WELCOME MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

The summer solstice has passed, the month of July is half over and the days are beginning to grow a little shorter. Summer brings beautiful weather and a pace that seems to grow even faster as we fill our calendars with vacations, county fairs, gardens and community events.

As I begin my term as MACPO President, I want to thank you for the opportunity to serve this outstanding organization. It is truly an honor to represent Minnesota's county probation professionals. I look forward to serving our membership and working alongside all of you to strengthen MACPO and the profession of probation.

One of the things that continues to inspire me about our profession is the commitment to improving how we serve our clients and communities. That commitment has been evident this summer through several statewide accomplishments.

Effective July 1, three significant statewide policies were finalized and implemented:

1. Adult Supervision Case Planning Policy

2. Adult Supervision Risk and Needs Policy

3. Statewide Evidence-Based Practices Training, Coaching, and Quality Assurance Policy

These policies represent countless hours of collaboration, discussion, research, writing and numerous rewritings. I want to extend a sincere thank you to every committee member who dedicated their time, expertise, and thoughtful feedback throughout this process. Your commitment to building consistent, evidence-based practices across Minnesota is deeply appreciated.

As with any meaningful change, we recognize these are living documents. They will continue to evolve as we learn more from the statewide Workload Study, the LS/CMI Validation Study, and ongoing implementation across our agencies. This work reflects our profession's commitment to continuous improvement and ensures our practices remain grounded in the best available evidence while allowing for local flexibility.

We're excited to partner with the Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) for this year's MCA/MACPO Summit on August 26–27. This joint conference is an opportunity to learn from one another and to strengthen professional relationships across delivery systems. If you haven't registered yet, registration closes August 1, so be sure to reserve your spot.

MACPO is strengthened by members who choose to get involved. If you've ever considered serving on a committee, we'd love to have you join us. It's a great opportunity to network with colleagues across Minnesota, share your expertise, and help shape the future of our profession. Visit the MACPO website to learn more about our committees.

As we continue through the remainder of summer, thank you for the work you do every day. Whether you're supervising clients, preparing reports, facilitating groups, mentoring new officers, or serving on committees, your dedication strengthens our profession and helps build safer communities across Minnesota.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, take time to recharge when you can, and thank you for your continued commitment to MACPO and the important work of probation.

Rhonda VanSchoonhoven
Goodhue County Probation

Thank you to our PLATINUM Sponsors!