FYI @ DJJ: the official online newsletter of the Department of Juvenile Justice [Apr. 2013]

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April 2013 Newsletter

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FYI at DJJ: Departmental News from around Georgia -- April 2013 Newsletter

FYI @ DJJ is your online source for the latest news from our many Department of Juvenile Justice court services offices and secure facilities throughout the state and our divisions at Central Office in Decatur. Learn more about the innovative programs and activities involving your professional DJJ colleagues as they strive to improve the lives of the youth in our care and custody while serving the public safety needs of the citizens of the State of Georgia.
In April, the DJJ Grant Coordinator completing the Georgia Shape Grant Application.
Nutrition - The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) is the most recent iteration of the Child Nutrition Act, which governs federal meal programs including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Feeding Programs, and the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
DJJ has applied for the planning grant, which will provide up to $3,000 for the agency to form a health team or council; conduct a school health assessment using one of the two approved assessment tools; develop a physical activity and/or nutrition

improvement plan that includes priorities based on the results of the school health assessment; participate in training and technical assistance sessions provided by the grant program; develop a strategy for implementing programs/activities that address the top three priorities identified in the improvement plan; and conduct an evaluation of the planning process.
The Office of Engineering is instrumental in ensuring that the Rockdale RYDC/YDC is completed on time. In addition, the engineering team has started the preliminary work on the Bill Ireland Special Management Unit
April also saw the following goals completed by the Engineering Team:
Completed the medical expansion and renovation at Eastman YDC
Completed the additions to the medical/education additions at Metro with the punch list pending.
Assisted with the property surplus of Griffin. The facility has been surplused and is being sold
Completed the surplus process of the Old Columbus RYDC and property has been sold.
Office of Technology and Information Services
The Office of Technology and Information Services (OTIS) has been working on making necessary modifications in the Juvenile Tracking

System (JTS) to meet the requirements outlined in Juvenile Justice Reform which is a top priority for DJJ.
April saw the OTIS finalize the following tasks:
Completed the integration of the Commissioner's Top 5 into the agency projects
Completed the final recidivism report for AMI
Worked with executive staff to update JTS Reports
The Office of Contracts continues to work diligently to address and improve agency contracts that have been established between DJJ and the Department of Administrative Services.
In April, the Office of Contracts was involved in the following activities:
Requesting for review all contracts and agreements at the local level for appropriate signature authority
Updating lease agreements

The Office of Financial Services is in the process of completing the planning for the Financial Users Training. This training will occur in May and this training is for facility, community, regional and district financial staff and property coordinators. The training focuses on accounting, procurement, meal sales reporting, and usage of purchasing cards.
Elbert CSO
On April 4, 2013, the Eighth grade class at Lincoln County Middle School learned powerful lessons about making good decisions and the consequences of making bad decisions. JPPS III, Dia Winfrey gave a presentation to the students about the Department of Juvenile Justice "A Look inside Georgia's Juvenile Laws". The children learned what they could get in trouble for, what the consequences could be, and how to make good decisions.
Forsyth CSO
On April 8th 2013, the juveniles under Forsyth County High Intensity Supervision completed a service learning project. The group was informed that the month of April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, National Sexual Assault Awareness month, and National Crime Victims' Rights week on April 21st-27th. The group was provided information on the definition of the word victim, types of victims of crime, the rights of victims, and what to do if you are a victim.
Henry CSO
A Henry County youth wrote an award winning poem in April. The youth won the Young Georgia Authors

Competition for his grade level for all of Griffin-Spalding County Schools (A.Z. Kelsey Academy, Griffin High School and Spalding High School). His poem will now go to the state level competition to compete with all of the other high schools in Georgia! (See poem below)
Smile to hide your tears;
laugh to hide your fears,
joke before you choke,
before you hang from that rope,
beg for attention, just to feel redemption,
shield your sorrows; they will be there tomorrow,
cry behind your hands, laugh before your fans,
the crowd adores you; your company deceives you,
you sit and wonder what life would be like if you won that fight,
you lost a half, but gained a whole, donTMt show your sadness,
but embrace the happiness,
the world will never know what you donTMt show,
be who you are, express how you feel,
don't keep feelings confined, let them run free,
show them you are strong,
say no to the wrong,
overcome your fears,
do it now,

don't waste your years, show them you care, even when you aren't there, tomorrow is a new day, so free yourself from the hate, they love to see you in pain, so be happy, you have much to gain,
the sun will rise again.
The Office of Legislative Affairs worked diligently with the Juvenile Justice Reform committee and the Governor's Office to perfect and pass the Juvenile Reinvestment Act. The bill passed without an opposing vote from either Chamber of the Georgia Legislature. All agencies and courts involved are working on making a smooth and effective transition to the new reform.

In April, the Office of Behavioral Health Services participated in several multi-agency collaborative projects including the Mental Health Crisis Service Reform Steering Committee, the Crisis Intervention Team development of a youth-specific training for police and other public safety officials, and a TraumaFocused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Collaborative with DBHDD, DFCS, and the Medical University of South Carolina.
A Process Action Team has been formed comprised of members from all department disciplines in working towards the opening of the Rockdale RYDC. This will be a 52 bed facility that will initially focus on housing youth who are awaiting YDC placement but still assigned to a RYDC. Programming and educational needs will be the primary focus.
On April 13, 2013, Program Coordinators Monique Brandenburg and Arkeysha McCullough and OCI Staffer Fabienne Tate conducted a presentation and tour of the Rockdale RYDC for the City of Atlanta Detention Center's Junior Correctional Officer Program. This program targets "at-risk" youth who exhibit a desire to excel. These 17 youth were enthusiastic and enjoyed the program evidence by their invitation to attend their graduation from the program. Thanks to our team members for sharing their time with these youth.

In partnership with the Governor's Office for Children and Families, the Division of Support Services (Deputy Commissioner Michael McNeely and Latera Davis, along with Allyson Richardson and Dee Bell) traveled to Dallas, Texas on March 27-28, to visit the Letot Girls' Center. The Letot Girls Center specializes in providing residential services for youth that have been victims of domestic human trafficking. As the Governor's Office for Children and Families leads the State of Georgia in combating Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (in partnership with the Department of Juvenile Justice), the visit to the Letot Center provided an opportunity to speak with residential staff and local law enforcement who specializes in human trafficking cases. By attending, more understanding was gained on the prevention, intervention, and response to commercial sexual exploitation of children in Georgia.
Office of Training
Basic Juvenile Correctional Officers Training (BJCOT)
BJCOT Class #185 began March 3, 2013, with a class of 61 cadets. Graduation was held March 29, 2013, at the GPSTC auditorium. 57 officers graduated from the program. Tony C. Thompson from the Augusta YDC, Jessica Williams from the Central Office S.M.A.R.T. and Jacqueline Vaughn from the Metro RYDC served Class #185 as Class Leaders. Deshana Reeves from the Eastman YDC graduated with honors.
BJCOT Class #186 began March 31, 2013, with a class of 78 cadets. Graduation was held April 26, 2013, at the GPSTC auditorium.
Basic Juvenile Probation Officers Training (BJPOT)
BJPOT Class #004 began March 11, 2013, with a class of 12 cadets. Graduation was held March 29, 2013, at the GPSTC Bay A. 12 Juvenile Probation Parole Specialists graduated from the program. Terry Sadler from Clayton County CSO

served Class #004 as the Class Leader. Kimberly Rutherford from the Fulton MSC, Gwendolyn Slacks from the Ben Hill County CSO and Katie White from the Cherokee County CSO graduated with honors.
Other
The Office of Training is pleased to announce that Ms. Sharon Strickland received her POST Council "Master Instructor Certification" on March 27, 2013. Ms. Strickland is the first instructor in the history of the DJJ Office of Training to receive this prestigious certification. She currently serves as the BJCOT curriculum developer at the DJJ Academy.
Office of Victim Services
The Office of Victim Services celebrated National Crime Victims' Rights Week April 21-27; serving as event sponsors for the Multi-Agency Partnership event held on April 23, 2013 in Forsyth, GA.
The Office of Victim Services participated in several events held throughout the state honoring crime victims.
The Office of Victim Services spearheaded a Darkness to Light, sexual abuse training for departmental staff. Approximately 125 DJJ staff will receive the Darkness to Light training being offered at no cost to DJJ by the Governor's Office for Children and Families and the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy. The first training was held for secure facility staff on April 4, 2013.
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