Mar 16, 2012

Dear DJJ Team Members:

Welcome to my weekly letter. Please allow me to share some news and announcements from this week.

NEW WEBSITE DEBUTS TODAY: As I announced earlier this week, our website (www.djj.state.fl.us) now has a completely new look and feel. Many people contributed to this project over many months, but I especially want to thank DJJ Chief Information Officer Scott Morgan and his staff in Management Information Systems for the vast amount of behind-the-scenes technical work they completed to get the new site up and running.

PROBATION KUDOS: It began with a call from an upset youth who had recently returned home from a residential program. In a voice choked with emotion, the youth told Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO)

Jennifer Waldrop that he did not have any clothes to wear to school except for the too-small pants and shirt he wore upon release from the program. Some DJJ youth return home with clothes that are too small because they grow while in a residential program. Jennifer converted a room at the Circuit 4 Probation office into “Cedric’s Closet.” She built racks and shelves to hang and store clothes. Her co-workers donated shirts, pants, jackets, dresses and shoes. Now Cedric’s Closet helps youth dress for court appearances, job interviews and school. It also provides clothing for parents and younger siblings. Jennifer says, “First impressions go a long way. When someone puts on a suit, a dress or just nice casual clothing, almost immediately they feel confident, they walk differently and they learn that there is such a thing as dressing appropriately.” To Jennifer and the staff who contributed, thank you for your generosity and initiative in creating Cedric’s Closet. In times of need, the simplest things can mean the most.

PROBATION KUDOS, PART 2: Circuit 17 JPO Christina Atwell consistently demonstrates a giving heart and strong will. As the mother of a special needs child, her personal daily demands can be tremendous. Yet Christina comes to work each day with a smile on her face and a positive spirit that is inspirational. Her job performance and work ethic are unsurpassed. Always willing to assist, she often participates in special projects and events. Christina also takes time to give back to the youth in her community. She has volunteered as a football team “mom” and cheerleader coach for the City of Deerfield Beach. Currently, she coaches the Pompano Beach Express Club, a track team which last year broke the state 4X1 relay record and placed eighth in the Junior Olympics in New Orleans. I commend Christina for her hard work and dedication to the youth and families of her community and DJJ.

PROVIDER EMPLOYEE BIDS FAREWELL (From the Calhoun-Liberty Journal, March 7, 2012): Twin Oaks Juvenile Development Inc. employee Curtiss Lee retired March 1, ending a distinguished 40-year career in the field of mental health. Curtiss was the first employee hired when the residential-services provider company was established in 1998. From starting treatment programs to finding cost-effective methods of operation, Curtiss was an integral part of Twin Oaks. Prior to his work there, Curtiss served the State of Florida for 27 years at Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee, where he worked in the field of forensic mental health services. In 1990, Curtiss’ rewrite of the intensive behavioral program for the adult inpatient psychiatric unit was the hospital’s first program to be approved by the state’s Behavior Program Review Committee. In 1996, Curtiss earned a Davis Productivity Award for his work developing and implementing the Corrections Mental Health Institution Quality Management Program. His 1997 article on the subject, “TQM and the Behavior Feedback Loop,” was published internationally in Performance Management Magazine. We offer our gratitude to Curtiss for his many years of dedicated service and wish him well in his retirement.

GOOD NEWS IN HEALTH AND SAFETY: DJJ workers’ compensation injury/illness reports have been trending downward for the past four consecutive months and we are on track for another yearly reduction. In February, first reports declined again to a monthly total of 33, which tied June 2009 for the lowest number in the past seven years. Kudos to Oliver Jones and his staff at Pensacola Boys Base, which has no reports for this fiscal year, and Superintendent Dixie Fosler and her staff at Marion Regional Juvenile Detention Center, which has only one. Let’s continue to strive to prevent accidents. As spring approaches, please take time to safely remove wasp nests and ant beds. Thanks to everyone for keeping our workplaces safe and congratulations to all for continuing to reduce accidents.

BOOKS FOR SPRING BREAK: As part of our enhanced statewide prevention efforts, DJJ collaborated with community partners from Disability Rights Florida, Daughters of Isis (Ahmed Court No. 134) and Fountains of Relief, Inc. to collect 460 children’s books. They were delivered today to students at Pineview Elementary School in Tallahassee. This donation ensured that each child in the school received one book of his or her own to read during spring break from March 19 to 23. My sincere thanks to all who supported this educational effort.


Once again, thanks to Scott and his MIS team and all others who contributed to our new and improved website. Jennifer and Christina, your generous commitment to youth in your communities is inspiring. We join Donnie Read and Twin Oaks Youth Development Inc. in congratulating Curtiss on his well-earned retirement. And to all employees, as always, thank you for your service.

Sincerely,

Wansley Walters

Secretary

PS: Please send any noteworthy or newsworthy items for consideration in my weekly letter to Communications Director C. J. Drake at cj.drake@djj.state.fl.us or call 850.921.5905. Submissions are considered on a space-available basis and may be edited for clarity and length. Thank you for your cooperation.