Helping Communities Help Children Georgia's CYCC Children and Youth Coordinating Council Sonny Perdue Governor of Georgia Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report SONNY PERDUE GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA Children and Youth Coordinating Council Table of Contents Director's Message Children and Youth Coordinating Council Agency Overview Accomplishments Financial Overview Grant Program Areas Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention and Treatment Abstinence Education Underage Drinking Enforcement Georgia Detention Alternatives Initiative Interagency System Coordination Project CYCC Council Members Contact Information FY 2004 Annual Report 1 2 4 7 8 8 9 10 10 11 12 Children and Youth Coordinating Council Director's Message FY 2004 Annual Report Dear Georgians: In 2004, Georgia's Children and Youth Coordinating Council (CYCC) recorded a number of successes in its traditional mission of providing practical, user-friendly assistance to Georgia's communities in developing services and programs for troubled children and youth. I am particularly proud of our ability to effectively manage the statewide impact of major reductions in the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program (JABG). Comprehensive planning for these reductions, in conjunction with the Council of Juvenile Court Judges, allowed many of the state's independent juvenile courts, who received the bulk of these reductions, to replace lost JABG funds with county appropriations. Moreover, several courts began to access Medicaid funding for programs previously supported by CYCC. During 2004, CYCC's competitive grants process continued to focus on early intervention programs for juvenile offenders and prevention activities falling outside the purview of other funding streams. Priorities were given to detention diversion projects as Council staff continued to work closely with the Department of Juvenile Justice and local courts in promoting juvenile detention reform throughout the state. CYCC also continued its role as a catalyst for interdepartmental cooperation and coordination, with ongoing monitoring and support for previously developed local protocols between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the state Division of Family and Children Services. The Council's Abstinence Education Program continued to emphasize best practices and effective evaluation for local programs, providing high-quality training and technical assistance for abstinence education subgrantees. With support from Governor Perdue and the First Lady, the Council began production during the year of a new educational video: Fostering Hope: A Call to Care. This documentary on foster parenting and adoption will serve as an inspirational tool for the recruitment of foster parents in Georgia, while providing a vivid portrayal of the issues facing children in foster care. We are proud of our accomplishments in 2004, and look forward to continued success in 2005. Sincerely, Pete Colbenson, Ph.D. 1 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report Agency Overview Serving as an independent agency, the Children and Youth Coordinating Council's(CYCC) objective is to coordinate services among juvenile courts, school systems, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) while providing financial support to community-based programs serving diverse populations of high-risk youth. The Council has engaged in a variety of collaborative initiatives. The most recent being the facilitation of the development of local cooperative agreements between the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) field offices through the Interagency System Coordination Project. CYCC employs eleven staff members, consisting of a director, four grant monitors, four fiscal personnel, one detention alternatives coordinator, and one administrative assistant. CYCC staff provides continuous grant application training and technical assistance to help communities develop programs for high-risk youth. CYCC ensures effective and efficient programming by conducting on-site program and fiscal monitoring as well as evaluating program implementation. In accordance with federal regulation, CYCC is governed by a 23-member board representing law enforcement, local governments, child advocacy groups, education, social service professions, businesses, and youth. Twenty-one members are appointed by the Governor, one by the Lieutenant Governor, and one by the Speaker of the House. The full Council and its committees meet quarterly, with ad-hoc committees meeting more frequently when appropriate. CYCC is charged with administering federal and state grant funds to assist communities in developing programs and services to control and prevent juvenile delinquency. Moreover, CYCC provides statewide leadership and coordination of these services. In order to be eligible for funding by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), federal law requires each state to have an organization such as CYCC to provide various planning and monitoring activities. Georgia receives nearly $9 million annually in OJJDP funding. CYCC also administers $1.5 million of federal funding under contract with DHR for abstinence education programs. In addition, CYCC administers $500,000 in state grant funds. Grant programs focus on prevention and early intervention activities that maximize the utilization of local resources to create effective, sustainable community programs serving high-risk youth. The Council works closely with Family Connection sites to assist communities with improving services for their children. The Council also maintains a partnership with DJJ as it strives to develop innovative community programs serving juvenile offenders. The Council also provides the following services: Managing the Juvenile Justice Training Network that provides free training for juvenile justice field staff. CYCC provides information and training to law enforcement officials on topics such as juvenile law, youthoriented community policing, and federal regulations concerning lawful jail and status offender detention. Monitoring potential state and federal legislation related to children and youth, as well as advising the Governor's Office and General Assembly on the potential impact of such legislation. 2 Children and Youth Coordinating Council Agency Overview (continued) FY 2004 Annual Report Monitoring juvenile courts, adult jails, detention facilities, and other facilities for compliance with federal and state laws related to the detention of juveniles. Council staff identifies instances of non-compliance by juvenile court judges and law enforcement officials and takes corrective action when necessary. Facilitating interagency system coordination and integration of services at the local level. Conducting public information and awareness activities regarding youth issues. 3 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report FY 2004 Accomplishments During FY 2004, the Children and Youth Coordinating Council (CYCC) commissioned two research initiatives and one continuing research initiative: "An Evaluation of Georgia's 90-day Short-Term Treatment Program"; "DAI Impact Evaluation"; and the "Senate Bill 440 Project." In addition to these three research projects, CYCC staff conducted an assessment of the current juvenile detention systems in Georgia. An Evaluation of Georgia's 90-day Short-Term Treatment Program Created through a statute during 1994, the Short-Term Treatment Program (STP) has become an integral component of the state's continuum of sanctions for juvenile offenders. Begun as a "boot camp," this program developed into a general short-term incarceration project, focusing on education. This research was initiated in response to suggestions from the Department of Juvenile Justice for modification, or even the elimination, of STPs through legislation as a cost efficiency measure. The research sought to determine the program's effectiveness in providing services and reducing recidivism through both a quantitative statistical analysis focusing on recidivism, a qualitative review of the program's components based on site observation, and interviews with staff and clients. Completed in January 2004, this report has been quite valuable in the subsequent discussions over the future of the STPs which culminated in significant revisions to the program during the 2005 General Assembly. Evaluation of the Impact of the Georgia Detention Assessment Instrument on Intake Operations This report describes the implementation of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice's (DJJ) Detention Assessment Instrument (DAI) and estimates its impact on detention utilization at juvenile intake. The analysis was preceded by a careful review from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD) and Children and Youth Coordinating Council staff of DJJ data collection procedures and an examination of when and how staff are completing the DAI in the field. The report also briefly reviews how the DAI is currently used at intake and provides a preliminary estimate of its impact on bed space utilization in the state's Regional Youth Detention Centers. Senate Bill 440 Project In 1994, the Georgia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 440, now codified as O.C.G.A. 15-11-5. This law gives each county's superior court exclusive jurisdiction over children ages 13-17 who have been alleged to have committed one of the following seven offenses: Murder Voluntary Manslaughter Rape Aggravated Sodomy Aggravated Child Molestation Aggravated Sexual Battery Armed Robbery (if committed with a firearm) 4 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report FY 2004 Accomplishments (continued) This Act allows district attorneys to decide if the superior court will retain jurisdiction of the case, (at which time the child is charged as an adult and faces adult criminal court penalties if found guilty) or to transfer the case to the juvenile court (where juvenile penalties apply). Youth who are charged with an SB440 offense in superior court often spend extended periods of time detained before their cases are eventually processed. Through funding from CYCC, the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council has tracked these cases statewide since 1994. For more in-depth information about this project, and research findings, please visit the following site: www.gpdsc.com/cpdsystem-reports-sb440.htm. Grant Programs CYCC funds a variety of community-based prevention and juvenile justice programs focusing on afterschool programming that serve juvenile probationers and high-risk youth referred by the school system. Recently, the Council placed an emphasis on juvenile court initiatives operated by local government and non-profit agencies. These programs included, but were not limited to, detention alternative projects and early intervention programs providing juvenile court judges with additional disposition options. Approximately $2 million of Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funds were allocated to 15 independent juvenile courts in the State for systemic improvements. These courts, and their probation staff, are primarily funded with county dollars as they manage more than 50% of all juvenile court cases. CYCC's JABG funding provided the first significant collaboration of state-level support to these independent courts. During 2004, CYCC awarded over $10 million in grant funds to Georgia programs serving delinquent and other high-risk youth within four program categories. Funding was awarded to local units of government, school systems, and non-profit organizations to support community-based initiatives. The four program categories are as follows: Delinquency prevention and early intervention projects serving juvenile offenders and other high-risk youth. Underage drinking awards to reduce the prevalence of alcohol consumption among Georgia's youth and to enforce underage drinking laws. Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) funding to state and local units of government to implement programs that increase accountability for juvenile offenders, and provide improvements in the juvenile court systems in Georgia. Abstinence education programs that provide youth development activities while promoting abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for youth 10 to 19 years old. 5 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Accomplishments (continued) FY 2004 Annual Report Juvenile Justice Training Network CYCC's Juvenile Justice Training Network presented 68 workshops to a total of 3,400 law enforcement and juvenile justice personnel, providing 20,730 training hours. The Network developed and implemented six new courses in FY 2004: Surviving the Courtroom, Positive Relationships in the Community, Female Gangs, Executive Marbles, Updating Understanding Psychological, and Parenting Factors and Adolescent Behavior. The Network provided funding for the Georgia Correctional Association Conference and the Georgia Juvenile Services Association Conference. Lastly, the Network collaborated with the Georgia Homes and Services Association, Georgia Baptist Children's Home, Fulton County Juvenile Court, and Georgia Boys Sheriff 's Ranch to provide training for direct care personnel. CYCC Educational Campaign CYCC educates local communities, school systems, youth, and parents on Georgia laws relating to juvenile justice and other youth-related issues. Four Emmy award-winning videos produced by CYCC to help educate the public on issues facing the youth of Georgia are available for distribution. Multiple Choice presents a realistic picture of life inside Georgia's prisons as seen through interviews with incarcerated juveniles and youth adults. Ultimate Choice provides an in-depth look at the dilemma of teen pregnancy and new laws affecting teenagers and their families. Fatal Addiction documents what parents and children can do to diminish the numbers of death, limit tobacco access, and save lives simply by explaining the obvious. Primary Influence explains the critical role parents play in influencing their children to avoid underage alcohol use. CYCC also produces wallet-sized laminated cards that provide an overview of Georgia laws and issues associated with the detention of juveniles, bullying, statutory rape, and reporting child abuse. Statutory Rape and Bullying cards and posters, are both available in both English and Spanish. In addition, CYCC annually updates and distributed a card on "Detention of Juveniles" to law enforcement personnel. Lastly, CYCC has brochures and posters for abstinence education programs that promote youth to abstain from sexual activity until marriage. All CYCC products are FREE to groups or organizations working in an organized format with children, youth, and families. These products can be ordered through the agency's web site. www.cycc.state.ga.us 6 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Financial Overview FY 2004 Annual Report FY 2004 Expenditures T o t al Exp end it ures A d minist r at ive C o st s Ed ucat io nal and R esearch C o nt ract s $9 9 9 ,76 5 $3 0 5,70 0 Sub g rant A ward s $11,4 8 6 ,9 18 $10 ,18 1,4 53 $0 $2 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $4 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $8 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $10 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 $12 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 Subgrant Awards: 145 grant programs funded at $10,181,453 Administrative Costs: $999,765 to support an 11-member staff and 23-member board Educational and Research Contracts: 6 contracts totaling $305,700 to support research initiatives and production of educational videos 7 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report FY 2004 Grant Program Areas I. Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Congress initiated the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant (JABG) Program in 1997 which provides financial assistance to state and local governments to promote accountability within the juvenile justice system. Eighty percent (80%) of the funding is disbursed at the state level to various state agencies responsible, in whole or in part, for ensuring accountability within the juvenile justice system. The remaining twenty percent (20%) is disbursed to independent juvenile courts for specialized services for probated youth and to local units of government for the enhancement of services associated with JABG program categories. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, administers these funds at the national level. Featured Program: Chatham County Juvenile Court Services Project During FY 2004, CYCC provided $103,563 of JABG funds to the juvenile court in Chatham County to provide the following services to youth coming to the attention of the court: crisis counseling; mental health services; conflict resolution and mediation services; truancy intervention; and parenting training. These much needed services provided by the grant are not otherwise available or are not available at a reasonable cost to the families. 182 Chatham County youth and their families benefited from these services during FY 2004. II. Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention and Treatment 1. Community Enrichment/Outreach Programs Community enrichment/outreach focuses on preventing high-risk youth from becoming involved in delinquent behavior as well as intervening in the lives of children who have recently become involved with the juvenile courts. 2. Community Services for Juvenile Offenders A. Accountability-Based Sanctions: Programs that assist juvenile courts and non-profit agencies in developing community-based programs to provide treatment services for juvenile probationers. Detention alternatives are short-term community services for offenders in lieu of detention, such as electronic monitoring, intensive supervision or specialized intake services. B. Gender-Responsive Programming For Girls: Gender Responsive Programming (GRP) recognizes the challenges that uniquely affect girls in all areas including in the juvenile justice system. GRP provides a comprehensive approach that deals with behavior in context, enabling each girl to focus on her individual needs, by understanding how risk factors have shaped her development, and also addressing issues that arise in her relationships with others, including family, peers, community and society. 8 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report FY 2004 Grant Program Areas (continued) Featured Program: 7th District Juvenile Program This program, operated by the Administrative Office of the Courts, is an alternative to litigation and offers an informal way for juvenile offenders and victims to come together to discuss and resolve conflict with the help of an impartial mediator. Mediation gives the victim an opportunity to have a say in the outcome of the case. The program targets first-time offenders and aims to reduce the recidivism rate. This program holds juveniles accountable for their actions while teaching effective communication skills. During FY 2004, 262 youth and their families participated in the project. Of this number, only approximately 6% of the youth who have completed the program have had a subsequent re-offense. III. Abstinence Education Funding in this area is devoted exclusively to abstinence education programs that seek to prevent teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, school dropouts, out-of-wedlock teen births, and welfare dependency. Programs are encouraged to provide youth development activities to promote abstinence from sexual activity. These Abstinence Education Block Grant funds are administered at the national level by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, and CYCC contracts with the Department of Human Resources, Office of Adolescent Health and Youth Development, to administer these funds at the state level. Featured Program: Newton County Board of Commissioners Juvenile offenders in Newton County are being given a second chance by participating in a program focusing on abstinence education and youth development. The program, Redirecting and Educating youth on Abstinence, Choices and Healthy living (REACH), offers individuals entering the juvenile justice system an opportunity to learn life skills, abstinence, prevent repeat offenses, and they learn a variety of ways to cope with contemporary issues including drugs, hip-hop, and gang culture. Youth also receive training on alcohol prevention, etiquette training, nutrition education, introduction to career/job opportunities, budget training, and experience educational field trips. Youth participate in abstinence education utilizing the WAIT training curriculum, which teaches decisionmaking & social/coping skills through the collective programming of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and Life Skills Training. One parent of each participating youth must attend parenting classes once a week in a discussion like setting based on the "Active Parenting of Teens" curriculum. Parents learn new skills on how to better handle situations, communication, and a deeper understanding of teen attitudes and behaviors relating to sex, drugs, and education through role-play, real life video synopsis, and discussion. REACH has a recidivism rate of 7% (only 8 out of 120 participants re-offended within the first year of successfully completing the program). Currently there have been no pregnancies, fathering a child, or STD cases reported; and two participants are seeking recording contracts, one participant was recently crowned Miss North Georgia, and another is competing as an amateur skateboarder. There has been only one youth to receive a felony charge, out of the eight youth that re-offended. 9 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Grant Program Areas (continued) FY 2004 Annual Report IV. Underage Drinking Enforcement The goal of Georgia's Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Program (EUDL) is to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors and the consumption of alcoholic beverages by minors. This is accomplished through a multi-faceted strategy, which includes public awareness and educational activities, with a special emphasis on increasing law enforcement activity with regard to the sale of alcohol to minors. Underage drinking prevention is defined as programs, policies, or activities that are designed to keep youth from using alcohol before they attain the minimum legal drinking age. Preventing young people from drinking may not only save them from harm in their youth, but may prevent them from beginning a lifetime of alcohol and drug-related problems. The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, administers these funds at the national level. Featured Program: Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division Since 1998, CYCC has collaborated with the Georgia Department of Revenue's (DOR) Alcohol & Tobacco Division in a statewide effort to reduce underage drinking. This collaboration has resulted in over 7,000 investigations by state and local law enforcement. The DOR investigative team targeted various alcohol-licensed establishments for participation in the Responsible Merchants Campaign. This campaign deployed the team into communities to directly approach managers and owners of licensed establishments with messages about the importance of adopting business policies and practices that reduce illegal sales, as well as how removing advertising that targets children can reduce youth attempts to purchase alcohol throughout the community. These aggressive measures have resulted in a reduction in illegal sales by more than 60 percent. The investigative team has increased its public policy efforts and is now partnering with local and state law enforcement and other partners to advocate that a uniform system of compliance check training be included in law enforcement curriculum in Georgia. The activities of this grant are currently ongoing. V. Georgia Detention Alternatives Initiative The philosophy guiding the initiative is the belief that bed space in secure detention facilities should be utilized for those youth who pose a high level of risk of re-offending prior to their scheduled court date or failing to appear for a court hearing. Youth who do not pose a verifiable threat of re-offending or are likely to abscond should be effectively served in community-based alternatives or should be unconditionally released until their next court date. Considerable progress has been made by DJJ to reduce inappropriate detention, alleviate facility overcrowding, improve conditions of confinement, and improve data tracking through the reorganization of the Division of Community Corrections, revision of departmental policies and procedures, and specialized training. Utilizing the Annie E. Casey model, several demonstration sites are providing alternatives to detention in specific geographic locations, including Carroll and Haralson counties (both projects are funded by CYCC). A Detention Assessment Instrument (DAI) has been developed and is currently being used to guide detention decisions based on new and prior offense history. As part of CYCC's initiative project, revisions to the DAI are being explored based on input from DJJ, as well as juvenile court judges. 10 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Grant Program Areas (continued) FY 2004 Annual Report During FY 2004, CYCC continued to facilitate the development and implementation of local working agreements between DFCS and DJJ across the state; however, effective December 31, 2003, CYCC concluded its responsibility for the Georgia Detention Alternative Initiative, but CYCC continued some elements of this initiative through the new program area, Interagency System Coordination Project. VI. Interagency System Coordination Project As the formal Georgia Detention Alternative Initiative ended December 31, 2003, CYCC elected to continue one portion of that initiative through a new program area involving coordination and collaboration among youthserving agencies in the state. Effective January 1, 2004, CYCC implemented the Interagency System Coordination Project as a means to foster closer coordination and collaboration at the state and local level. Youth who become involved in any state system often are touched by multiple government agencies. Yet many times, these services are not coordinated, leading to duplication of some services and total neglect of others. Additionally, each of Georgia's youth-serving agencies have different enabling statutes, missions, funding streams, information systems, and points of entry and exit. This often results in poor communication, competition for resources, and inconsistent and conflicting system priorities. To address this complex issue, CYCC is working with youth-serving agencies, including juvenile courts, to develop, implement and sustain local working agreements or protocols to address the needs of the shared population of youth they serve. These agreements outline specific procedures for each agency to ensure the most appropriate and timely placement and treatment for youth. Ideally, this project will lead to the institutionalization of interagency coordination and collaboration at state and local levels. 11 Children and Youth Coordinating Council FY 2004 Annual Report CYCC Council Members Andrew Harris,Jr., Chair, Atlanta Director of Government Relations Special Assistant to the President, Georgia Institute of Technology Karl Belle Isle, Marietta Youth Member Manager, Concord ESS Dr. Homer Day, Tifton Retired College Administrator Honorable Deborah Edwards, Warner Robins Juvenile Court Judge Jim Baker, Atlanta President, Chaseland Corporation Carol Bell, Savannah Central Services Director, City of Savannah Ted Stone, Macon Chairman, Jones County Board of Education Board Member, Georgia School Board Assoc. James A. Murkerson, Blakely Sheriff, Early County Tony Sammons, Brunswick Assistant to Region Manager, Coastal Region for Georgia Power Catherine Champion, Lookout Mountain Real Estate Consultant Dan Provence, Bainbridge Executive Director, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Nighta Davis, Hiawassee Child Advocate James Smith, Tifton Police Chief, City of Tifton Phillip Smith, Atlanta National Grassroots Director, The Concord Coalition Dr. Sharon Steele, Decatur Pediatrician, Gwinnett Pediatrics Honorable Steve Teske, Jonesboro Clayton County Juvenile Court Judge Kathryn Schrader, Duluth Private Practicing Attorney Adam Poppell, III, Darien Private Practicing Attorney Larry Mims, Tifton State Court Judge CYCC Board at work reviewing grants 12 Children and Youth Coordinating Council Contact Information FY 2004 Annual Report Children and Youth Coordinating Council 3408 Covington Highway, Fourth Floor Decatur, Georgia 30032 (404) 508-6574 Office (404) 508-7336 Fax Pete Colbenson Ph.D. Director (404) 508-6577 Office PeteColbenson@cycc.state.ga.us Juvenile Justice Information: Joe Vignati, Juvenile Justice Specialist/Deputy Director (404) 508-6585 JoeVignati@cycc.state.ga.us Interagency System Coordination: Suzanne Luker, Interagency Program Manager (404) 508-6580 SuzanneLuker@cycc.state.ga.us Abstinence Education Information: Danielle Ruedt, State Coordinator (404) 508-6584 DanielleRuedt@cycc.state.ga.us Financial Information: Susan Atkins, Budget Analyst (404) 508-6573 SusanAtkins@cycc.state.ga.us Educational Products: Nikki Tucker, Administrative Assistant (404) 508-6574 NikkiTucker@cycc.state.ga.us Web Site Address: www.cycc.state.ga.us For a more detailed listing of grants awarded during FY 2004, please see the following link: www.cycc.state.ga.us/grant_awards.html