淫妻社

Alissa Corbin sits outside Morton Hall on the campus of 淫妻社 (UAH) where she spent much of her time earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree with a double major in psychology and sociology. She鈥檚 wearing the stole and cords for her graduation from UAH, which will happen on May 4, 2026, during commencement ceremonies at the Von Braun Center Propst Arena.

Courtesy Montana Shortt Photography

The right kind of help at the right time can turn a life around, especially for a teen in trouble. Even in high school, Alissa Corbin knew she wanted to be one of those helpers.

She followed her dream to 淫妻社 (UAH) and double-majored in psychology and sociology in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. On May 4, UAH will award her a bachelor鈥檚 degree during spring 2026 commencement ceremonies at the Von Braun Center. UAH is a part of The University of Alabama System.

鈥淚 chose the absolute perfect place to expand my education because it felt like everyone was rooting for me,鈥� said Corbin, one of the First & Proud Chargers, the first generation in her family to receive a bachelor鈥檚 degree. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 take any psychology or sociology classes in high school. When I got to UAH, the environment of the college and the professors really opened my mind.鈥�

Corbin is more eager than ever to work with at-risk youth now that her UAH experiences have expanded her prospects. When she tested her knowledge and talents during two internships, first at Youth Advocate Programs () Inc. and then with the Jackson County Juvenile Probation Court in her hometown of Scottsboro, she redefined her calling.

鈥淧eople never really talk about being a juvenile probation officer. I was narrowly focused on counseling, but this internship opened my eyes to new opportunities for more involvement.鈥�

During Corbin鈥檚 psychology internship with YAP, she often worked in coordination with juvenile probation officers. Their straightforward methods impressed her.

鈥淎t YAP, I was providing individualized services for juveniles, but being at probation, I see that they have a wider reach. They not only hold the juveniles accountable; they鈥檙e also holding the families accountable. They have access to the resources to be able to find the services that the juvenile needs in order to help them become better versions of themselves. Something that Judge always says in court is, 鈥榊es, you are here, and this situation may be bad. But everyone in this room wants you to live a happy and successful life.鈥欌��

When Corbin witnessed the dedication, honesty and concern at juvenile probation, she knew she wanted to join them.

Putting lessons into practice

Legal limits kept Corbin from working directly with youth and families. Instead, she used lessons from UAH to make the officers鈥� jobs flow faster and easier.

鈥淎 big issue was their intake document and social history form. It was extremely long, approximately 10 pages. It gives them background on the home life, the education, any substance use, basically the entire environment of the juveniles and their families. They were having difficulty with people filling out the entire form.鈥�

The process slowed down further when officers had to ask for that missing information during intake appointments. The chief probation officer wanted to send families a QR code on official letterhead so they could fill out the form online at home.

鈥淪he gave me an outline of their current document and all the things that needed to be covered. I made sure to branch everything so, when they answered one question, it would take them to another question to provide more information. I made sure that every answer was required so that they could not go forward until they had answered every single question.鈥�

The new form saved even more time by letting officers copy and paste the information instead of typing handwritten answers into their system.

The chief probation officer also wanted a juvenile self-report form that kids could fill out in person without parental influence. Corbin鈥檚 first version offered a baseline covering all the topics.

Another officer requested more in-depth questions about drug types and frequency of use. Corbin incorporated the update, including a Likert scale to make it easier to track frequency. She adjusted the language, too.

鈥淲orking with YAP showed me that some language can be difficult for juveniles to comprehend. I used the skills that I built working with them to alter that language just a little bit so they would feel more comfortable answering those questions.鈥�

Corbin鈥檚 goal: Make the form feel more like a conversation, less like an interrogation.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 really overwhelming for them. They鈥檙e like, 鈥業鈥檓 already in trouble. If I say anything else, I鈥檓 going to be in more trouble.鈥� I wanted them to feel like, 鈥楾hese people really want to help me, and this is my opportunity to receive that help.鈥欌��

Thanks to her UAH professors and their dynamic combination of theory and application, Corbin had the skills to give juvenile probation a boost in efficiency and compassion.

鈥淚 used all of my knowledge that I鈥檝e gained through research methods and statistics classes and applied them in creating the social intake form. It鈥檚 nice to know that the education that I鈥檓 getting is really beneficial to what I鈥檓 doing.鈥�

Patience makes it work

Along with her academic acumen, Corbin understands from personal experience how important patience is for young people going through a difficult time in their lives. She was there herself, and she received the help she needed to get through it.

鈥淥ne of the probation officers I worked with had helped me in my youth. She told me, 鈥業鈥檓 just so proud of you 鈥� where you have come from to this moment.鈥� And I told her, 鈥榊ou have no idea the impact that you鈥檝e had on my life.鈥� It鈥檚 been great to work side by side with someone who was that influence for me.鈥�

Corbin and the officers were sorry to part company at the end of her internship, but jobs are limited.

鈥淚n the meantime, I鈥檓 going to get more legal experience working with documents and clients, gathering information. I will build those skills that I need for, hopefully, a later opportunity as a probation officer.鈥�

Corbin has already started her next job with the Blackwell Law Firm in Huntsville. The chief probation officer provided one of the references that made a strong impression on the firm.

Corbin is also continuing to serve youth directly through her church, Faith Covenant Church of God in Scottsboro.

鈥淚 love being able to share my testimony with them, to be that voice of awakening and let them know difficult times do not have to be defining times. It鈥檚 not just the kids who are getting in trouble that need to hear this. It鈥檚 every child.鈥�