Youth First - Dallas County youth first. We welcome your feedback, ideas, and comments about ... Honoring a Leader’s Legacy P.3 ISSUE Newsletter For Dallas County Juvenile

W e l c o m e

Please enjoy the inaugural

issue of the Dallas County

Juvenile Department

newsletter.

This quarterly publication

highlights the work the

department and its

community partners does to

put youth first.

We welcome your feedback,

ideas, and comments about

our work for the Dallas

County community.

We are always looking for

editors and reporters for the

newsletter. Please contact

Allison Harris,

[email protected]

Treatment Center for Girls Breaks Ground

Girls ages 13-17 who have experienced

abuse and exploitation in human

trafficking will benefit from the new Letot

Girls’ Residential Treatment Center, a first

of its kind in Texas and the nation.

On Wednesday, September 5th, Dallas

County officials and private donors came

together under the morning sun, to break

ground for the new 55,000 square foot

Letot Girl’s Residential Treatment Center.

This center is the first of its kind in North

Texas and the nation. It will be a national

model for helping abused and exploited

girls. Girls will benefit with six to 12

months of treatment and shelter with on-

going community support for themselves

and their family.

The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment

Center provides a place in Dallas County

where girls and their families from Dallas

County will have access to a continuum of

services close to home. Girls will get the

attention, protection and services they

need close to home giving them a higher

chance of success in their future.

Currently, the only option for Dallas

County girls to receive these types of

services is with providers outside of the

Dallas region, some as far as Victoria,

Texas. A girls-only residential treatment

center ensures that girls and their families

receive on going community support.

The new center is the product of a joint

public and private effort to raise the

necessary funds for construction.

Community leaders Lauren Embrey, Craig

Evans, Sarah Losinger and Caren Prothro

co-chaired the campaign that raised $8.9

million from private donors toward a goal

of $9.4 million for construction. The

Dallas County Juvenile Department will

operate the facility with the cost savings

from placing girls in out-of-county

facilities.

The Letot Girls’ Residential Treatment

Center will be next to the current Letot

Center in North Dallas. The Letot Center

will continue to offer short-term shelter

and care to runaways and youth in crisis.

Construction of the new facility will begin

this fall and is expected to take 12 to 14

months to complete.

To learn more about the new Letot Girls

Residential Treatment Center or to

become a Friend of Letot to support

future programs, check out

www. LetotGirlsCenter.org

this issue

Treatment Center Groundbreaking P.1

Charter School Renamed P.2

Honoring a Leader’s Legacy P.3

I S S U E Newsletter For

Dallas County

Juvenile

Department Youth FirstYouth FirstYouth First 01

N o v e m b e r

2 0 1 2

★ Youth First ★ Dallas County Juvenile Department ★ 2600 Lone Star Drive ★ Dallas, Texas 75212 ★ 214.698.4212 ★

Ms. Lauren Embry, Mr. Craig Evans, Dr. Terry Smith

Teachers at the Youth Village

Academy for Academic

Excellence Campus take the

extra mile to ensure their

student’s success. A recent

letter by a parent highlighted

the dedication to educational

success that Academy for

Academic Excellence teachers

possess. A parent commented

about the Youth Village

teachers:

“THE STAFF AND

TEACHERS HERE ARE

TRUE EXAMPLES OF

THOSE WHO ARE REALLY

WANTING TO EDUCATE

OUR CHILDREN AND DO

HAVE THEIR BEST

INTEREST AT HEART.”

The Dallas County Juvenile

Department wants to recognize

its teachers with the Academy

for Academic Excellence for

their continuous efforts to put

youth’s educational needs first.

Teachers and administrators

work diligently to close

educational achievement gaps

and eliminate their students

future involvement with the

justice system.

The 2012-2013 school year marks a new

era for the Dallas County Juvenile Justice

Charter School.

The Dallas County Juvenile Justice Charter

School is now called the Academy for

Academic Excellence. The new name

reflects the high standards the Dallas

County Juvenile Department expects for

its students and staff. Youth attending

classes at any of the five campuses of the

Academy for Academic Excellence will not

be hindered by their past with the new

school system name on their transcript.

The Academy for Academic Excellence

will now be the school of record on each

student’s transcript. This minimizes

potential college’s and employer’s

knowledge about the student’s

involvement with the juvenile justice

system. Any student who attended one

of the charter school campuses from July

2012 onward will have The Academy for

Academic Excellence listed as their school

of record.

The search for a new name for the charter

school system began last winter.

Students, teachers, and campus

administrators brainstormed and

developed a list of possible charter school

names. Deputy Director for Education

Beverly Nolan wanted the charter school

community to develop a name that

supports and encourages an optimistic

learning environment. In May, campus

administrators submitted a list of 12

names to the juvenile board for

consideration. After discussion, the

juvenile board unanimously decided on

the Academy for Academic Excellence.

The Texas Education Agency formerly

approved the name change in October.

The Academy for Academic Excellence

operates five school campuses for youth

in grades 4-12. They teach students

residing in our institutions, attending drug

treatment programs, or those expelled

from traditional school settings. These

schools create an environment that is

engaging, resourceful, and favorable to

learning that closes large academic

achievement gaps. For more information

about the Academy for Academic

Excellence, please contact Mary Borrego,

Superintendent,

[email protected]

Dallas County Juvenile Justice Charter School now called the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Charter School now called the Dallas County Juvenile Justice Charter School now called the

Academy for Academic ExcellenceAcademy for Academic ExcellenceAcademy for Academic Excellence

★ Youth First ★ Dallas County Juvenile Department ★ November 2012 ★ Page 2

Students prepare for a test.

★★★ Youth First Youth First Youth First ★★★ Dallas County Juvenile Department Dallas County Juvenile Department Dallas County Juvenile Department ★ ★ ★ 2600 Lone Star Drive 2600 Lone Star Drive 2600 Lone Star Drive ★ ★ ★ Dallas Texas 75212 Dallas Texas 75212 Dallas Texas 75212 ★★★ 214.698.4212 214.698.4212 214.698.4212 ★★★

Youth FirstYouth FirstYouth First Mindsets

Acts of kindness, dedication, and courage from Juvenile Department Employees .

Classroom at the Academy for

Academic Excellence

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Newsletter%20article

The Juvenile Detention Center is now called

the Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center in

honor of the late Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. who

served as assistant director of the Dallas

County Juvenile Department in the early

eighties.

Dr. McNeil was hired in 1981 as the highest

ranking African American in Dallas County. Dr.

McNeil dedicated his life to advocacy for

juveniles and families. A servant leader, he led

the congregation at Christian Chapel Temple

of Faith in North Dallas for more than 20 years.

Dr. McNeil’s advocacy and leadership in the

field of juvenile justice and to the citizens of

Dallas County exemplify the characteristics

that the Dallas County Juvenile Department

honors. An official naming ceremony will take

place in December.

The Dr. Jerome

McNeil Jr. Detention

Center is located

within the Henry

Wade Juvenile

Justice Center on

Lone Star Drive. It is

a secure supervision

facility for youth ages

10-17 who await trial

and are unable to return into the community.

At the Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center,

youth attend school at the Academy for

Academic Excellence and receive needed

physical and mental health services.

For more information regarding the Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr. Detention Center please contact Ervin Taylor, Deputy Director for Institutional Services, [email protected].

Dr. Jerome McNeil, Jr. Detention Center Celebrates Leader’s LegacyDr. Jerome McNeil, Jr. Detention Center Celebrates Leader’s LegacyDr. Jerome McNeil, Jr. Detention Center Celebrates Leader’s Legacy

Our Employees

put

Youth FirstYouth FirstYouth First Each month Juvenile

Department honors an

employee who exhibits

the Youth First mantra in

their profession.

Recent employees

honored are: August Savannah Carrillo

Court Assessment

September Byron Thompson Probation Services October John Miller

District Supervisor

Honorees

Attend lunch with Dr.

Terry Smith

Nominated for Dallas

County Employee of the

Month

Recognized at the

monthly staff meeting

Attend that month’s

Café Momentum pop-up

dinner.



After serving six years on the Dallas County Juvenile Board, Judge Lorraine Raggio is stepping down from her position in advancement of her December retirement.

Judge Raggio is the presiding Judge of the 162nd Civil District Court. Before entering judicial office, Judge Raggio worked as a litigation attorney in Dallas and served as an assistant district attorney in Dallas County. Judge Raggio plans to spend more time with her husband, children and grandchildren. We thank Judge Raggio for her commitment to the citizens of Dallas County.

Judge Craig Smith was appointed to the Juvenile Board in September 2012. He is the Judge of the 192nd District Court in Dallas. Before taking the bench in 2006, Judge Smith spent over 25 years as a civil trial lawyer and is board-certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both civil and trial law and personal injury law.

The Dallas County Juvenile Department is governed by the nine member board. Judicial representatives, elected county officials, and community members comprise the Juvenile Board. The board meets at 5 pm on last the Monday of the month at the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Building.

Dr. Jerome McNeil Jr.

Judge Craig Smith Joins the Juvenile BoardJudge Craig Smith Joins the Juvenile BoardJudge Craig Smith Joins the Juvenile Board

Judge Lorraine Raggio

Judge Craig Smith

mailto:[email protected]


New Coordinator to Lead Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative


Good Works in the Media SpotlightGood Works in the Media SpotlightGood Works in the Media Spotlight

CO

RE

ST

RA

TE

GIE

S

Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative

Collaboration

Data-driven decisions

Objective admissions

Alternatives to detention

Case processing reforms

Special detention cases

Reducing racial disparities

Conditions of confinement

Welcome Dr. Renee Walker to the Dallas County Juvenile Department family. Dr. Walker serves as the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Juvenile Detention Initiative (JDAI) project coordinator.

After more than 15 years of innovation and replication, JDAI is one of the nation’s most effective, influential, and widespread juvenile justice system reform initiatives, with over 100 JDAI sites in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The Casey Foundation’s juvenile justice reform agenda is designed to improve the odds that youth involved with the juvenile services department make a successful transition to

adulthood, primarily by facilitating reforms that lock up fewer youth, rely more on proven, family-focused interventions, and create opportunities for positive youth development.

Dallas County Juvenile Department has made substantial gains toward JDAI’s youth-first objectives, and Dr. Walker promises to help create interagency alliances to achieve concrete outcomes in the priority areas of :

Reducing racial disparities in detention

Reducing the use of secure confinement for special cases of violation of probation, warrant and behavioral health

Enhancing evaluation of our continuum of services, including the matching of placements and placement completion

Increasing collaborative focus on disciplinary practices of Dallas County school districts, and

Supporting cohesive community based day reporting centers with expanded youth and family programming

For more information please contact Dr. Renee Walker, [email protected]

Programs, initiatives, and friends have been recognized by local and state media sources. Click the story description to check some of the stories out.

Dallas Morning News

Letot Girls Center groundbreaking and Dallas County’s initiatives to help victims of human trafficking. Youth Village gardening and culinary programs. WFAA Channel 8 Letot Girls Center groundbreaking. Texas Tribune County Juvenile Departments doing effective and efficient and the need for more funding. Dallas Examiner Dallas County youth beating the odds through specialty programs.

Dr. Renee Walker

http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/JuvenileDetentionAlternativesInitiative/CoreStrategies.aspx

http://www.aecf.org/MajorInitiatives/JuvenileDetentionAlternativesInitiative/CoreStrategies.aspx

http://www.dallascounty.org/department/juvenile/9412victims.html

http://www.dallascounty.org/department/juvenile/71612chef.html

http://youtu.be/HpCHmhns7JU

http://www.texastribune.org/texas-state-agencies/texas-juvenile-justice-department/report-local-youth-programs-need-more-funds-oversi/

http://www.dallascounty.org/department/juvenile/101912atrisk.html



D e p a r t m e n t H i g h l i g h t sD e p a r t m e n t H i g h l i g h t sD e p a r t m e n t H i g h l i g h t s

Holiday Happenings

November and December mark a time

to reflect and be thankful. This year several

facilities and programs will celebrate the

holiday season with youth and staff.

December 6th

Youth Village Holiday Celebration

December 6th

Dr. Jerome McNeil, Jr. Detention Center

Swing Shift Holiday Celebration

December 6th Lyle B. Medlock Center Holiday Celebration

December 13th


3-11 Shift Holiday Celebration

December 14th All Staff Appreciation Pancake

Breakfast

December 20th

Letot Center Holiday Party

December 20th


7-3 Shift Holiday Celebration

December 21st

Substance Abuse Unit Holiday Celebration

ESTEEM Court Graduation:

November 14, 2012 The Girls ESTEEM Court is a diversion program for

girls at-risk to become victims of human

trafficking. The program began in January 2012,

and November 14th marks the second graduation

ceremony. For more information, please contact

Connie Espino, [email protected]

Youth Village Retail Services Vocational Program

Youth Village is launching a new program to

prepare select residents for obtaining and

maintaining employment in the retail industry

upon their successful release from Youth Village.

The program is sponsored by the Youth Village

Resources of Dallas and implemented by the

Texas Workforce Commission. For more

information, please contact Marilyn Boss,

[email protected]

Mental Health Court Expands

The Mental Health Court is adding an additional

probation officer position and part-time family

functional therapy counselor. This six-month

diversion program works with first time offenders

with a mental health diagnosis and in need of

mental health services. Adding the new positions

enables the court to serve up to 44 youth per

year. For more information, please contact Diane

Boyd, [email protected]

Documents

Youth First - Dallas County youth first. We welcome your feedback, ideas, and comments about ... Honoring a Leader’s Legacy P.3 ISSUE Newsletter For Dallas County Juvenile