May 04, 2012

Dear DJJ Team Members:

Welcome to my weekly letter. Please allow me to share some recent news and announcements.

JDAI CONFERENCE: DJJ probation and detention managers, sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, attended the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) National Inter-Site Conference in Houston, Texas last week. More than 500 people from across the nation participated. This conference was important to DJJ because stakeholders in Florida were able to hear from a diverse group of experts. Collaboration among juvenile court judges, public defenders, probation and law enforcement officers, prosecutors, detention workers, local government officials and others is critical to the success of detention alternatives. More than 40 workshops and sessions focused on a wide range of juvenile justice topics. In addition to discussing how to safely reduce reliance on secure detention, sessions addressed racial and ethnic disparities, establishing programs to meet the needs of communities, data-informed decision making, judicial leadership in detention reform and effective ways to engage communities and families in system reform. The conference provided a special opportunity for the detention reform movement to celebrate success, inspire change and build peer networks to shape and inform the future of juvenile justice. (Click here to learn more about the JDAI.)

RESIDENTIAL KUDOS: Great news! Use of physical protective action response (PAR) interventions with youth dropped 32.5 percent statewide between the first and third quarters of the current fiscal year (FY). The FY 2011-12 year-to-date average rate of PAR use has decreased 18.99 percent from the average for FY 2010-11. The declines continue a trend of decreased use of physical PARs that started in FY 2008-09 and indicate that use of best practices in behavioral management and a commitment to trauma informed care continues to improve services to youth in DJJ facilities. The accomplishments are impressive. Fourteen programs had no physical PAR during the third quarter of FY 2011-12 and 35 programs drastically decreased their use between the second and third quarters. Kudos to WINGS, Thompson Academy Choices and Tiger Success for having no physical PARs for an entire year or longer!

STATE SAFETY AWARD: DJJ recently placed third among all state agencies in the Interagency Advisory Council on Loss Prevention’s annual awards for the 2011 Safety Coordinator and Alternate Safety Coordinator. Congratulations to DJJ Safety Coordinator Tommy Blankenship and Alternate Safety Coordinator John Criswell, who received notification of the award from Council Chairman Eric F. Whitehead. “The award signifies your personal dedication to effective loss prevention at your agency and your contributions to loss prevention at other agencies,” said Mr. Whitehead. “Consideration for this award was based on … your agency’s reduction in claims costs and/or frequency and your active participation in and contributions to interagency risk management activities.” Tommy, with John’s help, conducts annual safety inspections in all state-owned facilities. Tommy’s background in the building trade makes him familiar with federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. He’s also an expert in recognizing structural and safety problems in buildings. Also worthy of mention are Risk Manager Beth Davis and Workers’ Compensation Coordinator Lorna Jackson. Beth has helped the group build a safety inspection process that is informative, competitive and fun. Lorna works closely with programs when staff is injured on the job, helping workers assume alternate duties until they are able to return to normal duties. Tommy and John will accept their awards at a ceremony in Tallahassee on May 22. Thanks to all employees for maintaining a safe workplace!

DETENTION KUDOS: Marion Regional Juvenile Detention Superintendent Dixie Fosler passes along the following note praising Juvenile Detention Officer Cynthia Sellers.

I would like to thank Officer Sellers for participating in the North Marion High School Career Fair. The event was successful thanks to our fantastic speakers. We have received very positive feedback from our students and teachers. Thank you so much for taking time to talk with our students.


Sincerely,


Kimberly Martin-Donald, Ph.D.

Professional School Counselor

CHILDREN OF INMATES: Assistant Secretary for Prevention and Victim Services Wanda Finnie served as a keynote speaker during the Children of Inmates Symposium held April 26-27 at Trinity Church in Miami. The purpose of the symposium was to highlight local and state efforts to serve youth of incarcerated parents and to discuss additional efforts to enhance those services. Andy Hindman, DJJ director of faith and community-based partnerships, summarized the Faith Community Network and Volunteer Chaplaincy Program, and conducted a post-symposium basic training session for volunteer chaplains. DJJ Prevention staffers Rhyna Jefferson and Gloria Gatlin also participated in the symposium, gaining insight into additional ways DJJ can reach out to meet the needs of children whose parents are incarcerated.

TEAMING UP TO HELP KIDS: Special thanks to Bruce Morton, review specialist with the Bureau of Quality Improvement and 14-year employee of DJJ, for his generous and inspiring volunteer work with DJJ youth. Eighteen months ago, Bruce and his 8-year old golden retriever, Scooter, started training to be a therapy dog team so they could share happiness and inspiration in places like nursing homes, adult day care centers, independent living facilities and adolescent runaway shelters. At DJJ, youth shelters are known as Children in Need of Services (CINS) programs. Bruce was already familiar with CINS programs from his professional work. After volunteering at CINS provider Capital City Youth Services, in Tallahassee, Bruce decided to help all CINS programs throughout Florida connect with volunteer therapy dog teams. He has already arranged for teams to volunteer at youth shelters in Pensacola, Panama City, Crestview and Tallahassee. In September 2011, Bruce began volunteering Scooter as a Reading Education Assistance Dog (R.E.A.D.) The program allows elementary school students who have difficulties reading to read to trained therapy dogs. This learning technique is effective in helping students become better and more confident readers because the dogs serve as comforting “mentors” to the students. Bruce says, “It’s good because some of the kids have never been around a dog before. Scooter is calm and really helps them to ‘open up.’ She loves it.” The R.E.A.D. Program is used throughout the United States and internationally. (For more information on R.E.A.D., please click here.) (For more information on therapy dogs, click here.)

Bruce and Scooter volunteer with a student

PROBATION KUDOS: Chief Probation Officer Jill Wells shares the following letter praising juvenile probation officers (JPOs) Debbie Pruitt, Annette Dennis and Robert Scott. Jill received the letter May 1 from the principal of Horizon Center School, an alternative school in Gainesville that serves students in grades 6-12.

Hi Mrs. Wells,


There are several JPO's that visit students at The Horizon Center. They all do a good job of seeing their students. In particular Debbie Pruitt, Annette Dennis and Robert Scott are really consistent with communicating and visiting our campus. They all have helped us in some capacity with resolving certain student concerns. They are to be commended for their consistency with students that are in need of structure and some form of regularity in their lives.


James H. Speer Jr.

Principal, Horizon Center School

ON THE FINANCIAL FRONT: DJJ has been making a special effort to reduce its financial liability associated with employees’ special compensatory leave hours. Our total liability has been reduced approximately $100,000 each of the past three months; this represents an overall 15 percent reduction in just one quarter. This was accomplished largely by ensuring that staff who have special comp hours utilize those hours prior to utilizing annual leave hours. Our liability as of last month was $1.8 million, compared with $4 million in August 2010.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS: Supervisors, please remember to complete your annual performance evaluations for your direct reports. Evaluations must be completed by June 1 and must be submitted to the Bureau of Personnel no later than June 30. For additional information regarding the performance evaluation process, please click here for the Performance Evaluation System Supervisor or Rater's Guide, which includes common questions and answers. Click here for the Performance Evaluation Form. You may also contact Sylvia Baker or Catherine Chandler.


It is encouraging to know our commitment to reforming Florida’s juvenile justice system is resulting in improved services to youth. To all of you, as always, thank you for your service, hard work and professionalism.

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.