Tara Rittenhouse
Bonney Lake,WA
Summary
Transformational, people-centered juvenile justice leader with over 30 years of experience with the Pierce County Juvenile Court. Expertise in program development, leadership, staff development, and collaborating with community partner and stakeholders, to include families with lived experience. Proven knowledge of JDAI and detention reform, driving equity and collaborative solutions through data-driven decision-making.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Juvenile Probation Counselor 3
Pierce County Juvenile Court
07.2018 - Current
- Lead Early Intervention programs including Diversion, At-Risk Youth (ARY), Child in Need of Services (CHINS), Emancipation, Adoptions, J-Fam, Family Council and Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs. Supervise 6 full time Probation Counselors and Extra-Hire Transporters.
- Lead and develop staff through coaching, collaboration, problem-solving, and support during changing workloads and organizational transitions.
- Lead and develop Diversion enhancement activities that expand pre-diversion opportunities, strengthen victim response, and partner with communities to develop Community Accountability Boards (CABs) so that young people can be served within their local community, by their community supports and members.
- Strengthen partnerships with the Pierce County Prosecutors and community stakeholders to increase understanding and appropriate use of diversion resources while maintaining support to youth and families, victims, and the local community.
- Expanded Family Council to strengthen authentic youth and parent voice by adding a second facilitator and dedicated youth facilitator; helped create the Youth and Family Guide and Family-Support for families visiting their loved ones in detention.
- Initiated and sustained partnerships with Still I Run and NAMI Family-to-Family in response to behavioral-health needs, mobilizing staff and adapting delivery to overcome access and logistical barriers for youth and families.
- Apply Annie E. Casey Foundation Results-Based Leadership and Person-Role–System principles; use recidivism data, program measures, and outcomes to identify strengths, service gaps, and opportunities for innovation.
- Provide contract and fiscal oversight through contract monitoring and invoice review/approval; lead performance-measure reviews to improve accountability and ensure outcomes accurately capture services provided.
- Monitor workflows and longstanding processes to reduce unnecessary work, conserve staff time, and improve service effectiveness.
Civil Manager
Pierce County Juvenile Court
02.2016 - 07.2018
- Managed dependency department operations and personnel leadership for 20+ child advocates and two supervisors, supporting performance, communication, and service delivery.
- Led staff through organizational and operational change management initiatives.
- Supported represented workforce environment through collective bargaining agreement application and participation in union bargaining sessions.
- returned to juvenile probation counselor 3 position following elimination of civil manager position.
Juvenile Probation Counselor 3
Pierce County Juvenile Court
02.2014 - 02.2016
- Provided staff and program leadership for Truancy/BECCA, At-Risk Youth, and Diversion, including program operations, community partnerships, early-intervention strategies, and family-focused services.
- Led the redesign of the truancy program process, collaboration with staff and stakeholders to streamline workflows, improve efficiency, and strengthen services for youth and families.
- Planned and coordinated a statewide BECCA conference in Tacoma for 150+ participants, representing courts across Washington.
- Represented the Pierce County Juvenile Court before the Washington State Legislature, testifying in support of continued Truancy/BECCA funding, collaborating with Juvenile Court Administrators throughout statewide efforts.
Juvenile Probation Counselor 2
Pierce County Juvenile Court
09.1995 - 02.2014
- Supervised youth and families involved with the Juvenile Court in various areas of the court to include Dependency, Community Supervision and Diversion units, ensuring compliance with court-ordered conditions and service plans.
- Coordinated referrals to counseling, treatment, education, and community-based support services.
- Built extensive experience in investigations, court reports and testimony, motivational interviewing, risk assessment and quality assurance, evidence-informed interventions, treatment collaboration, JDAI-informed detention alternatives, and community-based accountability.
- Selected in 2013 for the Community Risk Level Classification Subcommittee, an additional leadership assignment involving complex case review and community risk-level determinations.
- Built extensive experience in investigations, court reports and testimony, motivational interviewing, risk assessment and quality assurance, evidence-informed interventions, treatment collaboration, JDAI-informed detention alternatives, and community-based accountability.
Education
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Highline Community College
Des Moines, WA09-1989
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA06-1994
Skills
- Probation implementation
- JDAI & Detention Alternatives
- Equity in Juvenile Justice
- Results-Based Leadership
- Data-informed decisions
- Program Effectiveness Evaluation
- Contract & fiscal oversight
- Community partnerships
- Family Support Strategies
- Crisis intervention
- Staff leadership
Accomplishments
Washington Association of Juvenile Diversion Units (WAJDU) — Vice President | September 2026–Present
Serve in a statewide leadership role supporting collaboration, shared learning, and continued development of juvenile diversion practice across Washington.
Pierce County Behavioral Health Advisory Board — Board Member | 2022–Present | Second Term
Serve in a lived-experience role representing family perspectives; review mental-health tax funding applications, participate in prospective board-member interviews, and advocate for equitable access to behavioral-health resources, including for marginalized and underserved rural Pierce County communities.
NAMI Pierce County — Volunteer & Family-to-Family Facilitator | 2019–Present
Provide family education, support, advocacy, and connection to behavioral-health resources; served on the Board of Directors, 2019–2022.
Pierce County Juvenile Court Organizational Involvement: Equity Team • CARE Team • Employee Appreciation Team • Shared Leadership Peacemaking Circle Team
Timeline
Juvenile Probation Counselor 3
Pierce County Juvenile Court
07.2018 - Current
Civil Manager
Pierce County Juvenile Court
02.2016 - 07.2018
Juvenile Probation Counselor 3
Pierce County Juvenile Court
02.2014 - 02.2016
Juvenile Probation Counselor 2
Pierce County Juvenile Court
09.1995 - 02.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Central Washington University
Associate of Arts - General Studies
Highline Community College