Texas Juvenile Justice Department

Many Texas juvenile justice professionals are attending the OJJDP National Conference this week, which celebrates 50 years of the federal organization. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention began in 1974, when Congress established it as a part of US Department of Justice to prevent delinquency and improve juvenile justice systems. The three-day conference, in Washington DC, brings together youth justice practitioners, youth, families and other stakeholders for workshops, with a focus on the continuum of care within communities. The photo features folks from Bexar and Williamson counties, the Meadows Mental Health Institute and the Step Up Texas program. Ashley Kintzer and Ryan Bristow of TJJD Probation Services are representing the agency at the conference, which ends today.

Dallas County Juvenile Department has an opening for a Superintendent to oversee two juvenile facilities. Applicants can find details and apply using the QR code.

The TJJD Board honored two people at their meeting last Friday who’ve devoted themselves to juvenile justice: Dr. Priscilla Scott, a counselor at the Mart facility, and Tarrant County Juvenile Probation Chief Bennie Medlin. Dr. Scott was recognized for her 50 years of service to the state, in which she has worked with adults and youth at state hospitals and counseled youths at the Texas Youth Commission and TJJD. Board Chairman Scott Matthew said the board appreciates her passion and dedication and quoted from her autobiographical note in which she says: “In all my time working for the state of Texas, I have never had a supervisor that I did not admire and learn from. They were without a doubt a huge influence on my life and gave me opportunities for which I will forever be grateful.” Dr. Scott said afterward that she enjoys working at TJJD because she can assist the youth toward those “aha moments” when they realize how they can reform and build a better life. “That’s why I’m here,” she said. “It’s extremely gratifying.” (Read more about Scott and her colorful career at the News section of our TJJD website: bit.ly/3O8PkxK ) Board Chairman Matthew lauded Chief Medlin, who is retiring after nearly 20 years in juvenile probation at Tarrant County and a combined 42 years serving youth in both public and private sectors. “Benny has been a giant in our field for decades,” Matthew said. “He is known for his thoughtful leadership style, always lending a listening ear to people in need and prioritizing what’s best for the system above everything else.” Chief Medlin “has countless success stories in the juvenile justice system, a direct result of his hard work.” Dr. Scott and Medlin each received certificates of appreciation and a flag that had been flown over the Texas Capitol, courtesy of the office of Rep. John Lujan, vice chair of the Committee on Juvenile Justice and Family Issues.

TJJD staff recently represented the agency at two large conferences, the Texas Psychological Association (TPA), held in Fort Worth, and the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA), held in San Antonio. This continuing education is essential to building the TJJD workforce and investing in the future of the young people we serve. “Our mental health professionals are lifelong learners and understand the importance of being familiar with cutting edge interventions and practices,” said Evan Norton, Psy.D, who heads up TJJD’s Treatment and Intervention Services Department. Many of these professionals earn numerous licensures and certifications while they’re working at TJJD, making the agency staff among the most highly trained groups working in juvenile justice settings. “When I spoke with fellow psychologists at TPA many were impressed and surprised to hear about the wealth of treatment opportunities TJJD youth receive,” Dr. Norton said. “I am thankful for Shandra Carter’s dedication to maintaining a well-trained, evidenced-informed and proficient mental health workforce. Those attending the TPA conference included: Norton, Evan Norton, Jennifer Sellers, Ph.D, Joel Ekno, Psy.D, Rosalind Holley, Psy.D, Loreal Knox, LPA and John Givan, LPA. Those attending ATSA included: Briana Eoff LPC, LSOTP; Gabrielle Love LCSW, LSOTP; Rachel S. May LCSW-s, LSOTP; Hannah Friday LPC, ASOTP; Priscilla Scott LPC-S, PhD, ASOTP; Cindy Marzett LMSW, ASOTP; Richard Williamson LCSW-s, LSOTP-s; Christina Felicetti LMFT, ASOTP; Armando Pena LPC, ASOTP; Martha Galassi LPC-s, LSOTP-s; Thelma Bell-Punchard MA LPC, LSOTP, LCDC. Also, the Fort Worth meeting, Norton was elected to serve as secretary of the Forensic Division of the Texas Psychological Association. To learn more about the treatment program at TJJD, please see our website’s Treatment page. https://lnkd.in/gxx9Aj7t

This Veterans Day weekend, TJJD salutes all who have served in our armed forces, at home, abroad, in wartime and peacetime. You put yourselves at risk to protect your country and your loved ones. We cannot think of a more honorable mission. Our gratitude is immense. Thank you for your service! We hope you, your families and everyone will enjoy the coming holiday this Monday.

We have a special need for teachers at the McLennan County facility, east of Waco. These jobs come with impressive salaries and Texas state benefits. But most important, you'll be working with a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team helping young Texans find a brighter future. Find the specifics at our Careers page at the TJJD website - tjjd.texas.gov/careers.

Just a quick reminder, we have a board meeting coming up on Friday, starting at 9 am at the Barbara Jordan Building, in Austin. You can check the agenda on the homepage of our website, tjjd.texas.gov. If you cannot attend in person, who can register to watch the livestream, using this link: https://lnkd.in/gjiSjdZ5

This week TJJD staff and youth are focusing on the DEAR MAN skills taught as part of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is a therapeutic behavior-based program that is infused into all activities at TJJD. Youth learn DBT skills through group sessions with their dorm staff, case managers and mental health professionals, and they hear about them in school, too. DBT can help people who have difficulty regulating their emotions and may suffer from depression and anxiety. It teaches skills for managing difficult situations, tolerating distress and improving interpersonal relationships. The DEAR MAN skillset helps people acquire better methods for getting their needs met, making a request or turning someone down. It shows them that asking for something directly, clearly and respectfully can lower the barriers to “yes.” TJJD youth learn and practice DEAR MAN skills so they can improve their interpersonal relationships and adopt self-aware, prosocial ways of getting what they want, rather than resorting to lying, coercion or threats.

All across our facilities, staff have been wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness this month, and that includes our executive team. TJJD’s executives have been sporting the color while working at the agency’s new offices in the Capitol complex and at other locations, such as secure facilities and the Juvenile Justice Association of Texas conference, held this week on Padre Island. Breast Cancer Awareness month reminds us that this disease is the second most common cause of cancer deaths for women and that all women should take advantage of preventive measures. Pink also honors those we've lost to this disease and has come to symbolize the search for cures. Shown in the group photo at the office (l-r): Chief of Staff Rachel Gandy, Sr. Treatment Director Evan Norton, General Counsel Jana Jones, Structured Programming Director Henry Schmidt III, Executive Director Shandra Carter, Deputy Executive Director of Probation & Reentry Lou Serrano, Sr. Director of Secure Facilities Alan Michel and Deputy Executive Director Sean Grove. In the other photos: Sean Grove and Director of Training Chris Ellison at the JJAT conference; Director of Stakeholder Relations Preston Streufert at the office and Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Operations Emily Anderson at Giddings State School.

Last week, TJJD welcomed a group of juvenile justice professionals from Ohio who wanted to learn more about how Texas juvenile facilities are using Trust-based Relational Intervention (TBRI) in juvenile corrections. The group heard from Troy McPeak, formerly with TJJD and now a TBRI trainer with the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University, in Fort Worth. TJJD Treatment Director Dr. Evan Norton and Assistant Superintendent of Education Robert Fischer also presented. TBRI teaches techniques staff can use to build healthy connections and trusting relationships with youth in their care, which enable those young people to make lasting behavioral changes. The therapeutic program was designed for younger children who have experienced early trauma. In corrections, TBRI strategies and techniques help teens who’ve been shaped by traumatic backgrounds learn to keep regulated, connect to others and adopt healthier patterns of behavior. TBRI strategies help staff catch behavior “low” before it escalates, averting needless conflicts. The visiting Ohio group learned how TJJD applies TBRI, which balances structure and nurture, during classroom sessions in Austin and a tour of the Giddings State School. The group also toured the juvenile detention center in Williamson County, which pioneered TBRI in juvenile corrections starting in 2016. TBRI has delivered “good outcomes,” for the department, said Deputy Juvenile Probation Chief Matt Smith. “We’ve gotten commitments (to state facilities) down and our violations of probation are down since implementing TBRI.” The Ohio visitors included facility Superintendents Kenny Black and Amanda Jones, Deputy Director Chris Freeman, Chief of Behavioral Health Services Ryan Smith, Training Academy Director Dr. Anna Wise, Bureau Chief Dr. Gretchen Lapp and Administrative Asst. Tamika Colbert. McPeak explained that many adjudicated youths have never had anyone serving as a positive behavior model or available to teach them.?“Their environment dictated the terms,” he said. With TBRI, “we are letting them know through personal engagement we’re here to help."