Houston District Office Helping Youth GitRedy for Success

Houston District Office HelpingYouth GitRedy for SuccessThe Houston District Office is working with grant funding from the U.S.Department of Justice to help gang-affiliated Harris County youth and theirfamilies re-connect in a positive way with their communities when they returnhome from Texas Youth Commission secure facilities.With initial funding of $524,461, the Gang Intervention Treatment Re-EntryDevelopment for Youth (GitRedy) program is a juvenile demonstration projectfunded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)through the federal government’s Second Chance Act. It is a comprehensiveapproach which identifies eligible Harris County youth at intake to TYC andthen provides ongoing outreach to the youth and their families in a mannerthat is consistent with the families’ cultural preferences. First contact withyouth eligible for this program takes place during the youth’s orientation andassessment and continues throughout the youth’s stay in TYC.The program’s goal first-year goal was to provide family-focused re-entryservices to 246 gang-involved youth between the ages of 13 and 19.Additional goals were that 40 percent of the youth would enroll in schoolor job training, 40 percent would find employment and 40 percent would bematched with a mentor. These were very aggressive goals for positive youthoutcomes.October 2011TYC Spotlight highlights events andpeople making a difference in the livesof those youth committed to the state’sjuvenile corrections agency. It is periodicallypublished by the TYC GovernmentalRelations, Planning and CommunicationsDepartment.If you do not wish to continue receivingthis newsletter, please send an emailwith “unsubscribe” in the subject line toJim.Hurley@tyc.state.tx.us.Permission is granted to share thisnewsletter and its contents. Pleasecredit the Texas Youth Commission.Department supervisors, please postthis electronic newsletter for staff whodo not have TYC email addresses.Scott W. FisherTYC Board ChairCheryln K. TownsendTYC Executive DirectorBetween Oct. 1, 2010 and Sep. 26, 2011, a total of 263 youth were servedthrough the GitRedy program, exceeding the program’s expected goal.These youth are divided into two categories, Priority 1 and 2. Of the 263youth served, 86 were Priority 1 and 177 were Priority 2.Priority 1 youth are those who received an extensionto their minimum length of stay (MLOS) by the ReleaseReview Panel (RRP), and as a result are in need of a moreintensive level of on-going treatment and re-entry services.They receive the following supports and services:• Mental health and substance abuse services• Care coordination• Family counseling• School-based counselingHDO Staff (from the left counterclockwise): Susan Moynahan, Re-Entry Specialist; Don Finley, Parole Supervisor; Todd Novak, ParoleSupervisor; Aaron Williams, Parole Administrator; and Marcus Jones,GitRedy Gang Intervention Specialist.1

• Workforce development• Employability assistance• Mentoring• Supported employment• Aggression Replacement Training ®• Tattoo Removal• Birth certificates and State ID cards• Gang Intervention and Education CurriculumPriority 2 youth did not receive a MLOS extension fromthe RRP, and their need for treatment and servicesis relatively less intense. They receive the followingsupports and services:• Aggression Replacement Training® for youth whohad three or more instances of assaultive behaviorwhile in placement.• Tattoo Removal• Birth certificates and state ID cards• Functional Family Therapy© for 60 youth• Coordinated re-entry services and supports throughthe Houston District Office re-entry team• Mentors• Gang intervention/education curriculumOf the 263 youth served, TYC has obtained 78 youthbirth certificates and 12 youth state identification cards.The Reentry Project Specialist is following-up withresidential locations to increase these numbers.The results of the first year are very encouraging. TheHarris County one-year re-arrest rate for a felony ormisdemeanor level offense for gang-involved youth inFY 2010 (prior to GitRedy implementation) was 60.7%.The rates for one-year re-arrest for a violent offense forthe same youth was 16.0%. While it is too early in theproject to have a comparable one-year rate of re-arrestfor GitRedy youth, using the population as of June 30,2011, the rate of re-arrest for a felony or misdemeanorof the 151 youth placed onto parole or in a non-secureresidential program during or after being enrolled inGitRedy is 27.8% (42 youth), and the rate for a violentoffense thus far is 6.6% (10 youth). These comparisonnumbers look promising.According to Program Manager Todd Novak, “TheGitRedy team is excited about the opportunity theSecond Chance Act grant has afforded to strengthenTYC’s evidenced-based programming. The initialoutcomes unfolding for Harris County’s gang-involvedyouth are promising and the enhanced services aregiving these youth the extra help they need to discovera pathway to success!”OJJDP Provides Second Year of FundingDue to the success of the GitRedy Program thus far,the OJJDP notified TYC on Sep. 22, 2011, that theprogram was awarded $262,230 for a second year offunding. With this extended funding, the two grantfundedpositions will continue along with the servicesprovided during the initial grant period. Additionally,second-year funding will provide for virtual educationaland vocational services, fees and books for GitRedyyouth provided at either the Houston District Office or aTYC residential location through Navarro College. TYCcurrently has an MOU with Navarro College to providevirtual education services to youth in both secure andnon-secure locations.In cases where a tattoo was part of an initiation ritual or gang identification,the wearable “art” can make a strong, negative statementabout the owner that can make it tough for them to take theirplace in normal society. As a former gang member complains,“Everyone knows that most businesses won’t hire a person with avisible tattoo -- especially if it looks anything like a gang insignia.Well, maybe you can get a job where the customers won’t seeyou. But a questionable tattoo on the back of your hand, or cheek,or arm sure makes it hard to get a good job with a future -- whetheror not your tattoo is gang-related.”The Houston District Office tatoo removal program will begin servingyouth who are gang involved and reside in Houston, HarrisCounty, Texas as part of the GitRedy Initiative. Youth will have theopportunity to have these tattoos removed at no cost.2

9/11 - A National Day ofRemembrance and ServiceTYC Remembers in 2011Youth and staff throughout the Texas Youth Commission took time onSeptember 11 to remember the horrific terrorist attacks on our country thatoccurred 10 years ago and killed nearly three thousand innocent women,men and children. Numerous youth and staff participated in an agency wideteleconference during the week prior to Sep. 11, sharing their thoughts onhow the events of that day changed their lives and the lessons we couldlearn from the tragedy. Some read verse and poetry they created for thememorial, others read the words of well-known figures who continue thestruggle for peace. It was a very moving experience for everyone who tookpart in the memorial.Individual campuses, halfway houses and district offices also sponsored local events to remember those that losttheir lives that day, in addition to the heroes who responded to the events with courage and compassion. Belowis a list of many of these activities:Corsicana Residential Treatment CenterCRTC dedicated the week to remembering those wholost their lives. Students placed cups in the front fencewith the initials of those who lost their lives, planted a“Mattie” tree, took part in a remembrance walk, andprepared gift bags for local firefighters. On Sunday,Sept. 11, youth took part in a “Peace Summit” andread the poem “For Our World” by Mattie Stepanek,the young peace advocate who died at age 13 frommuscular dystrophy.Evins Regional Juvenile Center (Edinburg)Evins held a day of remembrance for victims andsurvivors of 9/11. Through the Education Department’shorticultural program, students built a flower bed tocommemorate the event. Assistant SuperintendentJorge Gonzales’ opening remarks reminded thosein attendance about the event that unfolded on 9/11and described the heroic efforts of countless firstresponders who lost their lives and those that survived.Principal Ronaldo Chavez led the group in prayer.Student council members, a family member, and avolunteer released white balloons to mark the event.Throughout the week teachers provided lectures on9/11 to the students in the classrooms.Gainesville State SchoolYouth at Gainesville participated in the “ButterflyProject,” making paper butterflies with the names of9/11 victims inscribed on them. The butterflies werehung on campus trees and in the City of Gainesville.Every dorm created a peace mural and creative writingcontests were held on the topic of peace. Youth alsowrote thank you cards and provided “goodie” bags forlocal firefighters.Giddings State SchoolGiddings State School participated in a “Peace Project,”which involves youth earning bricks for positive orpeaceful behavior. The goal is to build a wall of bricksrepresenting the peace they are building. Differenttypes of positive or peaceful behavior are rewardedwith a certain color of brick. The campus also createdpaper butterflies in honor of each victim of 9/11.McLennan Co. State Juvenile Correctional Facility(Mart)Youth tied ribbons in the fence honoring victims of 9/11and held a balloon-release ceremony and a PeaceSummit led by student council representatives. Youthaddressed thank you cards to local first responders,who were special guests at Friday’s ceremony. Youthgave thank you cards to local volunteer fire fighters,including two TYC volunteers who are firefighters, andto Scott & White EMS staff. Youth created memorywalls made out of stars with more than 1,000 namesthat are displayed across campus. Students also readoriginal poems at the ceremony.Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility(Brownwood)A Peace Summit was held to focus on building a morepeaceful society, beginning first with the dormitorieswhere youth live. Youth were encouraged to writeoriginal essays, poems, and songs, and create piecesof art. The PAWS program on campus demonstratedthe importance of K-9 teams at the 9/11 crash sites.continued on page 54

Remembrance continuedAyres Halfway House (San Antonio)Three guest speakers shared a “peace” messageabout diversity and getting along with others. Youthwatched videos and documentaries on what happenedon 9/11, focusing on history and the heroic acts ofpeople. Youth and staff attended a citywide memorialservice at New Life Christian Center, the location of thecity’s 9/11 Memorial Site.Cottrell Halfway House (Dallas)Youth participated in a water bottle project, in whichyouth wrote at least 100 victim names on popsiclesticks, filled a bottle with colored sand, and placed thebottle in the flower bed in front of the building. Someyouth and staff participated in a community event atSouthwest Center Mall, holding pictures of the victimsas part of the community ceremony on Saturday.They also wrote thank you cards to local firefighters,watched videos of 9/11 events, and prepared poemsand essays for the Peace Summit.McFadden Ranch (Roanoke)Youth participated in a special program including CoreGroup Presentations, a recognition of local heroes, andrefreshments. The youth also participated in a City ofKeller Clean-Up Project. On Sept.11, 2011, the youthobserved a moment of silence at 8:45 a.m., 9:03 a.m.,9:42 a.m., and 10:10 a.m., the times the planes struckthe World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crashof United Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. They also readvictim accounts from that day.Tamayo Halfway House (Harlingen)Youth watched the movie “World Trade Center” to learnmore about the devastating events of 9/11. On Sept.7, employees from the Harlingen Fire Department,Harlingen Police Department, Harlingen EMS, andthe Cameron County Sheriff’s Office were treated toa barbeque luncheon at Tamayo House in observationof 9/11. Approximately 67 guests attended the lunch.After meeting with administrators from the HarlingenFire Department, staff decided Tamayo youth wouldassist the fire stations at least every other week withbasic clean-up, which at times may include assisting inwashing the fire trucks. This will serve as communityservice for participating youth.Turman Halfway House (Austin)Youth visited local military branches from Sept. 6-9 totalk with the recruiters about criteria to join the military.They also visited Camp Mabry on Saturday, Sept. 10,to participate in their memorial events. The youth madethank you cards for the different military branches thatwere delivered during the week. On Sunday, Sept. 11,the youth visited the State Cemetery and releasedballoons for all of the fallen soldiers.Fort Worth Parole OfficeYouth on parole went to the Arlington Police Departmenton September 7th to honor the officers who participatedin the 9/11 clean up and everyone else who protectsand serves. Youth were rewarded with communityservice hours for writing essays about “What I can doto keep peace in my neighborhood or school” and forgoing to the police station to recognize the officers inhonor of 9-11.Houston Parole Office (HDO)HDO had two 9-11 commemoration projects: a 9/11display table in the lobby, and an artistic wall quilt madeby staff, youth, volunteers, and parents of youth.Faces of TYCJesse WatkinsMcLennan CountySJCFMr. Watkins is theCareerScope Instructorand Testerat Mart. A formerschool teacher andassistant principal,he has been at Martfor six years.“I like it here at Mart more than I did when I was inpublic school. As an assistant principal, I dealt withchallenging kids. These are challenging kids, too, andthey need someone that can reach them.”5

Workers’ Compensation Claims Continue to DeclineEmployee safety has always been a primary concern ofthe Texas Youth Commission. In FY 2009, the agencyhighlighted improving workplace safety and reducingworkers’ compensation claims as an agency priorityand we continue to see marked improvements in thisarea.For Fiscal Year 2010, the agency’s workers’compensation Injury Frequency Rate (IFR) declinedto 20.99 percent over FY 2009. In FY 2011, theagency’s IFR dropped again to 17.72 percent, withaggression claims (injuries due to youth aggressiondirected against staff) comprising 13.42 percent andthe industrial IFR (commonly referred to as “slips, trips,and falls) at 4.31 percent.This reduction in claims has also lowered the amountof money the agency has paid out in claims. Workers’compensation expenditures for the agency in FY2011 totaled $5.14 million, down from $6.48 millionexpended in FY 2010. Of that total, previous yearclaims accounted for 67 percent of those expenditures.Much of the improvement in TYC’s workers’compensation numbers is directly attributable to theincreased attention being placed on workplace safety.Every campus has instituted safety programs designedto make employees aware of hazards and unsafetechniques as well as to address any unsafe conditionsin the workplace. The agency has provided trainingto employees to implement Aggression ReplacementTraining® which is assisting youth to learn better waysto resolve conflict and anger. And, in July 2011 theagency adopted new policies to insure that there areincreased consequences for serious assaults. Asthese new policies and techniques become ingrainedin every employee’s daily routine, we expect to seecontinued improvement in workers’ safety and inworkers’ compensation claims.Letter From a Former TYC YouthThe letter below is from a former TYC youth who wasat Ron Jackson Unit 1 and then at Turman House untilbeing discharged from TYC on his 21st birthday. Oneof the volunteers who assisted the youth while he wasat Turman House has continued to mentor him and hashelped him become a member of her church.“It is quickly returning to the date of my own releasenearly 5 years ago. So much has happened in my life,both good and bad. I am so extremely grateful to servea GOD who truly loves me and has seen me throughsome very ugly, frightening, and lonely moments. I stillreview the Resocialization workbook for ideas on howto tackle the everyday battles in my life.“I have attempted to give up during this journey of selfrealization,but I am proudly able to stand tall today andyell through the storm, “I am still here!” I will not saythat everything in TYC was perfect while I was there,but I am able to happily and gratefully admit that I didlearn something, and that I am, and always will be,honored to share whatever I can with the guys whosit where I once sat, wondering who truly cared andif their future really is worth fighting for.each have demons to fight and we each need someonewho not only sees what we go through, but desperatelyseeking a hand that has gone through it already and iswilling to do it again for our sake. Please continue, bothyou and the Turman House staff, to make a difference.It may not be appreciated at the moment but, in theend, it has the largest impact.”Faces of TYCJerral LeyvaGainesville StateSchoolMr. Leyva is a JCOIV. He has been atGSS for 15 years.“So I really appreciate each opportunity I receive forbeing involved in a place where my heart resides.Thank you and the rest of the staff and Administrationfor allowing me such an opportunity. I hope and trustthis finds you in a wonderful moment, encouraging youto never give up on a single person, in TYC or not. We“I’ve seen a lot of successes and I’ve also seen somerecommits. Our key to getting youth involved anddealing with their futures is being involved in theirlives, being role models, and setting standards.”6

Crockett Staff and Volunteers Have Final BanquetContributed Iantha ColemanCrockett State School staff hosted a final VolunteerAppreciation Banquet on July 11th, from 5:30pm till7:30p.m. All volunteers from Houston County and thesurrounding areas, including staff that had volunteeredhours of their free time to clean and work with youthas mentors, were invited. More than 40 volunteers andstaff, along with 13 youth, attended the banquet.They all had a great time and ate plenty of roast,mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, salad, rollsand various desserts. The volunteers were presentedwith “Special Thanks” awards for being a valuable partof the TYC mission and for playing an active role in thelives of Crockett State School youth.Superintendent Donald Brooks greeted and spokewith the volunteers, expressing the appreciation of theCrockett staff and everyone throughout TYC. A TYCyouth gave a welcome speech to the volunteers, tellingthem how much they had meant to every Crockett StateSchool youth. TYC Manager of Volunteer ServicesTammy Holland was the guest speaker and shepresented eight Presidential Volunteer Service Awards.Frank Smith was presented with the Gold Awardfor volunteering more 500 hours within 12 months.Deputy Director of Youth Services Alan Walters gaveclosing words.S e v e r a la t t e n d e e sremarked thatthis wouldremain one oftheir fondestmemories oftheir time withTYC.Contributed byAllison VossOn August27-28 th , 29young ladiesat the RonJackson SJCCp a r t i c i p a t e din the secondannual Vacation Bible School held at the Texas YouthThe Gainesville State School and its football team will bethe subject of a national television show in November.Produced by Intersport media, the school will be one ofthe featured segments on CBS’s “Courage in Sports”television show. Administrators and coaches fromGainesville State School were interviewed about themission of the Texas Youth Commission, the youth thatare sent to the agency, and the different incentives thatare used to reach the students.Because it is a sports show, the segment will focus onthe football team and the requirements a youth mustmeet in order to be a part of the sports program. Thecamera crew followed the Gainesville Tornadoes totheir game against the Prince of Peace High School inCarrollton on Friday, Sept. 23.Ron Jackson Holds Vacation Bible SchoolCommission unit. The event, which was made possibleby the support of TYC volunteers, allowed the youngladies to participate in events such as arts and crafts,recreation, worship, and Bible study.For many of the students, this was the first time thatthey have ever participated in a Vacation Bible Schoolprogram. The focus Bible verse for the weekend wasPsalm 25:4-5. The young ladies were encouraged toshine by utilizing the gifts that God has uniquely givento each of them.Gainesville State School To Be Recognized on CBSAt this point,the onehourshowis expectedto air onSunday, Nov.13, during thea f t e r n o o n .An email willbe sent to allemployees when TYC is notified of the exact time theshow will be aired. Congratulations to SuperintendentGwan Hawthorne, Assistant Superintendent MikeStudamire, Coach Walt Scott and everyone else whorepresented what TYC is all about – changing younglives and in so doing improving community safety!7

Troupe d’ Jour Presents atCorsicana Residential Treatment CenterContributed by Dianna HughesCorsicana Residential Treatment Center (CRTC)students were treated to a five-line writing experienceworkshop in mid-September by Troupe d’ Jour membersContributed by Joy Nyberg, HDO Volunteer and formerTYC employeeBudget cuts may have limited the number of youthswho can participate in non-public education programsin Harris County, but that has not stopped the HoustonArea Resource Council for Texas Youth from celebratingthe youth’s accomplishments.This year’s “Imagine the Possibilities” EducationBanquet was held on May 19, 2011 at the Crown PlazaRiver Oaks Hotel. This event drew nearly 150 peoplehonoring Houston area youth who have achievededucational and prevocational success.Broadcast journalist Kim Davis from Houston’sNBC News station KPRC served as the Mistress ofCeremonies for the occasion.Mrs. Vernon Broussard, former TYC employee andcurrent TYC Volunteer, was honored for her yearsof dedication to the youth. Mrs. Broussard acceptedrecognition stating, “I believe all children can achieve.”This ongoing belief will continue to drive her to reachout and help Harris County youth far into the future.For 18 years, the Houston Area Resource Councilfor Texas Youth, a group of Houston area communityvolunteers, has hosted a banquet to recognize youthassigned to the Texas Youth Commission in Houston8Hal Evans and Tracy Hults. Based in Houston, Trouped’ Jour has been working to meet the educational andcultural arts needs of students across the nation since1994, presenting to more than 50,000 students eachyear.CRTC students listened to a short history of theater,an explanation of the tragedy and comedy masks,and were then given an exciting opportunity to writethe opening scene of a play and have the professionalactors perform them. Laughter was prevalent asstudents started with sentences like “What is thatsmell?”Evans and Hults have been coming to CRTC for yearsentertaining and educating the students with theirstories of the theater, acting, writing, and the conceptof writing creatively. Each year the CRTC studentsenjoy the presentation and this year was no exception!“Imagine the Possibilities” Banquet: HDO HonorsYouth Education Successes at Houston Galawho are making remarkable progress after a historyof juvenile crime. The group was founded by fourdedicated women, Mrs. Broussard being one of them,who continue to support these youth in a variety ofways through their volunteering.Keynote speaker for the Education Banquet was HarrisCounty Department of Education Public InformationOfficer Jim Schul. He provided an inspirational speechdiscussing characteristics of greatness. Asking foraudience participation in recognizing famous quotes,he connected with youth by quoting famous sportsicons. His message encouraged youth to take theirnewly developed skills and implement them with “doingthe right thing” attitude.

Turman House “SpecialEvent” Celebrates SuccessesEvins Celebrates GraduationsContributed by Sandra DreessenOn July 27 Turman House hosted a Summer Eventrecognizing student accomplishments during thesummer months as well as recognizing staff andvolunteers.During the last three months, nine youth obtained theirforklift certificate which will assist them in securingemployment. In addition, three youth completed an“Essential Office Skills Course” through the AustinArea Urban League where they learned basic officeskills, resume writing, and interview skills.One youth recently completed a basic constructionskills course through Austin Community College(ACC) and is now completing a basic electriciancourse through ACC. Additionally, four youth who arecurrently employed in the community were recognized.Each of these youth are learning valuable job skills thatwill help them become more successful once they arereleased home.Turman House also completed a second groupof students who participated in a Creative WritingGroup sponsored through Gemini Ink and the AustinIndependent School District. For 12 weeks, studentslearned how to put their thoughts and feelings intowords by writing short stories and poetry, as well aslearning how to express themselves through art. All oftheir creative works will be placed into a bound bookfor publication.While school was out for summer, 16 students attendedtutoring with volunteers from the Austin Learning Center.Each student received a gift card from McDonald’s fortheir hard work in learning. One student in particularspent a lot of time with the tutors and his hard workpaid off as he earned his GED a few weeks ago. TheAustin Area Volunteer Council gave the young man a$25 gift card for his accomplishment.During the Summer Event, various volunteers and staffwere recognized for their contributions and dedicationto Turman House youth throughout the year byproviding incentives for the youth, remembering themfor special holidays and birthdays and countless otherways they brighten up the lives of the young men atTurman House.Pictured left to right: Youth LP, Youth PH, Principal RonaldoChavez, and Youth RS.Contributed by Fidel GarciaThe Evins Regional Juvenile Center celebrated youthgraduations on July 22 nd . Three students receivedtheir high school diplomas and 16 others receivedtheir GEDs. Principal Ronaldo Chavez presentedeach youth with their high school diplomas and GEDcertificates. The keynote speaker was State District36 Representative Sergio Munoz Jr., who spoke onthe importance of getting a second chance and beingproductive members of society. In honor of theiraccomplishments, Mr. Munoz, indicated that he wouldbe presenting the Evins Center with a flag that flewover the state capitol and another flag presented byU.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, which flew over theU.S. Capitol.Faces of TYCLizzie ThomasCorsicana ResidentialTreatmentCenterMs. Thomas is aJCO IV. She hasbeen with TYC forjust under four yearsand transferred toCRTC from Al Pricein September.“I have a passion for kids and, if I can make a differencein just one life, I’ll have done something good.”9