JULIUS MILLS-DENTI, M.S.
SANTA CRUZ,CA
Summary
Compassionate public service professional with a penchant for systems thinking and program development. Extensive experience writing grants, securing funding, and leveraging government funding to maximize program efficiency and enhance service delivery. Implemented both motivational interviewing and restorative justice approaches in school, permanent supportive housing, juvenile justice and residential settings. Ability to conduct and evaluate research for the enhancement of school-wide and community initiatives. Founder of MIRJservices, a small consulting company that has supported several school districts and over 25 schools with Restorative Justice and Motivational Interviewing practices.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Central California Programs
Step Up on Second
Monterey County
12.2024 - Current
- Leveraged professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Managed a 10 million dollar regional budget
- Housed over 250 clients across Monterey County over the last 2 years.
- Matched HUD funds and Prop 47 Public Defender funds with Cal Aim and HHAP service dollars to fill case management gaps.
- Worked collaboratively with The City of Salinas, Housing Authority of Monterey County, Continuum of Care, City of King and County of Monterey to develop and acquire two Permanent Supportive Housing Programs for chronically homeless adults.
- Worked regularly with accounting and support(A&S) to monitor spending trends, allowable expenses, and contract compliance.
- Developed HOME-ARP Coordinated Entry Policies and Procedures for the Housing Authority of Monterey County in preparation for Permanent Supportive housing lease ups.
- Presented at the Housing California Conference on "Resolving encampments in rural California communities."
- Presented at The Lead Me Home Summit on "Avoiding tokenism when engaging those with lived experience."
- Spearheaded innovative approaches to resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Modified government funded budgets to align with program needs, support spend downs, and reallocate dollars to underfunded line items.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Implemented CAL AIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports Program across Monterey County through securing IPP funds and leveraging existing HHAP contracts for personnel.
- Leveraged Cal AIM ILOS 03 funds to elongate and maximize rental assistance dollars across other programs.
- Secured millions of dollars of government funding for new housing projects and supportive services programs across Monterey County
- Trained over 200 staff in Motivational Interviewing practices over the course of 5 years and led ongoing MI professional development groups
- Led effort to Rapidly Rehouse over 50 individuals displaced by the foreclosure of the Salinas Homekey Project into scattered site housing.
- Worked collaboratively with The City Manager's of Soledad and King CIty on innovative Encampment Resolution funding projects and long-term housing solutions.
- Managed a team of 20 staff across site based and field based settings.
- Served as the Chair of the COC's Coordinated Assessment and Response System to ensure alignment between frontline staff and Coordinated Entry administrators.
- Oversaw and implemented HUD tenant based rental assistance programs in King City and Salinas and monitored all contractual requirements.
- Responsible for the monitoring and reporting of 9 government contracts with different governing bodies, including ERF, multiple rounds of HHAP, ECM, CS, and HUD TBRA,
Assistant Director
Step Up On Second
Salinas
01.2023 - 06.2024
- Work closely with local officials and community partners and homeless housing solutions.
- Trained and mentored new employees on best practices
- Provided Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Justice trainings to over 200 staff across the United States
- Utilized Excel to develop budgets for all five Monterey County Supportive Services Contracts.
- Coordinated with bookkeeping and accounting on spend down timelines, trendsheet alignemnt and contractual amendements.
- Amended three Monterey County HHAP contracts to reflect necessary program changes after the closing of Salinas Homekey Projects.
- Applied and implemented CAL AIM Enhanced Care Management and Community Supports programs and reported milestones for IPP incentives grant
- Developed client record database that streamlined services across multiple Step Up properties.
- Worked with Program Manager on establishing local partnerships to enhance services for clients.
- Helped manage and oversee a multi-million dollar supportive services budget.
- Advocated for Chronically unhoused population at multiple public forums.
- Conducted research on emergency services utilization and the correlation with supportive housing interventions.
Program Manager
Step Up On Second
Salinas, CA
12.2020 - 12.2022
- Managed a project that provides permanent supportive housing to 101 individuals experiencing chronic homelessness and persistent mental health challenges.
- Implemented Restorative Practices to build community connections and repair harm
- Served as organizations local HMIS administrator and managed coordinated entry process.
- Represented a national non-profit in the Salinas region through numerous public speaking engagements, town halls and conversations with the local news
- Worked closely with elected officials to ensure the successful lease up of one of the state's first Homekey projects.
- Worked closely with Property management team to provide context for tenant related issues and advocate for tenants.
- Supported property management with trauma informed communication approaches during lease enforcement.
- Provided weekly supervision and coaching to four case managers
- Coordinated efforts with local community agencies and institutions on behalf of the project and the well-being of the residents.
- Facilitated Tenant Advisory Committee responsible for creating changes and leading community events.
- Served as the organizations national Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Justice trainer.
Gang Intervention Specialist
Santa Cruz County Office Of Education
04.2018 - 11.2020
- Provided counseling and case management services to students at risk of/affiliated with gangs across Santa Cruz County.
- Served as preceptor for alternative education counselors.
- Facilitated restorative circles at alternative education sites, including juvenile hall.
- Led professional development trainings for all alternative education teachers at the county office.
- Facilitated family group conferences for students and families in conflict.
- Developed digital learning communication tools for parents and teachers during the pandemic.
Restorative Justice Specialist And Family Liaison
Youth Alliance
09.2017 - 05.2019
- Implemented restorative practices at four alternative education Sites
- Served over 150 students individually and in group settings
- Facilitated weekly professional development on restorative practices for alternative education teachers
- Helped shift culture at Juvenile Hall from punitive to restorative through use of restorative circles and values based conversations
- Developed MIRJ training(Motivaitonal Interviewing and Restorative Justice) for teachers at alternative ed sites
- Trained over 15 teachers on how to respond to and reflect on discord when it arises in classrooms
- Established a student family support unit for students at risk of expulsion involving case management and Family Group Conferencing
- Developed interventions and restorative language that significantly reduced suspensions for willful defiance
- Conducted action research
- Facilitated harm repair conferences that resulted in overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants
- Supported Chief Operating Officer with daily operational functions
BASTA/Alternative Education Counselor III
Encompass Community Services
01.2016 - 06.2017
- Provided services to 30 plus students involved in the BASTA Program
- Helped increase employment, school attendance and academic performance for students involved in gangs
- Tracked students language, utilizing advanced coding methods linking accomplishments to statements about change
- Intervened in crises, using restorative approaches to repair harm
- Conducted quantitative and qualitative research
- Prepared daily written reports, progress notes and service plans for students
Counselor II
SANTA CRUZ RESIDENTIAL RECOVERY
09.2014 - 04.2016
- Implemented program shifts tailored to individualized service
- Intervened in physical and mental health crises and reduced harm
- Facilitated daily seminars
- Implemented client-centered program Shifts
- Conducted assessments using Trauma Informed Care
- Managed caseloads of up to eight clients, all with unique service plans
- Led up to 30 residents through daily and nightly activities
- Presented to agencies, colleges on substance abuse awareness and effective intervention strategies
Education
Master of Science - Restorative Practices
International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP)
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania2018
Bachelor of Arts - Human Communication
California State University of Monterey Bay
Seaside, Ca2011
Skills
- Bilingual, English/Spanish
- Licensed Restorative Practices Trainer
- Managing and empowering staff
- Contract Management and oversight
- Grants Management
- Cross sector partnerships
- Leveraging funding
- Permanent Supportive Housing
- Motivational Interviewing expertise
- Program Implementation
- Developing and Conducting trainings for large groups
- Intercultural communication
- Research evaluation/literacy
- Public speaking
- Family Group Conferencing
- Life Space Crisis Intervention
- Narrative Practice
- Oral and Written Communication
Websites
- https://www.mirjservices.com/
- https://areomagazine.com/2020/07/24/uncovering-the-non-obvious-the-case-for-restorative-police-refor
- https://www.stepup.org/news/step-up-in-salinas-opens-its-doors-in-monterey-county/
- https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/featured/pint-for-peace-an-essay-on-the-intersection-of-craft-b
- https://www.montereycountynow.com/blogs/news_blog/a-place-of-hope-for-people-formerly-without-homes-is-set-to-open-in-king/article_94dc2cd5-8b0a-4bf5-b3dd-a0481cc87396.html
- https://toolkit.futureoflearningca.org/nurture-racially-just-relationship-centered-and-restorative-school-cultures/youth-alliances-restorative-justice-program/
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/former-hotel-transformed-supportive-housing-090428177.html
Affiliations
- Founder of Mirjservices.
- Coalition of Homeless Services- CARS Committee Chairperson, Summer 2024-Current
- International Institute for Restorative Practices Network of Trainers, 2019-current.
- Member of Motivational Interviewing Champions Group, 2016.
- Former member of Leadership for Community Transformation cohort, United Way, Santa Cruz, 2015-17.
- Former member of Racial Equity and Anti-Racist Organizations Cohort for Encompass Community Services, 2016
Additional Information
- Nominee for National Youth Mentor of the Year award through MENTOR Organization.
- Publications Include: Areo Magazine: Uncovering the Non-Obvious: The Case for Restorative Police Reform. Craft Brewing Business: Pints for Peace: The intersection of craft beer and social justice (and some ideas for change).
- Advanced Motivational Interviewing certified
- Speaker Badge at the 2026 "Housing California Conference" in Sacramento. Topic: Addressing homelessness in rural California Communities.
Timeline
Director, Central California Programs
Step Up on Second
12.2024 - Current
Assistant Director
Step Up On Second
01.2023 - 06.2024
Program Manager
Step Up On Second
12.2020 - 12.2022
Gang Intervention Specialist
Santa Cruz County Office Of Education
04.2018 - 11.2020
Restorative Justice Specialist And Family Liaison
Youth Alliance
09.2017 - 05.2019
BASTA/Alternative Education Counselor III
Encompass Community Services
01.2016 - 06.2017
Counselor II
SANTA CRUZ RESIDENTIAL RECOVERY
09.2014 - 04.2016
Master of Science - Restorative Practices
International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP)
Bachelor of Arts - Human Communication
California State University of Monterey Bay
Consulting Work
07/2022-09/2023
Independent Contractor/
Santa Cruz City Schools
- Led multiple in person trainings for over 100 teachers and administrators at Santa Cruz High School.
- Provided training and workshops to 100 school staff on Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practices.
- Provided ongoing skill development to school personnel.
- Worked closely with school administrators on identifying site challenges and designing interventions tailored to site needs.
- Implemented MIRJ practices with the help of select teachers that participated in a monthly champions group.
4/2021-07/2022.
Independent Contractor/Consultant
Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Worked with Pajaro Valley School District's leadership team to develop comprehensive school climate improvement plans for multiple site.
- Developed program model with mental health counselors and school resource officers on restorative responses to crises.
- Conducted multiple virtual and in person trainings for teachers and administrators across 10 plus school sites.
- Provided training and workshops to 100 school staff on Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practices.
- Provided ongoing skill development to school personnel regularly utilizing restorative practices.
- Conducted needs assessments and implemented restorative plans unique to each school site
09/2018- 09/2021
Independent Contractor/Consultant
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
- Served as Santa Cruz County Office of Ed's Restorative Practices Consultant and Trainer
- Worked with teachers, students and administrators on improving school climate
- Facilitated multiple trainings for all County Office of Education staff on Motivational Interviewing and Restorative Practices
- Helped teachers use restorative circles effectively in their classroom environments
- Developed data collecting methods that captured the the importance of student to staff relationships
- Provided coaching for the Restorative Justice Coordinator.
- Worked on bi-monthly basis with all staff at Sequoia Schools.
09/2020-05/2021
Independent Contractor
Hollister Unified School District
- Facilitated and co-facilitated Restorative circles for middle school students during distance learning.
- Modeled and coached school counselors in circle facilitation.
- Worked with Limitless Learning, LLC and developing social emotional learning modules for both parents, students and school administrators.
- Developed a mixed methods research design that incorporated field notes, surveys, quantitative school data metrics, and parent feedback.
03/2017-06/2017
Independent Contractor
Santa Cruz City Schools
- Planned, implemented, monitored, and assessed a prevention program for elementary students at Gault Elementary School, resulting in a decrease in discipline related infractions
- Strategically used restorative circles on a weekly basis to build relationships and address issues
- Created dynamic role plays and communication games
- Taught and modeled reflective and active listening.
12/2016-02/2017
Trainer/Presenter
Live Oak Family Resource Center
- Presented to over 35 parent guardians on substance abuse interventions and effective conversational approaches
- Provided education on adolescent substance abuse to prospective foster youth guardians
- Facilitated reflective listening activities
- Prepared Powerpoints and diverse lesson plans for presentations/trainings
- Facilitated Role Plays to practice using engaging language when interacting with adult wary youth in foster care
References
Roxanne Wilson, Monterey County Director of Homeless Services, 831-238-3322.
Steve Adams, Former City Manger, King City, 831-386-5917.
Megan Hunter, City Manager, Soledad, 831-529-6948
Kayshla Lopez, Homelessness Services Manager, City of Salinas, 831-208-8933
Nora Ruvalcaba, Director of Development, Housing Authority of Monterey County, 831-970-8825
Katrina Mckenzie, Director of the Coalition of Homeless Services, 831-220-0007.