DIRECTIONS A publication of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Volume XII, Issue No. 3 Commissioner's Corner Fall 2006 DOING THE BUSINESS OF GEORGIANS AND DOING IT WELL W e're coming to the close of another successful year at the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and we look forward to another successful year in 2007. I have no doubt we will again be successful in 2007 because of the many fine people we have working in our agency. We continue to add able, qualified and quality staff to DJJ. As we focus on doing our jobs for the people of Georgia, there is a renewed effort to do our jobs better. We as a state agency must never get complacent. We must strive to increase productivity, to find new ways of serving our clients. There is a renewed effort regarding customer service in Georgia State Government under the leadership of Governor Sonny Perdue. That's of course as it should be. Commissioner Providing improved Customer Service is an excellent way of doing our jobs better, and in many ways Albert Murray improving our productivity. Governor Perdue's goal of making Georgia the best managed state in the nation is on target. Providing the best customer service is a major part of accomplishing that goal. "Faster, Friendlier and Easier," that's the State's goal. In late July, Governor Perdue announced the theme of the state's customer service campaign "Team Georgia. Ready To Serve," and he challenged state agencies to begin implementing customer service improvement plans. The Governor's commitment and mine is to provide the best customer service of any state in the country. He called each encounter with a Georgia citizen an opportunity, and I wholeheartedly agree. I believe that treating customers as we want to be treated is the beginning of good customer service. In August I assisted in DJJ's Customer Service Kickoff at our training center in Forsyth. More than 100 managers across our agency began the process of implementing our customer service plans. Our vision is to provide the highest quality customer service by a well-trained professional staff which promotes efficient and effective relationships with our customers. Our agency's plan focuses on three key areas that drive customer service: Processes (faster), Peo- ple (friendlier) and Technology (easier access). Dr. Tom O'Rourke, DJJ Director of Education, serves as the chair of this project and he's doing a tremendous job. We will continue in 2007 to implement this customer service plan that will benefit both internal and external customers. And who are they? Internally of course, it is us. We must be cognizant of our working relationships within the agency and provide the assistance required on a daily basis. We must never fail to serve our external customers to the fullest. The youth we serve, the families, Georgia's citizens and our partners in providing services, are all clients or customers of DJJ and they deserve the absolute highest priority. As I conveyed in my message to our managers in August, I do not feel we as juvenile justice professionals can do our job effectively unless customer service is a top priority. Staff will be responsible for delivery to ensure DJJ customers receive fair, courteous and professional treatment. Each new DJJ employee will receive customer service training. For those employees who shine, there will be public recognition. Inside This Issue Commissioner's Corner Staff Appointments and Recognition Around DJJ Fiscal Management and Administrative Services Legislative Updates Training & Development Services Operations One of the highlights thus far of the DJJ Customer Service plan is the implementation of the agency's new Web site. Rolled out in October, the new look Web site has a friendlier feel and definitely is faster and easier to navigate. We will continue to add features to the site to make it faster, friendlier and easier for our customers to use. Use the Customer Service link on the Web site at www.djj.state.ga.us, and tell us what we can do to enhance customer service or assist you. Finally, in this edition of "Directions," you will read about new leadership in our agency. 2006 has been a year of change in many ways, to include new facility directors and new central office personnel. We highlight programs and a most successful 2006 legislative session. Again, whether you are an internal customer or external customer, please do not hesitate to contact us. We pledge to make the experience, "Faster, Friendlier and Easier." COMMISSIONER MURRAY AND EXECUTIVE LEADERS GO TO SCHOOL On September 18, 2006, a graduation ceremony for Georgia Leadership Institute, Executive Leadership Program (ELP) was held at the Terry College Executive Education Center in Atlanta. For DJJ Executive Leaders, Albert Murray, Commissioner; Rob Rosenbloom, Deputy Commissioner; and Shirley Turner, Director of the Office of Continuous Improvement, this event culminated an intense one week program, which focused on personal leadership, creating high performing organizations, eth- ics and public values. Program curriculum included a 360 degree leadership assessment, a DiSC profile, examination of conflict styles, creation of a personal leadership development plan, completion of intense case study work on agency perform- ance, and making difficult choices in the public sector. Georgia state government's effectiveness in continuously improving efficiency of operations and service to citizens is directly related to the quality of leadership in departments and agencies. Effective leadership is an integral part of state government. DJJ Commissioner Albert Murray says, "The commitment and goal of Governor Perdue for Georgia to be the best managed state in the nation is clear to every participant in the leadership program. Our team at DJJ is better for having been through the training, exploring our own strengths and weaknesses and incorporating new strategies into our executive management team process." The program brought together leaders from different agencies to learn together and from each other, an aspect DJJ Deputy Commissioner Rob Rosenbloom found very beneficial. "Seeing that regardless of the agency mission, there were common chal- lenges faced by all of us, and as a result it has helped put our own work experience into a new perspective." Rosenbloom says, "I enjoyed the diversity of the group, the training was broad yet definitive." As Georgia prepares for an exodus of 21% of its administrators within the next five years, the Commission for a New Georgia began looking at the state's strategy and procedures for identifying and training leaders of the future, as well as developing a Governor's Chief Operating Officer, Jim Lientz; Commissioner Murray; Governor's Director of Implementation, Lonice Barrett process for succession planning. Based on the Commission's recommendations, Governor Perdue launched the Georgia Leadership Institute in August 2005 to build the state's "bench strength" of future leaders, as well as expand the breadth of current leaders' competencies and skills. Since its inception in 2005, the Institute has been expanded to deploy executive, middle manager, and Principle-Centered Leadership programs' services at a faster pace and to a larger audience. For FY 2007, five more one-week residential classes will be delivered, accommodating up to 40 participants and increasing the number of participants in the ELP to 240 each year. Staff Appointments and Recognition Five Department of Juvenile Justice facilities and the Central Office have welcomed new directors. Three RYDC's have new directors. They are Albany, Metro, and DeKalb. Two YDC's, Eastman and Sumter, and the Office of Staff Training and Development in the Central Office are under new leadership. John Wright, a familiar name to the DJJ family, is taking the helm and moving from Associate Director II to Director of the Metro RYDC. Mr. Wright transferred to the Department of Juvenile Justice in 1999 as the Assistant Director at DeKalb RYDC. Wright received a Bachelor's Degree of Education from Southern Illinois University and a Master's Degree of Education from American InterContinental University (AIU). Eastman's YDC's new Director Derek Glisson began his DJJ career in 1995 as the Director of the former Athens Regional Youth Detention Center. Glisson received his Bachelor's Degree of Education from Georgia Southern University and previously directed the former Emanuel Youth Development Campus, Irwin Youth Development Campus and most recently the Sumter Youth Development Campus. Temekka Mathis has been tapped to fill the role of Director at the Albany RYDC. Prior to accepting this assignment Ms. Mathis served as the Assistant Director at the Sumter YDC. Mathis began her career with DJJ in March of 2004. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Albany State University. In addition, DJJ has appointed Glynn Maddox the new Director of Sumter YDC. Maddox comes highly recommended after working ten years with the Georgia Department of Corrections, nine years with the Department of Juvenile Justice and being the former Assistant Director of the Eastman RYDC. Maddox holds a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Criminal Justice. STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITION CONTINUED On November 1st Edward Boyd became the Director of the DeKalb RYDC. Mr. Boyd's previous experience includes Directorships at the Metro and Griffin Regional Youth Detention Centers as well as previous military experience. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration. Fabienne A. Tate Office of Training and Development Director Fabienne A. Tate is filling the shoes of recently retired Training and Development Director Marilyn Reaves. Ms. Tate has eighteen years of service in state government serving in key roles within the Georgia Department of Corrections and the Board of Pardons and Paroles, prior to joining the Department of Juvenile Justice in March 2005 as the Assistant Director of Training. Ms. Tate has more than twelve years of experience in staff development and training to include various management roles. Fabienne has a Masters of Science with a major in Public Administration and a minor in Human Resources and a Bachelor of Science with a dual major in Business Administration and Criminal Justice. In September 2006, Fabienne was named a Board Member for the Juvenile Justice Training Association, an honor, both individually and for DJJ. Jason Naunas Assistant Attorney General NEW LEGAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE We have a new attorney representing the Department from the Attorney General's Office. April 2006 Jason Naunas replaced Michelle Townes. Mr. Naunas received his Bachelor's Degree in Business Management from Purdue University and Jurist Doctorate Degree from the University Of Virginia School Of Law. Upon graduating, Jason clerked for Judge Stephen C. St. John, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. After completing that clerkship, he practiced corporate law for several years and in April joined the Attorney General's Office representing DJJ, MHDDAD (Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases) and DFCS (Department of Family and Children Services). We welcome Jason aboard and we certainly thank Michelle for her service to the agency. THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS HAS ADDED NEW FACES Effective July 2006, DJJ has had a new Director of Public Affairs. Steve Hayes was appointed to take on that role and he will serve as the Department's primary contact on all public information issues and will work closely with executive management, board members, staff, community, media, government agencies and other individuals connected with the Department. Mr. Hayes earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mass Communications from Murray State University. Prior to coming to DJJ, he was a broadcast reporter for the Tennessee Radio Network in Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally, Steve has extensive experience in working in state public affairs arenas previously working in adult corrections for Tennessee and Alabama, as the Director of Public Affairs for the Tennessee Department of Correction and performing related duties in Alabama as well as conducting legislative affairs for the Alabama Department of Corrections. Steve Hayes, Office of Public Affairs Director On August 16, 2006, Dawn Miles, came on board with DJJ. Ms. Miles is currently serving as the Public Relations & Information Specialist II in the Office of Public Affairs. Previously, she has worked as the Public Relations Coordinator for Temple University's Non-Profit Organization, Sports 501 . Prior to that position she conducted field placements in sports statistics, public and community relations for the Philadelphia 76'ers, Bickerstaff Sports & Entertainment, The Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Soul professional football teams. She has served as a community relations coordinator and customer service representative for Wal-Mart. Dawn Miles, Public Ms. Miles earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public RelaRelations & Information tions from Oakwood College and Master's of Education in Sports Administration from Temple Uni- Specialist II versity. STAFF APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITION CONTINUED MARILYN REAVES RETIRES AFTER 34 YEARS OF SERVICE Marilyn Reaves retired in October after 34 years of service. Fabienne Tate & Marilyn Reaves In 1974, Marilyn began her career with the state of Georgia at the Department of Human Resources, later transferring to the Department of Corrections. While in Corrections Training, Ms. Reaves worked in Management Development and Programs Training, with her last position with DOC as the Assistant Director of Training. In August of 1999, Marilyn Reaves came to the Department of Juvenile Justice as the Director of the Office of Training. Ms. Reaves has made many contributions to the department including; increasing the number of assigned trainers to the Unit, assuming the oversight role of criminal history background processing for new hires, start-up and administration of the Department of Juvenile Justice Training Academy, establishing a new training unit to focus on the specific needs of staff assigned to the community, and initiating a management development training program. It's our understanding through reliable sources, that Marilyn's immediate plans upon leaving DJJ was to do absolutely nothing but kick back for the rest of the year and then begin her international travels in 2007. She has left a legacy for the new administration to build upon. DJJ BIDS FAREWELL TO CARL FRANKLIN DAVIS JR. AND MR. GREGORY DAVIS Dennis Day, Assistant District Director, District 10 & Carl Davis, JPPS III/ISP Supervisor In the fall of 2006 DJJ bid farewell to two of its employees, Carl Franklin Davis and Gregory Davis. Carl Franklin Davis Jr., officially retired after nineteen years of diligent service on October 1, 2006 as a Juvenile Court Service JPPS III. Carl is no stranger to civic employment previously serving as the Mayor for the City of Climax for over twelve years and City Board Member for two years. Prior to joining DJJ, Mr. Davis held the rank of sergeant working for the Bainbridge Public Safety Department for over eighteen years. On September 27th, Mr. Gregory Davis said so-long to staff as the Director of Blakely RYDC. In Mr. Davis' final words, he recounted his experiences with staff stating that working with the staff has advanced him personally and intellectually, strengthening his leadership and adding to his box of Knowledge which includes the KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned). Mr. Davis loves quotes, therefore here's one for you from Henry Ward Beecher; "greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right use of strength." AROUND DJJ SPOTLIGHTS AT BLAKELY RYDC The Medical Department at the Blakely RYDC is receiving accolades. The Medical Department was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in recognition of having the Lowest Formulary Utilization Cost in the State for the year 2005-2006 from the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Office of Health Services, granted September 22, 2006. Mrs. Glendale Cole- man RN, Lead Nurse, was the honored guest of Doctors Michelle Staples-Horne and Assistant Medical Director, Rafael Rosado-Ortiz at the National Conference on Correctional Health Care in Atlanta, Georgia, October 30th - November 1st, 2006. This recognition is a great accomplish- ment for Mrs. Coleman and the medical staff of the Blakely RYDC. AROUND DJJ CONTINUED Assistant Director Craig Ferguson, Director Melissa Aaron, CAJO Members and Lead Teacher Diann McMillan SPOTLIGHTS AT MACON RYDC October 19, 2006 the Christian Rap Group CAJO International, featuring Canton Jones visited the Macon RYDC putting on an awesome, entertaining, Christian based show. The music was very inspirational for every student and staff who attended. The group was well received by the students. As a matter of fact, a KODAK moment was experienced when the youth came out of the stands to talk with the group members at the end of the show and as staff and students participated in a dance contest. In conclusion CAJO gave the students a message of hope and challenged them to turn their lives around as well as providing a free CD to each youth. Building Better Communities Together By Shring Charitable Contributions Campaign 2006 This fall, Dr. Thomas Coleman was named Campaign Coordinator for DJJ's Charitable Contributions Program promoting this year's theme "Building Better Communities Together By Shring." Dr. Coleman's responsibilities provide guidance and assistance to those working with the campaign toward accomplishing this year's goal of having 100% participation through asking each employee to contribute. Surveys indicate that the number one reason people don't contribute is that they were not asked. Last year Georgia's SCCP (State Charitable Contributions Program) participation rate was 18% and DJJ's SCCP participation rate was approximately 33%. As you can see, there is tremendous potential to increase participation internally and statewide. In addition to the 100% ask goal, each agency has been challenged to match and or exceed its highest campaign total to date. 2005 proved to be DJJ's highest campaign year as more than $55,000 was contributed. On September 13th DJJ held its Charitable Contribution kick-off rally with a hot dog luncheon and raffle. Commissioner Murray in his address noted that, "Over the years approximately 650-700 employees participate in SCCP. With DJJ employing approximately 4,300 individuals, imagine the overall total we could raise if participation rose to 2,000." During the kick-off rally participants viewed a SCCP's campaign video featuring Deborah Krotenberg, one of Georgia's state employees, sharing her story of help and hope and how SCCP has impacted her life. Other rally participants were Kristal Hughes from the Atlanta Community Food Bank and B.J. Jackson from Georgia Shares. DJJ Charityfest events held from September to November 30th included: Pancake Breakfasts Doughnut and Muffin Sales Jeans Day Bake Sale Kristal Hughes & B.J. Jackson Fiscal Management and Administrative Services DJJ EMPLOYEES CONDUCT WORKSHOPS AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES American Correctional Association (ACA) Charlotte, North Carolina Sonia Johnson, Legal Services Officer in the Office of Legal Services and Jackie Dixon, Program Coordinator, Office of Continuous Improvement, presented a workshop at the American Correctional Association's 135th Congress of Correction. The conference was held in Charlotte, North Carolina in August 2006. The workshop entitled, "Protection from Harm and Due Process for Confined Youth," was one of the many offered and well attended by juvenile justice and corrections professionals from around the country. The keynote speaker for the opening session was the legendary baseball great Cal Ripken Jr., who urged correctional professionals to persevere. The workshop taught by Sonia and Jackie is the result of a collaborative effort by the DJJ Offices of Legal Services, Training, and Continuous Improvement, based on the identified need of various staff in the Department's RYDC's and YDC's. The training was designed for staff working in institutions to meet the following objectives: understanding the rehabilitative nature of the juvenile justice system; understanding how protection from harm is defined and achieved; and understanding the requirements of due process within the context of disciplinary proceedings. Correctional Security Network Cincinnati, Ohio "Sharing Resources...Sharing Success!" was the theme for the 3rd Annual Correctional Security Conference held in September 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Leonard Flounoy, Safety and Security Specialist and Jackie Dixon, Program Coordinator with the Office of Continuous Improvement presented the workshop, "Strategies to Reduce Special Incidents and Enhance Security Operations," to a class of correctional safety and security practitioners from around the country. The conference was hosted by the Correctional Security Network, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Kentucky Department of Corrections, Shelby County Tennessee Sheriff's Office-Jails Division, and other government agencies. The training addressed many of the issues related to the safety and security of staff, youth and property. There was discussion of strategies that can be utilized to recognize conflict and address minor misbehavior before it escalates and becomes a major incident. Other strategic areas discussed included maintaining log books and the importance of documentation, transporting youth, monitoring for desired outcomes, and recognizing conflicts between confined youth. The course was developed by Mr. Flounoy and is taught in Georgia's RYDC's and YDC's upon request. DJJ HOSTS THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE STANDARD FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED TRAINING Every year, the agency provides new and seasoned field staff training on basic first aid and CPR training. The goal is to enhance the skill sets of staff in responding to agency, local facility, and office emergencies, if staff is required to take action. This year we are transitioning from the American Red Cross to the American Heart Association as we plan to train our employees. The agency has partnered with the American Heart Association through the efforts of the CPR Training Academy, under the direction of Mr. Troy Gray located in DeKalb County. In September 2006, 48 instructors were trained to include full-time and adjunct trainers to include the agency's five regional nurse administrators at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center and at the Department of Juvenile Justice Training Center as DJJ prepares to train over 4,300 employees in 2007. MANDATORY SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING All Central Office staff (full-time and part-time employees, consultants, labor employees, per diem, etc.) have been required to register and attend one (1) session of the Sexual Harassment Training. A total of ten (10) sessions were scheduled in November and December to meet this training requirement. The Office of Training facilitated these sessions in a two (2) hour block of training. All field facilities and office staff will receive this mandatory training in the 2007 Pre-Service or Annual In-service Training. We look forward to seeing you at this training and providing you additional training opportunities locally in 2007. Legislative Updates DJJ LOOKS TO BUILD ON PAST SUCCESSES The 2007 session of the Georgia General Assembly is upon us and DJJ is looking forward to another exciting and productive year for Georgia's youth. Commissioner Murray has made legislative advocacy a top priority and the results are showing. 2006 once again proved to be a success in terms of impacting public policy through changes to the law. DJJ was proactive in promoting our vision offering Georgia's youth the opportunity to achieve their highest potential with a commitment to best practices in juvenile corrections. Building upon the successful passage of Senate Bill 134 a year earlier, DJJ was able to capitalize on this momentum and secure further significant reforms to the juvenile code in 2006. There were more bills passed modifying the juvenile code in 2006 than at any point in the Department's history. All of these bills keep the best interest of the child in mind without compromising public safety. Senate Bill 135, sponsored by Senator Preston Smith of Rome, changed the law pertaining to youth charged in superior court and detained in a Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC). Prior to this change, it was possible for youth to await trial for up to two years. Now, the law requires that a youth charged in superior court must have his/her case presented to a grand jury within 180 days. This allows for a timelier disposition to the case, affording juveniles the same right to a speedy trial as adults. In addition, DJJ must furnish to the court and prosecuting attorney, a weekly list of detained superior court youth. Senate Bill 136, also sponsored by Senator Preston Smith, amended the law pertaining to bail for youth. The legislation preserves the parental right to custody but allows the youth greater opportunity to have relatives post bond. It does not restrict the juvenile court judge or the prosecutor from opposing bail or the release of the child. That discretion remains with the judge. The law change allows a child who is not a danger to the community or a risk not to appear in court, the same right to bail as an adult. House Bill 1145, sponsored by Representative David Ralston of Blue Ridge, recognized the need to provide juvenile courts with clear guidance on treatment options for incompetent youth. The ability of an accused child to understand and participate in the proceedings brought against him/her is a cornerstone of constitutional due process rights. This law change sets forth criteria for administering competency evaluations for youth and ensures that youth who are determined to be mentally incompetent will be placed in an appropriate residential treatment facility. Additionally, there was a very important amendment to HB 1145 by Senator Bill Hamrick of Carrollton. If a child is committed to DJJ for a delinquent act which, if done by an adult would be the offense of murder, then the child may be committed to DJJ until his/her 21st birthday. DJJ's legislative agenda passed the General Assembly with strong bi-partisan support. We are very thankful for the hard work of our bill sponsors as well as the support from the Governor and legislative leadership. Governor Sonny Perdue is committed to having the best-managed juvenile justice system in the country. DJJ looks forward to working with stakeholders, including juvenile court judges in 2007, to continue the progress of improving Georgia's juvenile justice system. In preparation for the 2007 legislative session, Aaron Cohn RYDC hosted its 12th Annual Legislative Breakfast in November. According to Legislative Affairs Director Spiro Amburn, "We welcome the opportunity to open the doors of our 2005 Legislative Breakfast, Commissioner Murray, facility to state and local officials so they can see the impact we are making on Spiro Amburn, Board Vice Chair, Mary Wilhite Georgia's at risk youth." Marty Graves DeKalb Transition Academy Operations SCHOOL-BASED SUPERVISION EXPANDS IN GEORGIA School-based supervision is expanding by the day in Georgia. A concept that was initiated just last school year is growing by leaps and bounds. Currently, this program is in 27 counties statewide. School administrators are embracing the program as a means of keeping at risk youth on the right track. Currently, there are about 21,000 students across the state under court supervision for minor offenses, requiring them to check in with a probation officer. DJJ started partnering with the state's school systems last year to create a school-based supervision program. There are now 35 probation officers working inside 47 middle schools and high schools statewide. OPERATIONS CONTINUED Sonya Taylor, a teacher for DeKalb County Schools noticed an immediate impact on the behavior of students by providing an additional authoritative presence on campus. She states, "The probation officers are extremely visible by being in the halls during class changes, visiting detention and in-house suspension classes as well as being on hand for morning and afternoon drop off and pick up duty and during lunch hours." School-based supervision began this school year in Bibb County, with The Board of Education favorably endorsing the initiative on September 22nd with a unanimous vote. The juvenile justice office in Macon asked Bibb school officials to start a school-based supervision program in Bibb County schools, to begin this school year with one probation officer to keep an office split between Miller Magnet and McEvoy middle schools. At the end of the 2005-2006 school year, the Baldwin County School Board agreed to have a probation officer spend one day a week working with Oakhill Middle School students on probation. School-based supervision initiatives are geared to deter at-risk students from dropping out, being expelled or committing further crimes. Studies show that at-risk students are less likely to be expelled, drop out or commit more crimes if they see their probation officer at school each day. Marty Graves, JPPS for DeKalb Transition Academy says he feels that his presence and responsibilities not only positively influence the lives of students on probation, but also their peers. Dee Bell, the Department's Program Manager states, "It's too early to know if our school-based supervision programs in Georgia are improving the children's grades or attendance because they are so new," but she adds, "Other states with these programs in place for longer than a year have shown success, one with up to an 11 percent decrease in student recidivism." Bibb County school board member Tommy Barnes hopes parents and the community view this partnership as a positive thing. "Even though the DJJ officers are not law enforcement, their presence is helping," says the Principal for DeKalb Transition Academy, Annette S. Williams. DJJ CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Medical Training Conference-St. Simons Island, Georgia Logo Design by Janssen Robinson, Office of Training & Development The Office of Health Services held its Medical Training Conference with the support of the Office of Training at St. Simons Island from September 20th through September 22nd. DJJ medical staff from across the state converged to receive relevant clinical training as well as to share information on medical administrative operations. Clinical programming includes Asthma Treatment Guidelines, Assessment of Food Allergies and Special Diets, and a new initiative to encourage HIV testing using an oral test kit. Technology training included the new Physical Examination module in JTS and an internet based method to retrieve lab results through Quest Diagnostics. A demonstration of the proper techniques for the use of physical control measures was given so that medical staff would be able to assess any possible related injury accurately. The medical team also received a workshop focused on our Customer Service initiative to make medical services faster, friendlier, and easier. Behavioral Health Conference Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia The Office of Behavioral Health Services held its annual conference from October 30th to November 1st at Lake Lanier Islands, Georgia. DJJ mental health providers statewide gathered to attend a variety of workshops. Commissioner Albert Murray opened the event paving the way for the first presenter, Detective Marco Silva, 2002's Officer of the Year with the Gwinnett County Police Department. Silva instructed the group on identifying and working with gang-affiliated youth. Other presenters addressed a variety of issues such as; identifying and working with traumatized youth in DJJ custody, (Speakers Greg Jurkovic, Joanna Ball, and Sam Fasulo); working with conduct-disordered youth in care (Cindy Simpson of Project Adventure); diversity issues in the workplace and diversity issues that impact our work with youth (Dr. Rachel Elahee) and Success Coach Larry Lipman rounded out the workshops with a rousing romp of fun, facts, and attitude adjustment. The conference concluded with OBHS Director Richard Harrison giving the Founders Award to those mental health employees who had been employed with OBHS prior to January 1, 2000. Logo Design by Janssen Robinson, Office of Training & Development OPERATIONS CONTINUED Education Conference - Macon, Georgia S eptember 2006, The Office of Education Services held its annual Education Staff Development Conference at the Macon Centreplex. The theme for this year's conference, Aiming for "Highly Qualified" Services for Our Youth, accurately depicts the education department's objective to provide the best services possible to meet the needs of youth committed to the DJJ. More than 500 DJJ educators and support personnel from across the state converged to receive relevant staff development training. The days' activities were filled with sixty workshops with varying topics such as best practices in special education, trends in school counseling and stress behavior management and included special presenters such as Rory Edwards from Edwards Education Consulting, Detra Johnson from Divine Flow Learning and Wayne Sakamoto from the California Sheriffs Department. These training seminars not only provided staff the necessary knowledge and skills to become better educators but provided the opportunity for teachers to earn 1 PLU (Professional Learning Unit) towards maintaining their professional education certificates. The conference concluded with recognition of Teacher of the Year nominees from each site in the state along with a tribute to the seven finalists for the DJJ Teacher of the Year. Ms. Ruby M. Franklin, from Bill E. Ireland YDC was selected as the DJJ 2007-2008 Teacher of the Year. She will represent the DJJ School District in the statewide Teacher of the Year Program at the Georgia Teacher of the Year Banquet in Atlanta in March 2007. Dr. O'Rourke noted that, "the conference was a success; with all of us working together with a singular sense of purpose we are able to meet our mission to provide a comprehensive educational program which will facilitate the successful integration of each student into the community and work place." See related story on Dalton RYDC Teacher Left to right: Dr. O'Rourke, Ruby M. Franklin, Commissioner Murray and Board Chairman Daniel Shuman Human Resources Conference Savannah, Georgia A nother among the many training conferences held this fall was the DJJ Human Resources Conference, Novem- ber 1-3, in Savannah. DJJ personnel staff from Central Office and around the state met to prepare themselves for 2007. The Office of Human Resources and the Office of Training work closely together and it was apparent through the completion of another successful conference. Bob Fuller, Human Resources Director, says the conference included the latest updates on policy, the payroll process, recruitment, employment relations and customer service. Fuller says, "Human Resources is logi- cally the office employees most often turn to in order to get answers regarding benefits, employment rules, pay, retire- ment, etc.; therefore, customer service is a primary responsi- Albert Murray, Commissioner, Ellen `Flo' Hester, Motivational bility for the staff." Speaker, Robert Fuller, Director of Human Resources One major change that took effect October 1st is the require- ment Human Resources now has of approving all hires of new employees before the employee begins work. New hires will not be able to begin their jobs except at the beginning of a pay period. Fuller says managers may have minor difficulty at first, but in the long run, "this will improve the overall quality of our workforce." Commissioner Albert Murray delivered opening remarks to staff in attendance, but was rudely interrupted near the end of his comments by "Flo," a motivational speaker who's style shall we say, is somewhat "unique" to say the least. Ms. Ellen Hester is well known for her ability to communicate her message and encourage employees to focus on a common goal, as in our case, service to the youth in our care. Program Services YORP MOVING FORWARD IN 2006 The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), in collaboration with the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA) and many diverse partners, developed a Youth Offender Reentry Plan or YORP, also known as Youth IMPACT, to provide and evaluate substance abuse and reentry services to sentenced juveniles ages 14 to 21, returning to the community from a DJJ facility. YORP is funded through a grant from the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration for 2 million dollars over four years to serve youth returning to the community from detention. In Georgia, the state Department of Juvenile Justice is responsible for all secure juvenile institutions and all aftercare (re-entry) services for juvenile offenders through age 21, returning to the community from institutional placements. More than 52,000 youth pass through Georgia's DJJ system each year, making it one of the largest juvenile justice systems in the country. Youth returning to their families and the community find many barriers, primarily the lack of a well-coordinated, comprehensive reintegration program in the community. While Georgia's Department of Juvenile Justice in partnership with a treatment collaborative and other state agency partners had developed a "front-end" diversion model for youth with substance use and related problems, there was no capacity for "back-end" treatment services for youth with substance use problems reentering the community following incarceration; hence the need for the YORP program. This program developed effective substance abuse treatment capacity to serve 525 substance abusing youth offenders over four years. Services are provided in Region III, the geographic area where the largest numbers of these youthful offenders return following incarceration. 155 youth currently are served in the program. 11 different providers offer individual counseling, group counseling, MET/CBT 5-7-12 and mentoring services as well as job placement assistance. Intake Graph From October 2004 to October 2006 YORP Program Manager, Dr. Jody S. Tarleton has been successful at identifying youth for services. Tarleton says, "We have met with initial obstacles in getting the program up and running in the first year. We overcame these obstacles by improving our assessment instrument. We have one individual who has entered the program and progressed to applying for college." DJJ looks forward to reporting more success stories as the program develops. DJJ SUPPORTS A SYSTEMS OF CARE APPROACH TO WORKING WITH YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY Region V has embraced the Systems of Care approach as a way to develop community capacity in the forty-four counties of the region. The District Directors and Assistant District Directors from Districts 9, 11, and 12 attended a national conference on Systems of Care to prepare them to take leadership roles in their respective counties. Systems of Care provides for a child-centered, family-focused approach to serving children with emotional disturbance in the community. The philosophy recognizes that families and children should be strongly connected to the development of community resources. Research has shown that positive outcomes for children who are kept in their home communities far exceed the outcomes for youth served in residential care. The method requires a new form of collaboration among stakeholders and the use of creative strategies to help families cope at home. Lorr Elias, Regional Administrator, is serving as co-chair of the pilot program in Chatham County. A central partner is the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases (MHDDAD). MHDDAD has provided much training and leadership for community leaders and continues to provide support. They funded a mobile crisis team to prevent hospitalizations. Other participating staff with the Chatham project are Laura Ryan, Assessment and Classification Specialist, PROGRAM SERVICES CONTINUED Patricia Merritt, Multi-service Center Manager, and Audrey Fuller, District Director. All youth-serving agencies and organizations in the county are participants to include the school system, parents, and youth. DJJ has families that are participating as equal partners. One program within the Systems of Care in Chatham County has already been developed and implemented. I-CAN is the project collaboration between the Savannah RYDC, the health department, the courts, and mental health providers. It is believed that re-admissions to the Regional Youth Detention Centers (RYDC) can be reduced by ensuring the youth participates in treatments when released. The Systems of Care approach is about doing what's right for children in Georgia. This strategy can be used for all children in the DJJ system, since all have behavioral problems and many have mental health and substance abuse issues. Region V is proud to take a leadership role in changing the way we work with families and communities and is confident that the state will reap many benefits in the future. IN THE NEWS "A POSITIVE INFLUENCE" Local teacher wins regional honor Wilt-Aboudaiem teaches students in juvenile justice facility Edited from the Dalton Daily Citizen By Victor Alvis Published: October 21, 2006 Dana Wilt-Aboudaiem likens her teaching environment to the one-room schoolhouses common years ago. But this is Laura Ingles' picturesque whitewashed classroom ... with a 10-foot, razor-wire security fence surrounding the perimeter. Wilt-Aboudaiem is one of four teachers at the Dalton Regional Youth Detention Center on Underwood Road, a 30-bed facility operated by the state Department of Juvenile Justice. She was recently named the Northwest Regional Teacher of the Year by the department's education system. Wilt-Aboudaiem teaches five classes a day -- language arts for middle and high school grades, and science, math and social skills, including budgeting and resume. "For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a teacher," Wilt-Aboudaiem said. "I consider teaching to be one of the most noble and important of all jobs. The future is literally in our hands." "I try to create a supportive classroom environment and be a positive influence in my students' lives. A lot of them come from poor home situations, and we don't know the half of their stories. I want to be able to offer them hope, and I truly believe there is hope for them. They need somebody who can see the positives in them." Wilt-Aboudaiem was nominated for the honor by her regional principal, Muriel Coles. There were 30 runners-up from 44 sites statewide, and Wilt-Aboudaiem was one of six regional finalists. Ruby M. Franklin, of the Bill E. Ireland (Youth Development Campus) in Milledgeville, was named the system-wide teacher of the year. Franklin will face teachers from standard Georgia school systems for state teacher of the year, to be announced in March. James R. "Bobby" Hughes is the local facility's director. He says the accredited education system within the Department of Juvenile Justice is just like any other in the state, with certified teachers implementing Georgia's standard curriculum. "Our classrooms are structured and very productive," Hughes said. "We're audited by the state Department of Education and average 15 kids in each class. Each student is required to attend class, and their performance actually goes up while they are here." Wilt-Aboudaiem is in her 10th year with the juvenile justice system. She previously worked in Whitfield County school systems as a paraprofessional and pre-kindergarten teacher. She taught Sunday school for 17 years before completing her bachelor's and master's degrees at West Georgia University in Carrollton. She is a black belt in karate, a wife, and mother of two daughters. She enjoys scrapbooking and plans to begin studying for her DIRECTIONS Sonny Perdue Governor DJJ BOARD J. Daniel Shuman Chair Mary E. Wilhite Vice-Chair Edwin A. Risler Secretary Michael Lee Baugh Van Ross Herrin Elizabeth Green Lindsey William "Bill" McQueen Judy Mecum Daniel Augustus Menefee Sandra Heath Taylor DJJ ADVISORY BOARD The Honorable Quintress J. Gilbert The Honorable Ellen McElyea Commissioner: Albert Murray Editor-in-Chief: Steve Hayes Writing Staff: Steve Hayes Dawn Miles Editing Team: Steve Hayes Dawn Miles Lena Wilson Publisher: Bill E. Ireland Print Shop Please direct comments or Questions to: Office of Public Affairs Georgia Department Of Juvenile Justice 3408 Covington Highway Decatur, Georgia 30032 Telephone: (404) 508-7147 Facsimile: (404) 508-7341 Online: www.djj.state.ga.us T he mission of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is to protect and serve the citizens of Georgia by holding youthful offenders accountable for their actions through the delivery of effective services in appropriate settings, establishing youth in their communities as law abiding citizens. IN THE NEWS CONTINUED doctorate in educational leadership in 2007. She works with lead teacher Dewayne Gaylon, Rebecca Galloway and Janetta Letson-McCoy at the Dalton facility. "One thing I'm blessed with here is teachers who have been here quite a while. We've had very little turnover," Hughes said. "What's neat is that all of them have gone back to get their certification in special education. It's a really safe, positive learning environment." Wilt-Aboudaiem said some of her students come from single-parent homes, homes with both parents working who are unable to offer supervision, or abusive home situations. They are latchkey kids who need guidance and mentors, she said. "Basically, their parents are unable to give them enough support. If parents are working three jobs to stay fiscally afloat, they're not going to have time to spend as a family," she said. "My kids are just angry at the world and see no way out. They want somebody or some thing that makes them feel part of a family, and that's often a gang. They want acceptance, even if it means gangs and drugs." Coy Satterfield, director of student support services for the Department of Juvenile Justice's education department, said the department's teachers are special -- they teach year-round, without summers off, in a secured environment. "They have to be seriously committed to go beyond the call of duty. They're dealing with some of the most challenged youth in the state," Satterfield said. "These type of teachers need an intrinsic value attached to their role. They could easily go teach in a magnet or parochial schools, but they make the decision to specifically teach students with non-social attitudes." Satterfield said there are plenty of success stories -- (students) earning their GEDs, or others graduating from high school and turning their lives around. "Within as little as three days, we have them enrolled on grade level," he said, "and after they are released, they can pick up where they last left off. We keep them on a path to graduation." Wilt-Aboudaiem said her students could benefit from the traits of selfcontrol and self-esteem she learned in karate. She said she always works to help make them productive citizens. "I am sincere in telling them that if they only recognize they have selfworth and potential, they can go places. Some of them tell me, `You're the first person in my life to tell me that,'" she said. "I've seen several of them out in the community recently, and they'll tell me how they've changed their lives around, gotten a job, gotten married and had kids." "Some you can't change, but you keep trying. I hope there are some I may have been able to influence."