KRISTA SMITH MACLENNAN
**** ****** ****** ** *****, IN 46350 219-***-**** Home
Email: ***********@*****.*** 219-***-**** Cell
EMPLOYMENT
GRANT WRITER
Various Entities
YEARS APPOINTED 2013- PRESENT
La Porte, Indiana
Research, wrote and received a number of grants for a variety of entities ranging from educators to drug treatment facilities.
DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE COURT SERVICES
La Porte Circuit Court
YEARS EMPLOYED 2000- 2011
La Porte, Indiana
Developed the La Porte County Family Court. In 2001 I wrote and obtained grants from the Indiana Supreme Court to develop a Family Court and initiate a Court Improvement Project. I developed the protocol and policies for these programs. Responsible for managing not only day to day operation of the programs, but their funding as well. I have obtained grants and have received additional funding to maintain this project continuously since 2001.
Mediator for CHINS (child abuse and neglect) cases beginning July 2002. Mediated over 350 cases. Mediator for cases referred by the Judge of the La Porte Circuit Court, the Judge of Superior Court No. 2 and the Magistrate of the La Porte Circuit Court. Mediated family law cases when attorneys for the parties requested my services.
Developed the La Porte County Graduated Sanctions program based upon information obtained at National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges training conferences. Developed and implemented policies, protocol, assessment tools and evidenced based programming for youth and families in La Porte County. Coordinated collaboration among 25 local community, governmental, education, court, and mental health service providers. Secured funding for the implementation and continuation of Graduated Sanctions programming.
Wrote, received and administered over twenty grants amounting to approximately $750,000.00 for programming for the La Porte Circuit Court and La Porte County Juvenile Services Center.
Developed $2 Million of contracts to provide local services and to avoid out of county residential placement for delinquent juveniles that resulted in substantially reduced costs for La Porte County. Managed, in collaboration with the Circuit Court Budget Administrator, the $2 million budget for Inmates in Institutions. Collaborated with the La Porte County Office of Family and Children to administer the La Porte County $5 million Family and Children Fund.
Implemented the La Porte County Community In Schools project as the Local Liaison for its first year in existence. Worked with the superintendents of the various school corporations within La Porte County to
develop policies and protocols to bring services to students in the schools to ensure that they would remain in school. Set up the entity as a non-profit corporation and secured initial funding.
Organized the La Porte County Juvenile Advisory Board’s Annual Conference on Youth for 160 service providers for ten years. This is a full day training conference. I have brought in state and national speakers, including Justice Frank Sullivan of the Indiana Supreme Court to make presentations to the people who provide direct service to the youth of La Porte County. In addition to organizing the conference I have also made regular training presentations at the conference.
Served as Program Administrator of Quest Juvenile Court Management software. Quest is a database software containing all information concerning juveniles in the justice system. This software is utilized by juvenile courts throughout the nation.
Served as needed as Judge Pro Tempore or Temporary Judge for the La Porte Circuit Court in night court, delinquency court, D Felony court, CHINS court and occasionally in major felony court. Perform other legal and research functions of the La Porte Circuit Court as requested.
DIRECTOR-INTERIM
La Porte County Juvenile Services Center
YEARS APPOINTED JUNE 2007- JULY 2008
La Porte, Indiana
Appointed by the Circuit Court Judge following the termination of the Director of the Juvenile Services Center. Immediately made significant changes to the daily policies and procedures enacted by the terminated Director. This was followed by a lengthy review and revision of the Center’s Standard Operating Policy/Procedures to ensure complete compliance with federal and state legislation.
Implemented a new organizational structure for the Juvenile Services Center, including new employee scheduling procedure for the 24/7/365 facility. Worked with and trained staff to resolve a multitude of personnel issues.
Worked with the juvenile residents of the Center to ensure that their time at the center was as beneficial as possible and to reduce their unnecessary stress. Met one on one with children in crisis to identify and resolve specific issues. Identified appropriate treatment placements for residents requiring a long term mental health residential placement.
Corrected education policies and procedures at the Center and worked with the local school corporation to secure grants to provide an additional $60,000.00 of education funding in 2008 and $112,000 in 2009.
MERIT COMMISSIONER
La Porte City Police Department
YEARS APPOINTED 2010 - 2013
La Porte, Indiana
Appointed by the members of the La Porte City Police Department to serve as the hiring, discipline, and policy making board for the City of La Porte Police Department. In this position I have been responsible for selecting candidates to bring into the hiring process, assisting the department in pre-hiring assessments, and conducting interviews to ascertain which of the candidates should be brought into the department. I have been responsible for advising the department on discipline policies and other policies relating to the officers of the police department. I have also been required to serve as a hearing officer in determining whether discipline meted out by the Chief is appropriate when challenged by an officer.
COUNCIL ATTORNEY
La Porte County Council
YEARS APPOINTED 1997-2006
La Porte, Indiana
Advised the La Porte County Council as it relates to matters coming before it. Worked with the La Porte County Council during budgeting procedures ($35 million budget). Researched and drafted ordinances and policies. I also researched and reviewed a $23 million bond issue. Appointed by a bipartisan majority each year of my employment.
ATTORNEY
OSBORN, BAUGHER, ROULE & RAELSON
YEARS EMPLOYED 1997-1999
La Porte, Indiana
Worked as a private attorney on a variety of matters in a general practice. I specialized in municipal matters including code enforcement, contracting matters, and drafting local policy and legislation. I was also involved in a number of civil litigation matters and appeared before the Indiana EEOC with one of the partners representing La Porte County.
ATTORNEY
SMITH & DEBONIS
YEARS EMPLOYED 1994-1997
La Porte, Indiana
Following law school and after passing the bar, I worked as an associate in this firm. In this capacity I wrote appellate briefs, argued before the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. I was involved in civil litigation matters, family law, criminal law, EEOC and estate matters, and I spent a great deal of time working closely with and counseling clients. Served as town attorney for the Towns of Wanatah, La Crosse and Kingsbury, and township attorney for Wills Township.
EDUCATION
JURIS DOCTOR
Notre Dame Law School
License in Indiana No. 18063-46
YEARS ATTENDED 1991-1994
Notre Dame, Indiana
LAW CLERK
La Porte Circuit Court
YEARS SERVED 1992-1994
La Porte, Indiana
BACHELOR OF ARTS-- PSYCHOLOGY/ENGLISH MAJORS
University of Notre Dame
YEARS ATTENDED 1986-1990
Notre Dame, Indiana
CERTIFIED FAMILY MEDIATOR
Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum
CERTIFIED IN 2002
CERTIFIED ADULT EDUCATOR
University of Phoenix
CERTIFIED IN 2012
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
● La Porte County Bar Association
● La Porte County Child Protection Team
● Director and Board President, Holy Cross Associates - Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana
● Personnel Committee, La Porte County Government
● President, St. Joseph’s School Home & School Organization
● Director and Board President, Youth Service Bureau / Big Brothers Big Sisters of La Porte County
● Kiwanis Club of La Porte
● Holy Cross Associates (an international volunteer organization), Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana
● School Buddy, La Porte Community Schools mentoring program
● Graduate, La Porte County Leadership
● St. Peter’s Parish
● Lions Club of La Porte
● La Porte County Fatherhood Initiative