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MRTC Hosts Family Event
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Evins Youth Enjoy July 4th Celebration
Although it was a hot day, the youth were able to enjoy a watermelon eating contest, chili cheese hotdogs, chips, and nachos while listening to music and having fun by the pool and a giant inflatable waterslide. One youth said, “Oh my God, we ate so much watermelon. It was perfect for the occasion and it was so sweet.”
Watermelon harvest season is in full swing in South Texas and the Evins Volunteer Council was able to purchase plenty for the youth. Some of the criteria to qualify to attend were no major rule violations, working all aspects of program and remaining in proper dress code.
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Ayres House Family Day
PHOTO: Mark Harris and Al Harris
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Global Youth Service Day Makes Tremendous Impact Across Texas
A total of 92 service-learning projects were completed by 10,133 children and youth, and 12,777 hours of service were recorded. There were 153 family members of youth who participated in the projects. TJJD staff estimates that 177,695 Texas citizens benefitted from these service projects in 69 different zip codes across the state. There were 14 media stories that provided coverage and visibility for our GYSD projects. And 29 elected officials participated by issuing proclamations, attending projects, engaging our youth in conversations about social issues, and speaking at opening or celebration events.
- 116,050 Items of food collected and donated
- 112,715 Pounds of food collected and donated
- 5,830 Individuals receiving emergency food from community kitchens, food banks, or nonprofit
- 5,419 Pounds of trash and debris removed
- 4,050 Books or school supplies collected, donated
- 1,834 Pounds of waste reduced, reused, recycled, or composted
- 1,266 Hours served at food bank, food pantry, or kitchen
- 1,224 People educated about the issue of childhood hunger in the community
- 1,101 Meals prepared at kitchen, shelter, or other feeding location
- 400 People registered for food assistance programs (SNAP, Free & Reduced school meals, etc.)
- 399 Backpacks packed and distributed for weekend feeding program
- 335 Individuals engaged in physical activity
- 180 Students gain access to school/education
- 152 Substance abuse, including tobacco, classes organized
- 113 Native trees, shrubs, or other native plants planted
- 90 Animals cared for at animal shelters, etc.
- 82 Adults and youth mentored, tutored, or read to
- 41 Native trees, shrubs, or other native plants maintained
- 37 New adults and youth volunteer mentors, tutors, or readers recruited
- 29 Parks, public lands, habitats, or wilderness areas cleaned or improved, preserved, protected, or created
- 26 Actions supporting military families or veterans
- 22 Food drives or fundraisers organized
- 16 Letters/cards or care packages donated written to active duty troops
- 7 Acres of land and soil restored that were degraded by desertification, drought, and floods
- 5 Acres of harmful invasive vegetation removed
- 5 Classrooms or school spaces physically improved
- 5 Sites cleaned, beautified, and/or painted
- 4 Awareness or education events organized to promote human rights, gender equality, promotion of peace and non-
- violence, global citizenship, or appreciation of cultural diversity
- 3 Fitness events organized
- 3 Health check-ups or consultations provided
- 3 Handwashing stations constructed
- 3 Community or school gardens planted or created
- 3 Buildings or sites reconstructed, renovated, cleaned-up, or otherwise improved
- 2 Number of housing units developed, repaired, or otherwise improved or made available
- 2 Emergency housing or shelters improved
- 2 Sites monitored to collect data about health of land, water, weather, plant life, or animal life
- 1 Sexual and reproductive health classes organized
- 1 Roads or sidewalks improved to increase safety
- 1 Anti-bullying initiatives organized
- 1 Murals painted or community artwork created
Numbers can certainly communicate the scale of impact in this year’s GYSD event, but there are many stories that cannot be told with statistics. Partners shared stories that their youth learned the importance of giving back to the community after spending several hours at an assisted living facility. A halfway house youth said that he was physically tired after working several hours collecting canned food items for the local food bank, but he said he loved doing something good for others and asked about the next opportunity to do so. Other youth learned how one small act of kindness can impact a whole community of people. GYSD promises to have a lasting impact in the lives of the youth we serve.
Global Youth Service Day, an annual campaign of Youth Service America, celebrates and mobilizes the millions of youth across the globe who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. The 28th Annual Global Youth Service Day is April 15-17, 2016. Established in 1988, GYSD is the largest service event in the world and is now celebrated in over 100 countries. During GYSD, children and youth address the world’s most critical issues in partnership with families, schools, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and governments.
PHOTO: Youth from TJJD’s York Halfway House deliver donations to the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission.
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Erik Estrada Makes Appearance At Frisco Rough Riders Fundraiser
Television star Erik Estrada made a guest appearance and threw out the first pitch. State School employee Corina Almanza enjoyed a photo op with the handsome Estrada.
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TJJD’s First Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Vendor Fair
- A for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standards prescribed by 34 TAC §20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas; and
- At least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American Woman and/or Service Disabled Veteran, who reside in Texas and actively participate in the control, operations and management of the entity’s affairs.
The event showcased a new vendor – Scooter Rabbit Motivations, owned by Mr. Alexander Wright. Mr. Wright is a former professional football player who played for many teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Saint Louis Rams and was a scout for the New England Patriots in 2000.
Mr. Wright still holds the Cowboy’s record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown – 102 yards. Coach Wright no longer plays football but he is very involved in sports including being a certified educator, motivational speaker and a minister at Cornerstone Ministries in San Antonio, Texas.
The TJJD HUB Program is committed to providing opportunities for HUB’s to allow them to grow and prosper in Texas. TJJD staff will strive to improve this event for next year. If you have any suggestions or comments, please forward them to Danny.Vasquez@tjjd.texas.gov.
PHOTO: Danny Vasquez, HUB Program Specialist and Kenneth Ming, Director of Business Operations and Contract.
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Youth Center Director Talks Future
Kevin Mann started position in March 2
This article appeared in the June 2, 2016 edition of the Odessa AmericanBy Nathaniel Miller nmiller@oaoa.com
Kevin Mann said he had always been interested in a career with criminal justice, but he was not sure on what avenue he wanted to pursue in the field.
Then, in 2002, Mann said a friend told him the Ector County Youth Center needed employees and he applied, being hired to work as a youth center detention officer. It was about a few weeks into the job he said he decided working with at-risk youths was his passion.
“I’ve always wanted to help kids,” Mann said. “This door opened and when I first started working here, I knew criminal justice is where I wanted to go.”
The youth center is a detention facility where minors charged with crimes are held. It also houses an education center.
Mann, who now has 14 years of experience with the department, also worked as an intake officer and then as a probation officer before he was selected in March as the director of the youth center, replacing former director Lou Serrano.
Mann, who received a degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, said his path to director started when he told Serrano he was interested in becoming more involved in the day-to-day operations of the youth center.
Serrano said Mann’s chance, after receiving state training, came when Serrano applied for one of three newly created positions after the 84th Texas Legislative Session passed Senate Bill 1630 that focuses on trying to keep some convicted youths out of detention facilities.
Now the regional coordinator for the South, West and Panhandle regions with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Serrano said he still works closely with Mann, adding he is confident in Mann’s ability to lead the employees in the youth center and work with the children. “I think one of the things Kevin brought to the table … he had some thoughts and ideas on where to improve,” Serrano said.
Serrano said his new position allows him to stay in Odessa and Mann said the mentorship between the two has since turned into a friendship. Mann said he still calls Serrano when he has questions. “Lou was a great mentor,” Mann said. “He is a great advocate for kids. To model myself after him is the direction I want to go.”
Serrano is not the only person Mann said he relies on for assistance, as another Ector County department director has not only similar experience, but also had the opportunity to know Mann all of his life. Richard Mann, the director for adult probation, is also Kevin Mann’s older brother. Also a graduate of UTPB with a degree in criminal justice, Richard Mann said his relationship with Serrano was great and he hopes to continue working with youth center employees under his brother’s leadership.
“If I had a project going on where I needed some officers to knock on doors to check on probationers, he (Serrano) would lend me officers and if they had something going on out there that had to do where adult probation might be involved, we would be out there,” Richard Mann said of his relationship with Serrano.
Richard Mann said he and Kevin Mann do talk about work, with Kevin Mann saying he bounces ideas off of his brother about what works and does not work as a director. Of course, as siblings, both said there is still a hint of sibling rivalry.
“We had the basic sibling relationship: He was the older brother and when I outgrew him, he still tried to tell me what to do,” Kevin Mann, who is taller than Richard Mann, said with a laugh. “That hasn’t changed.”
Richard Mann said he still likes to play the role of older brother now and then, but when asked about Kevin Mann’s appointment to the position, had nothing but praise for the work his brother has done while an employee with the youth center.
“He takes pride in wherever he’s working at,” Richard Mann said. “He owns stock in it and he wants it to look good whether he’s at the bottom of the totem pole or at the top.”
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York House Youth Help Clean Corpus Christi Beach
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TJJD Implements New Training Curricula on Gang Awareness, Grooming, Suicide Prevention and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Gang Awareness was developed by the JJTA with the assistance of Office of Inspector General and State Programs and Facilities. This course provides a basic overview of gangs and gang-related behavior, including components of gang membership. Using scenario-based training, it allows participants to determine whether youth behavior is reportable as gang membership or activity. The course also outlines reporting requirements for suspected gang activity. This will be the first of a phased progression of courses in Gang Awareness. At TJJD, each facility will also provide staff with a presentation by the Office of Inspector General to identify gang related issues and trends that are specific to that facility or region.
Grooming: Are You Vulnerable? was developed by the JJTA with the assistance of the Administrative Investigations and Treatment professionals. This course covers grooming techniques youth use to manipulate staff into compromising their professional ethics and boundaries. This module also reviews the six types of people a groomer may target. Participants self-assess using a checklist to determine their susceptibility to various grooming techniques used by youth. This course also provides staff with information regarding types of errors a staff member makes if being groomed and how to intervene on behalf of one another in an effort to protect staff and stop the grooming process.
Suicide Prevention was developed by the JJTA with the assistance of the Treatment professionals of TJJD. This course introduces new employees to the policies and procedures governing the management of suicidal youth at TJJD. Staff will learn to identify the warning signs and symptoms found in youth dealing with suicidal behavior and five important points that when applied can help prevent suicide attempts by the youth under the care of the juvenile justice system. Staff will recognize how important a professional attitude is towards helping TJJD youth dealing with suicidal thoughts, actions, and behaviors.
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury was developed by the JJTA with the assistance of the Treatment Division of TJJD. This course explains the difference between non-suicidal self-injury behaviors (NSSI) and suicidal behaviors. Staff will recognize the warning signs and motivating factors of NSSI. Staff will also learn what to do if they manage a youth who is pre-NSSI, committing NSSI, or post NSSI.
For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas. gov.
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Red Nose Day
PHOTO: Top Row Left to Right: Regina Cunningham, Thelma Rodriguez, John Williams; Middle Row Left to Right: Katherine “Nikki” Brown, De Lana Smethers, Ruth Thompson, Karen Trevino, Cheryl Crawford, Guillermina Nieto, Wade Desemar, Elizabeth Rodriguez; Sitting Left to Right: Michael Montgomery, Theresia Balfour and Kegan Oliver
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Gainesville Youth Participate in United Way Day of Caring
Youth from the Gainesville State School recently participated in the United Way Day of Caring. Youth were chosen to participate in two projects. One was in Valley View, Texas, where youth painted all the metal work at the community park. They were able to give the park a fresh new look in record time! Youth also traveled to Lindsey, Texas, where they created five new flower beds. These beds are being planted with flowers and shrubs that attract butterflies. These new butterfly gardens are the talk of the town.
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Schaeffer House Youth Baptized
TJJD halfway houses encourage youth to take part in community activities and services. Many youth at the Schaeffer House in El Paso elect to attend worship services at different denominations in the community. In May, several youth chose to be baptized during services at Friendship Baptist Church.
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State Volunteer Resource Council Elects New Officers
Delegates from the thirteen community resource councils that are affiliated with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department met on May 6 to elect new officers for the State Volunteer Resource Council for Texas Youth. Incumbent officers President Glen Hilton, Vice-President Raul Arredondo, Treasurer Wachelle Williams, and Member-at-Large Glenn Faulk were reelected for another term of service. Juan Quintanilla, a delegate from the Volunteer Council for Texas Youth in San Antonio, was elected as the State Council’s Secretary for a two-year term.
Out-going Secretary Sandra Willard, of the McLennan County Community Resource Council, was presented a plaque recognizing her three years of service on the State Council’s executive committee. Sandra will continue to serve on the McLennan County Council that provides support and activities at the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility.
The State Volunteer Resource Council was established to support a network of local community resource councils affiliated with the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. They meet semi-annually to provide networking opportunities for local delegates. At the May 6th meeting, TJJD Chief of Staff Chelsea Buchholtz presented a “State of the Agency” address to the delegates, who will, in turn, take the information back to their local councils.
PHOTO: Juan Quintanilla, a delegate from the Volunteer Council for Texas Youth in San Antonio, accepts the oath of office after being elected Secretary for the SVRC.
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TJJD Staff Trained in National Curriculum on SOGIE
Harris County Juvenile Probation recently received technical assistance through the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention for a Train the Trainer on a curriculum entitled Towards Equity. Toward Equity is a 25-hour curriculum specifically designed for juvenile justice professionals and provides comprehensive, interactive training lessons designed to increase competence about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, while providing practitioners with increased knowledge, tools, and resources for working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth in the juvenile justice system.
TJJD was able to send two staff to attend the Train the Trainer to become certified in training the curriculum. TJJD will explore ways on how we can implement all or part of the curriculum to both TJJD staff and probation personnel. The Juvenile Justice Training Academy will provide a formal announcement once the curriculum is able to be implemented.
For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas. gov.
TJJD was able to send two staff to attend the Train the Trainer to become certified in training the curriculum. TJJD will explore ways on how we can implement all or part of the curriculum to both TJJD staff and probation personnel. The Juvenile Justice Training Academy will provide a formal announcement once the curriculum is able to be implemented.
For more information, please contact Kristy Almager at 512.490.7125 or Kristy.Almager@tjjd.texas.gov or Chris Ellison at 512.490.7245 or Chris.Ellison@tjjd.texas. gov.
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Employees Receiving Tenure Awards
TJJD would like to recognize the following employees who have received a tenure award since July 2016. On behalf of the agency, we extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for their dedication and service to the State of Texas.
Five Years of Service
Alicia L. Sorrells, Austin
Amy L. Burns, Gainesville
Gita Upreti, Austin
Julius Castillo, Giddings
Ten Years of Service
Agnes L. Gray, Giddings
Daniel L. Newton, Ron Jackson
Gavin P. Wallace, Giddings
Ismelda K. Huerta, Evins
Marian I. Jost, Austin
Mildred R. Watkins, McLennan RTC
Randy Sterling, McLennan Phoenix
Teodulo P. Rios, McFadden Ranch
Willie R. Brown, Schaeffer HWH
Fifteen Years of Service
Carla D. Garza, Gainesville
Cheryl Shabazz, McLennan RTC
Janet Washington, McLennan RTC
Jason D. Holle, McLennan CSJCF
Joe D. Petree, Gainesville
Lloyd . Serna, Evins
Marcus T. Jones, Houston DO
Maria M. Jarvis, Gainesville
Twenty Years of Service
Alisa J. Simmons, McLennan CSJCF
Becky W. Woodruff, Ron Jackson O&A
Denise W. Askea, Austin
Michael J. Trdy, Giddings
Ross G. McQueen, York HWH
Troy M. Tomme, Ron Jackson O&A
Thirty-Five Years of Service
Judy K. Westbrook, Giddings
July 2016
Five Years of Service
Alicia L. Sorrells, Austin
Amy L. Burns, Gainesville
Gita Upreti, Austin
Julius Castillo, Giddings
Ten Years of Service
Agnes L. Gray, Giddings
Daniel L. Newton, Ron Jackson
Gavin P. Wallace, Giddings
Ismelda K. Huerta, Evins
Marian I. Jost, Austin
Mildred R. Watkins, McLennan RTC
Randy Sterling, McLennan Phoenix
Teodulo P. Rios, McFadden Ranch
Willie R. Brown, Schaeffer HWH
Fifteen Years of Service
Carla D. Garza, Gainesville
Cheryl Shabazz, McLennan RTC
Janet Washington, McLennan RTC
Jason D. Holle, McLennan CSJCF
Joe D. Petree, Gainesville
Lloyd . Serna, Evins
Marcus T. Jones, Houston DO
Maria M. Jarvis, Gainesville
Twenty Years of Service
Alisa J. Simmons, McLennan CSJCF
Becky W. Woodruff, Ron Jackson O&A
Denise W. Askea, Austin
Michael J. Trdy, Giddings
Ross G. McQueen, York HWH
Troy M. Tomme, Ron Jackson O&A
Thirty-Five Years of Service
Judy K. Westbrook, Giddings
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Grayson County “Houses” On Display
Two distinct "houses" are on display in Denison, Texas as the Grayson County Department of Juvenile Services continues to provide opportunities for its youth. The Department’s Victor House, a 2015 addition to the county’s post adjudication program, provides a new housing option for post adjudication youth. Residents that exhibit positive behavior can apply for assignment to Victor, which provides a less restrictive environment.
Victor House provides a therapeutic homelike environment, with open meeting rooms, study areas, an open kitchen and dorm rooms. The walls are decorated with colorful artwork, all produced by the youth who live there.
As an alternative program track, the Victor House emphasizes learning and interactions between staff and residents as well as independent living. The focus is on developing traits like positive leadership principles, personal accountability, and independent living skills. The residents will also have the opportunity to participate in vocational training such as construction and automotive maintenance and care.
"Previously, kids would come in and do well but receive little attention," said Director of Grayson County Juvenile Services Brian Jones. "We wanted to reward that type of positive behavior. Victor House allows us to be adaptable, to reward our kids who are doing well, and to provide specialized programming."
Jones also noted that the less restrictive environment is conducive to family participation. Victor House isn’t just for senior level cadets and any level youth can be included if they are doing well behaviorally, emotionally, and educationally.
Their primary education will continue to be provided by Sherman Independent School District. In addition, residents within the Victor House have the opportunity to continue participation in all of the programs as our traditional program.
Tiny House, Big Gains
In April 2016, the Department of Juvenile Services began the adventure of constructing their very own "tiny house." Staff are using the experience of building the "tiny house" to introduce the world of construction and architecture to the young men they are working with, giving them introductory skills in a vocational trade.
One of the biggest obstacles staff and youth encountered was the Texas summer. Scorching heat and rainy days stretched the project out longer than anticipated but the young men spent their time learning many skills that will be useful for them in the future, such as how to properly measure and cut wood, which tools are best utilized for projects, and using circular saws, carpentry squares, tape measures, drills, table saws, and many other tools.
Construction of the house continues today, with work taking place on the weekends now that school is in session. Once completed, the house will be used as a therapeutic counseling center, continuing to serve the youth of Grayson County.
PHOTOS: TOP: The Victor House has a full-sized, spacious modern kitchen. BOTTOM: Grayson County Department of Juvenile Services staff work with youth to deck their tiny house.
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A Message From the Director
Last month the Gainesville State School celebrated its 100-year anniversary. The school has had a long and vital history during that time, beginning as a school for girls and then transitioning to a juvenile detention facility for the Texas Youth Commission in 1971. I want to acknowledge the hard work of Mike Studamire and Deidra Reece for organizing the event. I enjoyed the celebration and was proud to take part in burying a time capsule that will be opened in 50 years. And, as a bonus, our beloved football team, The Tornadoes, won their homecoming game later that evening.
TJJD implemented the automated certification exam for juvenile probation officers in September. After many years in the making, I am happy to see its existence come to fruition and believe it will be an additional level of credibility to our field for certified juvenile probation officers. Our goal is ultimately ensuring the mandatory topics are adequately trained so staff can successfully perform the duties of their position. Work on the juvenile supervision officer certification exam will soon begin and we are anticipating that this exam will begin an extensive pilot in January.
I’m also happy to report that we continue seeing success with the Regionalization efforts with our county partners. To date we have received 115 diversion applications, 59 of which have been approved, and 44 of those youth have had a hearing and sent to the approved placement by the local juvenile court.
The agency’s new school year is off to a good start and I am proud of the efforts that have been and continue to be made to transition to a new schedule. I am excited about the flexibility it provides for additional programing. Our education department continues to look for ways to improve youth learning and academic and I’m especially thankful to our state facility staff who are able to think outside the box on how to apply our resourcefulness in providing meaningful activities for our youth while they are not in class.
From a population perspective, from January to December, 2015, TJJD saw a 10.8% increase in residential average daily population (ADP). Since that time the population has showed some signs of stability, but has remained elevated: the ADP through the end of FY 2016 was 1,330.65. This was above what we were appropriated by 5.3%. In FY 2017, our budget drops to a lower projected population, making the overage at the start of the year jump to 7.5%. We obviously will be monitoring this trend closely.
During the past few months, TJJD has made two presentations in the lead up to the 85th Legislative Session which kicks off in January 2017. In August, we presented our legislative appropriations request (LAR) in a hearing to staff of the Governor’s office, the Legislative Budget Board, the Speaker and Lieutenant Governor’s offices, and other House and Senate staff. We were pleased by the interest of those who participated in the hearing and were asked many good questions. We have met less formally with many of those offices to discuss our LAR in more detail. These conversations have gone well and we are cautiously optimistic for the outcome of some of these requests during session.
Early in September we traveled to Dallas for a House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues hearing. We were asked to discuss four topics: data sharing between TJJD and DFPS, regionalization, potential raise the age legislation, and our initiatives and focus since last session.
It is also important to me that we be in lockstep with our county partners throughout session. We are one juvenile justice system. We met with many representatives from the field on September 21st to discuss how we can share information during session and be one voice. This was a productive meeting and I hope the first of many. I also intend to engage the presidents of the seven regions as a mechanism for communication during session and beyond. Historically this has been called the Presidents’ Council. We are looking for a date in November to meet with this group to ensure that the avenues for communication between the agency and the field are wide open and consistent.
TJJD implemented the automated certification exam for juvenile probation officers in September. After many years in the making, I am happy to see its existence come to fruition and believe it will be an additional level of credibility to our field for certified juvenile probation officers. Our goal is ultimately ensuring the mandatory topics are adequately trained so staff can successfully perform the duties of their position. Work on the juvenile supervision officer certification exam will soon begin and we are anticipating that this exam will begin an extensive pilot in January.
I’m also happy to report that we continue seeing success with the Regionalization efforts with our county partners. To date we have received 115 diversion applications, 59 of which have been approved, and 44 of those youth have had a hearing and sent to the approved placement by the local juvenile court.
The agency’s new school year is off to a good start and I am proud of the efforts that have been and continue to be made to transition to a new schedule. I am excited about the flexibility it provides for additional programing. Our education department continues to look for ways to improve youth learning and academic and I’m especially thankful to our state facility staff who are able to think outside the box on how to apply our resourcefulness in providing meaningful activities for our youth while they are not in class.
From a population perspective, from January to December, 2015, TJJD saw a 10.8% increase in residential average daily population (ADP). Since that time the population has showed some signs of stability, but has remained elevated: the ADP through the end of FY 2016 was 1,330.65. This was above what we were appropriated by 5.3%. In FY 2017, our budget drops to a lower projected population, making the overage at the start of the year jump to 7.5%. We obviously will be monitoring this trend closely.
During the past few months, TJJD has made two presentations in the lead up to the 85th Legislative Session which kicks off in January 2017. In August, we presented our legislative appropriations request (LAR) in a hearing to staff of the Governor’s office, the Legislative Budget Board, the Speaker and Lieutenant Governor’s offices, and other House and Senate staff. We were pleased by the interest of those who participated in the hearing and were asked many good questions. We have met less formally with many of those offices to discuss our LAR in more detail. These conversations have gone well and we are cautiously optimistic for the outcome of some of these requests during session.
Early in September we traveled to Dallas for a House Juvenile Justice and Family Issues hearing. We were asked to discuss four topics: data sharing between TJJD and DFPS, regionalization, potential raise the age legislation, and our initiatives and focus since last session.
It is also important to me that we be in lockstep with our county partners throughout session. We are one juvenile justice system. We met with many representatives from the field on September 21st to discuss how we can share information during session and be one voice. This was a productive meeting and I hope the first of many. I also intend to engage the presidents of the seven regions as a mechanism for communication during session and beyond. Historically this has been called the Presidents’ Council. We are looking for a date in November to meet with this group to ensure that the avenues for communication between the agency and the field are wide open and consistent.
On a final note, I want to make you all aware of an act of kindness on the part of one of our staff members that received a great amount of attention. Lester Brown’s selfless act of giving to help a school teacher in San Antonio resulted in a school supply company donating supplies for every student at Francis R. Scobee Middle School in San Antonio, an appearance on the Rachael Ray show, and a national movement with its own hashtag (#HundredDollarDeeds). It’s a great story and one worthy of a few minutes of your time. Take a lookhere. Thank you Lester!
As this issue of TJJ Today goes to press, we just learned that Teresa Stroud, our Senior Director for State Programs and Facilities, has just been elected to a seat on the American Correctional Association Board of Governors. This reflects positively on Teresa and on TJJD. We’ll have more information about this honor in an upcoming newsletter.
PHOTO: David Reilly
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David Reilly Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
On Tuesday October 25, 2016 Texas Juvenile Justice Department Executive Director David Reilly received the prestigious Amador R. Rodriguez Lifetime Achievement Award during the Juvenile Justice Association Of Texas’ (JJAT) Fall Conference in Corpus Christi.
The award is given annually to a juvenile justice professional who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in the juvenile justice field. Mr. Reilly was nominated by his peers in the juvenile justice field and vetted by a committee of juvenile justice professionals. This prestigious award is recognition of Mr. Reilly’s service to the youth in Texas. JJAT President Stephanie Fowler presented the award to Reilly during the awards luncheon. The Juvenile Justice Association of Texas is proud to include Reilly among the small number of previous recipients.
Reilly, who has served as TJJD’s executive director since 2014, previously served as the Chief Probation Officer for the Bexar County Juvenile Probation Department in San Antonio for 17 years. In that capacity, he oversaw a department that has 680 employees and operates three secure juvenile facilities, serving both pre-adjudication and post-adjudication youth. He has a combined total of 49 years’ experience in the delivery of children and youth services in Texas.
Before joining Bexar County in 1997, Mr. Reilly served 23 years with the state, with the last five years as the Director of Field Operations for Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services from 1992-1997. Prior to that, Reilly had served as Regional Director for Child Protective Services for 10 years in the San Antonio region and three years as Regional Director in the Austin region.
He began his career as a juvenile probation officer shortly after graduating from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio with a B.A. degree in Psychology. After two years as a juvenile probation officer, Reilly returned to graduate school at Our Lady of The Lake University (OLLU) and received his Master of Social Work degree in 1970. Reilly was selected as an Outstanding Alumni, OLLU in 1996. Reilly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Amador R. Rodriguez, who the award was named for, worked in the Cameron County juvenile department from 1971 until his death in 2000. During his time there, he created a juvenile boot camp and an alternative education program. He was elected as the first president of the Juvenile Justice Association of Texas in December of 1999. JJAT is the largest juvenile specific trade organization in Texas, boasting over 500 members representing all of the seven regions from across the state.
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Gainesville State School Celebrates 100 Years of Service
The Gainesville State School celebrated its 100 year anniversary on September 30, 2016.
The Gainesville campus celebrated the event with a ceremony that included a proclamation delivered by Gainesville Mayor Jim Goldsworthy declaring September 30 to be "Gainesville State School Day." One of the new sights on campus was a train engine constructed and painted by welding instructors and students. Also on display was the newly painted windmill adorned with a tornado.
A group of youth known as "Twelve" provided music during the ceremony. Executive Director David Reilly and Director of Programs and Facilities Teresa Stroud were in attendance and participated in the event, helping to bury a time capsule filled with present day photographs and memorabilia. It will be opened in 50 years.
Gainesville State School was originally opened as the Texas State Training School for Girls in 1916 with an enrollment of 18 girls. In 1948, the school was renamed Gainesville State School for Girls and in 1957, the 55th Texas Legislature transferred the school to the Texas Youth Council.
In 1971, the school became a co-educational juvenile correctional facility under the Texas Youth Commission. In 1988, the facility became a boys-only institution. Today, the school is operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and houses more than 200 young men. The school offers a robust menu of programming for young offenders, including a Sexual Behavior Treatment Program, and Alcohol and Other Drugs program, Violent Offender Program, Pairing Achievement With Service canine program, and the agency’s Capstone program.
For 100 years, the Gainesville State School has been working to improve the lives of Texas youth. It remains a vital part of the Gainesville and TJJD communities.
PHOTO: From left to right: Gainesville State School Superintendent Mike Studamire, TJJD Director of State Programs Teresa Stroud, TJJD Executive Director David Reilly and Gainesville Mayor Jim Goldsworthy use golden shovels to bury the Gainesville State School time capsule.
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The House of Eli
Situated on a quiet corner lot in a Sherman, Texas neighborhood is a turn-of-the-century home recently renovated to its former grandeur. And just as the house has undergone a renewal, those living inside the house are engaged their own transformations.
House of Eli, Inc. is a transitional living home for boys ages 17-21. The driving force behind the home is Tawni Hodge, the home’s executive director and visionary who has discovered an outlet for her concern for young men in difficult situations. Hodge has a passion and expertise in working with young men from her years as a foster parent and her experiences as a chaplain working with juvenile services. Her vision of a home where young men could grow spiritually and emotionally, learn life skills and make lifelong family connections was enough to convince local community and business leaders to provide the necessary resources to make House of Eli a reality. Guidance is provided by Hodge, two additional house parents, and two live-in male employees who have other jobs or school during the day but live in the house full time.
Candidates for admission to House of Eli are typically at high risk for future incarceration and aging out of the juvenile justice or foster care systems. The youth must be recommended by a case manager, probation officer, chaplain, or teacher in order to be eligible for placement. Once accepted, they follow a structured daily plan focusing on education, specific job skills training, scripturally based recovery work, and constant exposure to Christian principles. The goal is to provide 12 months of intensive training and guidance in all aspects of healthy living.
House of Eli also maintains two businesses to provide job skills training for the young men and income to help support the home. Eli Brothers is a real estate development company, buying, remodeling, and selling homes. It also provides moving services, landscaping, home staging, and working with realtors. Made New is a resale antique store that fixes and restores items donated by the community. House of Eli doesn’t receive state or federal funds so all financial support comes from grants and private donations.
"House of Eli is a safe place where broken boys come to find a new life," Hodge said. "Living in a family setting, working in ‘family owned’ businesses and developing the disciplines to become strong men are the hallmarks of this year-long intensive life change academy. Saturated with the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, heart change leads to real life change. What could be a better investment than to give someone the tools to be free?"
PHOTO: This beautifully restored home has become a place of hope and restoration for The House of Eli.
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