• What is a Community of Practice?
• Current list of AJTP Communities of Practice
• Rules of Participation and Etiquette
  
• How to Join a Community of Practice

WHAT IS A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE?

Communities of Practice (CP) are program-specific forums for practitioners and academics to have periodic practice-related dialogue to address issues of interest, including discussions of solutions to problems and how to optimize successful outcomes. Periodically, CP members have the benefit of input from persons with lived experience.

To optimize the probability of achieving the most successful outcomes each CP has a Leadership Group. The Leadership Group consists of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and four members-at-large. All CP participants must adhere to AJTP rules and etiquette for CPs.

Community of Practice Activities: 

• CPs maintain subject area AJTP in-person and online discussion forums;
• Engage in professional development (organize subject matter: webinars, workshops, conferences, online and in-person discussion forums and contribute to AJTP national and international conferences);
• Engage in subject matter advocacy as required;
• Provide valuable subject-area leadership, expertise and insight
• Provide subject-area national and international technical assistance.
• Analyze subject area trends, and develop tools and resources as appropriate.
• Implement succession planning strategies
• Contribute to efforts to ensure full provincial and territorial representation in the CP.

Community of Practice Leadership Group Duties:

• Moderate CP interactions and communications to encourage and ensure adherence to CP Rules and Etiquette.
• Arrange periodic meetings of the CP over the AJTP virtual network as required.
• Ensure the smooth conduct of the CP’s activities.
• Coordinate the CP's determination of its professional development needs
• Help inform AJTP efforts to develop and implement professional development programming which is responsive to the CP's needs. 

CURRENT COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

• Adult Mental Health/Therapeutic Court CP
• Adult Community Court CP
• Community Justice Centres CP
• Community Support Court CP
• Current Issues CP
• Domestic Violence Court CP
• Drug Treatment Court CP
• Integrated Court CP
• Indigenous Courts CP
• Judicial Roundtable (Judges/JPs only) CP
• Treatment Issues - Drug Addiction CP
• Treatment Issues – Mental Health CP
• Treatment Issues – General CP
• Youth Mental Health/Therapeutic Court CP
• Youth Community Court CP
• Youth Treatment Court CP
• Wellness Courts CP

RULES OF ETIQUETTE AND PARTICIPATION

• Views of CP members are not endorsed by AJTP: The purpose of the CP is to provide an opportunity for continuous learning. AJTP does not endorse or take responsibility for communications of members of the CP.
• Agreement to abide by the Rules and Etiquette: Participation in the CP constitutes an express agreement to abide by these CP Rules and Etiquette protocols.
• No attacks on others: Avoid attacking others. The discussions within the CPs should  stimulate conversation, not create contention.
• Confidentiality of communications not guaranteed: Do not share private and confidential information. Assume that any information shared maybe disseminated outside the CP. There is no guarantee that the information will not be shared beyond members of the CP.
• Information shared must relate to the business/practice area of the CP. Communications should be limited to matters related to the business/practice area of the CP.
• Objective Criticism: Keep criticism objective and factually verifiable. Avoid negative statements that impugn a person’s professional qualifications, character, competence, or motive.
• Careful use of language: All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything you would not want the world to see and be aware of copyright ownership rules.
• No Personal Attacks: Avoid personal attacks. Focus on constructive discussions that contribute to the understanding and improvement of practices in the business/practice area of the CP.
• Objective Critique: Maintain criticism on an objective basis. Focus on factual information that can be verified.
• Clear Communication: Contribute to the promotion of  clear communication and the exchange of ideas among practitioners, experts, and individuals with lived experience.
• Identify yourself: provide your name and affiliation/occupation in each communication you send out.
• Professional Caution: Exercise caution when discussing products or services. Refrain from posting anything defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, illegal, or violating any third party's rights.
• Legal Compliance: Participants must comply with all legal rules, particularly those related to copyright ownership of information posted to the CP.
• Transparent Information Sharing: Facilitate transparent information sharing of proven, innovative practices related to social, economic, medical, and psychological determinants of crime and general wellbeing.
• Continuous Improvement: Uphold a commitment to continuous improvement in justice and treatment practices.
• Evidence-based Practices: Promote the use of evidence-based practices within the justice and treatment communities.
• Problem Solving: Encourage problem-solving discussions that address challenges faced by justice and treatment professionals.

HOW TO JOIN A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE

You may send a request to justicetreatment@gmail.com to join any of these CPs. This request should include the following information:

• Your name
• Email address
• Community of Practice you wish to join.
• Occupation
• Court, Treatment Agency or other affiliation
• Area of interest

To suggest the establishment of a Community of Practice not listed above please send an email with specifics including rationale to justicetreatment@gmail.com

Association of Justice and Treatment Professionals

www.justicetreatment.org

justicetreatment@gmail.com