Hello, I’m Richard Gentry, the proud founder of Strategic Interventions L.L.C. I established this organization with a mission to support and assist agencies and organizations within the juvenile justice, child welfare, and education sectors. My academic journey at Michigan State University laid the groundwork for my Bachelor’s Degree, and I further honed my expertise with a Master’s from Spring Arbor University in Family Studies, emphasizing Cognitive Behavioral Intervention.

Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with the National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS), New York City Association for Children’s Services (ACS), The Moss Group, Mel Brown and Associates, and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Court, where I’ve had the honor of speaking at conferences and leading workshops. I’ve also shared my insights as a presenter in a widely viewed webinar for the National Center for Youth in Custody, focusing on “Effective Strategies for Facility-Based Behavior Management.”

I’ve engaged with professionals at state and regional juvenile justice conferences and have provided training to school districts, residential and detention centers, day treatment, and evening reporting centers. Moreover, I lead weekly workshops aimed at college students and fellow professionals, all dedicated to applying evidence-based interventions in their work with young people.

One role that has stood out in my career was directing the Ingham County Youth Center in Lansing, Michigan. This center, featured in Dr. David Roush’s book “Recalibrating Juvenile Detention” and recognized by Social Work Today magazine, serves as a national model for its integration of social cognitive theory, relationship building, and trauma interventions. Additionally, I share my passion for juvenile justice as an associate professor at Lansing Community College.

My direct care experience in medium and high-security residential facilities, alongside community-based interventions, has been pivotal in my approach. I’m honored to have received the Hugh Whipple Award in 1998 for Child Care Worker Excellence. I also directed the Creating Violence Free Communities projects, funded by the Michigan Department of Public Health, which united local clergy and community leaders to reduce teen crime and delinquency. My commitment to outreach is further exemplified by my international ministry work, having been ordained by Dunamis Full Gospel fellowship and speaking at events in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

In my leadership capacities, I’ve served as the president of the Michigan Juvenile Detention Association (MJDA) and participated in the Critical Issues and Aftershift Committees with the National Partnership for Juvenile Services (NPJS). I am also a board member for Redemption and New Directions Ministries, both 501(c)(3) organizations committed to making a difference in the lives of those at risk.

At the heart of my work is a deeply desire to equip front-line staff with the knowledge and skills to excel as juvenile justice practitioners. My life’s work is about transformation, support, and growth, not just for the youth we serve, but for the professionals dedicated to this vital cause.