Directions A publication of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice Volume VIII, Issue No. 2 Winter/Spring 2002 COMMISSIONER'S CORNER THE ROAD TO PROGRESS The great Frederick Douglass once said that in order for there to be progress, there must be struggle. No truer words have been spoken as this agency continues to improve the way we provide services to juvenile offenders in Georgia. Admittedly, we have had struggles along this road called progress. Most recently we lost two precious lives to suicide in our facilities. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their family and friends. Additionally, I know that staff who worked personally with these youths are still grieving these losses. To them I say, the best way to honor them is to continue improving the way we do business, particularly as it relates to the treatment of juvenile offenders with mental health needs. INSIDE THIS ISSUE COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS PROGRAMS FACILITIES To that end, we are working with Dr. Gail Wasserman, Director of the Center for the Promotion of Mental Health in Juvenile Justice and Dr. David Schaffer, Director of the Department of Child Psychiatry, both at Columbia University, to assess and develop a more effective suicide prevention policy. We will do whatever is in our power, whatever it takes, to prevent any child in our care from committing such a senseless act. However, more than just good policy and practices will be required to continue on this road of progress. It will take the concentrated efforts of all childserving agencies, along with lawmakers, to ensure that we do what is in the best interest of Georgia's children. Governor Roy E. Barnes demonstrated his commitment to this principle with the creation of the Governor's Action Group for Safe Children. This group chaired by Jim Martin, Commissioner of the Department of Human Resources, is comprised of state leaders in child service reform. As members of this Action Group, we are committed to helping design a system to respond to the critical needs of Georgia's youngest citizens. Our goal is to build a seamless service delivery model and in so doing, build trust, cooperation and collaboration among all agencies and groups that provide services to children. At our first meeting, considerable dialogue ensued about the availability of services and the best placement for youth. Critical issues were discussed including those pertinent to mentally challenged, behaviorally disordered youth; pregnant, emotionally disturbed adolescents; and the age of diminished capacity for delinquents. Of great note is that this group has been charged by the Governor to be more than a think tank, to do more than just talk. To urge our work along, we have been given until July 1, 2002 to develop a plan that will result in interdepartmental systemic changes. As an agency, already we have made great progress, almost eliminating overcrowding in our facilities and improving staffing. But what I have learned over time is that you can never declare victory too early, as shown with our recent losses. There is always more work to be done and better ways to do it. There must be constant and consistent improvement. When we are able to accomplish to first "do no harm", then and only then, can we declare victory and make true progress a reality. Indeed, that is truly the time when progress is no longer a road, but a destination. Never forget, I listen to serve, Orlando L. Martinez Commissioner COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS STAFF TAKES TOP HONORS AT 2ND ANNUAL CHILD PLACEMENT CONFERENCE Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Community Corrections, Cheryl Dresser, and Juvenile Parole and Probation Specialist III Carolyn Allen both won top honors at the Awards Ceremony of the 2nd Annual Child Placement Conference held in Savannah last November 14th16th. The collaborative event was the largest statewide multi-disciplinary gathering in the field of child welfare in Georgia. Partners in the conference included Georgia's Department of Human Resources, the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children, The Supreme Court Child Placement Project, and The Department of Juvenile Justice. Ms. Cheryl Dresser won the Legacy Award and Ms. Allen won the Exemplary Service Award. The Legacy Award, "goes to an individual who has made significant efforts to further long-lasting change in the Georgia foster care system." The award recognizes the major role Ms. Dresser had in implementing Medicaid eligibility services and her work finding alternatives to secure detention. Ms. Dresser has served on the state MATCH Committee for 10 years, is pursuing a Master's Degree in Public Administration, and is committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families. The Exemplary Service Award "goes to a public or private case manager or supervisor who has made outstanding contributions to his/her unit, county, and client caseload over the past year." While Ms. Allen has an impressive, 30-year career working with youths in Georgia, the award recognizes work she has done as a JPPS III with Hall County Court Services. By establishing good working relationships with judges, attorneys, and the Hall County community, Ms. Allen has been instrumental in improving the placement programs for the area's high-risk youths. DJJ DEVELOPS EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO SHORT TERM PROGRAM Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is an intensive, family and communitybased alternative treatment program that addresses the multiple causes of serious antisocial behavior in juvenile offenders. Starting this January, our agency collaborated with Community Solutions, Inc. (CSI) of Bloomfield, CT, and with the juvenile courts in Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties, to provide MST treatment for juvenile offenders in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The program will serve as an alternative to the 90-day, short-term sentences in Georgia's Youth Development Campuses. MST treatment provides validated, cost effective, treatment to youths with serious behavioral problems that have resulted in multiple delinquent adjudications. The basic theory of the treatment is that a variety of factors, including peer group, school environment, family environment, and substance abuse contribute to their behavioral problems. MST treatment addresses all of these factors by placing the youths under the care of therapists for about four months. The youths remain at home, in school, and in intensive therapy instead of serving the 90 days at a YDC. MST programs are in force in many municipalities around the world. CSI is a private, non-profit corporation specializing in the development, implementation and operation of programs for both youth and adults. CSI currently operates programs in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont. MST treatment programs are validated by rigorous scientific evaluations. Results of the evaluations show that MST treatment costs significantly less than treatment provided at YDCs or their equivalents. Studies of violent and chronic juvenile offenders who received MST treatment showed sig- nificant reductions in out-of-home placements (in YDCs) and re-arrest rates. Rigorous evaluations are just one part of what makes the MST program different. These evaluations ensure accountability and adherence to the treatment model. Perhaps the main point of the MST treatment program is that it focuses on long-term outcomes based on empowerment of the youths and their parents to manage future difficulties. Not all juvenile offenders qualify as good candidates for the MST Program. Inappropriate referrals to the MST program include youths referred primarily for psychiatric behaviors such as suicide, homicide, and active psychosis, and sex offenders. 2 / directions / PROGRAMS DJJ Youth Earn as They Learn Since their release from the Bill Ireland Youth Development Campus, three former students are busy today adding to their personal success stories in the professional and educational roles they have planned for themselves. All three young men came to the campus as teenagers and designated felons with 60-month sentences. But by simply working hard and following the rules, they all got into the New Start Program at Bill Ireland. They have since turned their lives around dramatically and are now enjoying positions that most young men would envy. One student has taken the SAT and plans to attend college. While waiting for the results, he's living at home and working full-time in the mailroom at Georgia Pacific's Atlanta headquarters. While still at Bill Ireland, he took some courses to keep his classroom skills up. However, he also worked part-time and saved about $4,400 while attending classes. "He will pay for his first year of college out of his own pocket," said his former counselor, Gary Murphy. Another student left the campus with about $3,600, which he earned working part-time while attending classes at Bill Ireland. Before leaving the campus, he earned a Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Certification at Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC). Now he's living back at home with his parents. He bought his own car and he's planning to move into his own apartment. His probation officer might be able to help with his first month's rent. "It's a special fund to which the probation officers have access," Murphy said. "Our willingness to help him is based on his willingness to help himself." Also, another former Bill Ireland student earned over $3,000 while attending classes and working part-time. "He was very frugal," Murphy recalls. "He left with every penny he earned." Before leaving the campus, he earned a certification as a welder at CGTC. Now he's working, he's purchased a car for himself, he has his own apartment, and he is planning to attend school to get more training as a welder. All three of these young men entered Bill Ireland YDC with the odds stacked against them. They did well during their first few years at the Campus and were promoted to the Honors Dormitory for participation in the New Start Program. Once in the dorm, they were evaluated and scrutinized for six 3 / directions / months and also taught an extensive variety of life skills from doing laundry to balancing a checkbook. Having passed that phase of their rehabilitation, they were moved to the four-bedroom, renovated New Start Home, which is actually outside the Campus. While living here, they attend classes in an adjacent house in the mornings and work at part-time jobs in the afternoons. Working at these jobs, the young men earned the money they saved. Their Job Coach, Eddie Ellison, also played an important role. He helped them get their part-time jobs while they were still students at Bill Ireland YDC. When their stay at the Campus was drawing to a close, Ellison got them registered with the Georgia Department of Labor and the Social Security Administration. He also scoured their home neighborhoods for job opportunities, drove them to prospective employers, showed them how to fill out applications, and provided them with job interview skills. "Getting the job themselves is part of the learning process," Murphy explained. "We can get the job applications for them and even show them how to interview, but nobody's going to get the jobs for them. They have to do that on their own." These young men have all participated in the learning process and it has served them well. Congratulations and best of luck to them. Directions Roy E. Barnes Governor BOARD David Evans Chair Susan Foxworth Dunwody Vice Chair Emmett Bryant, Jr. Secretary Steve Adams Violet Bennett John C. Bittick Major General Peter Boylan Mary Linda Duncan Lois Frank Eleanor C. Main, Ph.D Edwin A. Risler, Ph.D William J. Shellem, Jr. Veronica J. Walters, Ph.D Major John Wiggins Mary E. Wilhite ADVISORY BOARD The Honorable Gregory Adams The Honorable J. Lane Bearden The Honorable Quintress J. Gilbert Commissioner: Orlando L. Martinez Editor-in-Chief: Jaci Mays Vickers Managing Editor: Ericka Davis Editor: Camille Y. Murray Staff Writer: Andy Haraldson Publisher: Printing Partners Please direct comments or questions to: Office of Public Affairs Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice 2 Peachtree Street, 5th floor Atlanta, Georgia 30303 Telephone: (404) 657-2470 Facsimile: (404) 657-2423 Online:www.djj.state.ga.us T he mission of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) is to serve the youth and citizens of Georgia by protecting the public, holding youth accountable for their actions, and improving their academic, social, vocational, and behavioral competencies in the most effective manner possible. FACILITIES EDUCATION PROGRAM POSES CHALLENGES Last December, the city of Sylvania held an opening ceremony for one of the newest programs designed for DJJ's youth. Georgia State Senator Jack Hill was the Master of Ceremonies for the grand opening of the Savannah River Challenge Program (SRCP). Commissioner Orlando Martinez was also present, along with former Internal Revenue Service Chairman Randolph Thrower, now a volunteer on the Georgia Wilderness Board of Trustees. The Program offers alternative education for youths primarily convicted of nonviolent offenses, such as fighting or drug possession. Senator Hill was instrumental in starting the Program. The DJJ contracted with the Associated Marine Institutes (AMI), Inc., to operate the SRCP. The Program is designed to provide wrap-around services for up to 150 male students with an emphasis on education. From their first day, students daily receive 370 minutes of course work. The students can choose to pursue graduation, a GED, or technical/vocational training. "`A lot of people have worked hard to create this progressive model,'" Martinez is quoted as having said about the program in an AMI news release about its opening. The Program is a collaborative effort involving the DJJ, AMI, the town of Sylvania, and various foundations, and schools. Some students in the Program find it difficult due to the educational emphasis. However, education and relationships are the SRCP's focus. Students are in the program for 90 days instead of the longer stay they might spend in other programs. The Program's staunchest supporters say that it is "more humane" and "will help boys get to the root of their problems." 4 / directions /