to be a member for the current year, please fill out the membership application (button to the form is in red), print off the submission confirmation, and send the confirmation with a check for $20 payable to WJCIA to:
Kathleen Bell
303 West Chapel Street,
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Additionally, we accept PayPal and Venmo. When utilizing one of these options, please add "WJCIA Membership" and your name in the notes section.
For further information you may contact Rachel Johnson at 715.410.6326 or email Rachel Johnson.
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Membership cost is built into the price of that WJCIA Annual Conference fee. If you are unable to attend and still want to join WJCIA, please fill in the membership application below and submit it online. If paying with a check, please print the displayed confirmation, and send the confirmation with a check for $20 made out to WJCIA to:
Kathleen Bell
303 West Chapel Street,
Dodgeville, WI 53533
Also, we accept PayPal and Venmo. If utilizing one of these services, please list your name and "WJCIA Membership" in the message space.
For further information or questions, please contact Rachel Johnson at rachel.johnson@sccwi.gov
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