Amanda Blasko is a program manager of best practices and communications for the NCJA Center for Justice Planning team. In this position, Amanda conducts training and technical assistance for both the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) and the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (Byrne SCIP). Training and technical assistance is primarily directed toward State Administering Agencies (SAAs) and Criminal Justice Coordinating Councils (CJCCs), with a specific emphasis on the development of strategic plans to guide funding, implementing evidence-informed programs, enhancing the use of data-driven decision making and improving outcomes for individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. Additionally, Amanda creates content across a variety of mediums on strategic planning, promising practices and other topics of interest for SAAs and other partners.

Prior to joining NCJA, Amanda worked in the SAA’s office for the state of Oklahoma. In this role, she served as a grant programs specialist for JAG, CESF and PSN, which involved writing federal grant applications, strategic planning, providing TTA and guidance to subgrantees throughout the award cycle, and ensuring compliance and adequate progress toward goals and objectives.

Amanda holds both a BA and an MFA from Oklahoma State University. During her time as a graduate student in OSU’s creative writing program, she served as an instructor of record for first year college writing courses.