Apr 12, 2013

Dear DJJ team members:

Welcome to my weekly letter. Florida’s Children’s Week has been filled with many exciting activities that I am pleased to share with you.

DJJ 2013 Youth Success Ambassadors (left to right): Daniel Lugo, Dennis Patton, Kiara Warren and Christopher Casanovas. Back row, left to right: me, Florida Juvenile Justice Association Executive Director Cathy Craig-Myers and Deputy Secretary Christy Daly.

CHILDREN’S WEEK/DJJ YOUTH SUCCESS DAY: On April 8, I was honored to serve as the guest speaker at the Children’s Week Awards dinner. It was a perfect opportunity to share our message that preventing children from entering the juvenile justice system is critical; therefore, prevention must be a part of every aspect of the juvenile justice. DJJ must be a community-driven agency to support the success of our youth, so our stakeholders are key.

On April 9, I was honored to award our 2013 Youth Success Ambassadors on the steps of the Historic Capitol, as part of Children’s Week. This ceremony was a cornerstone of the Florida Children’s Week events. Youth Success Day focused on the success of the juvenile justice system in helping youth to turn their lives around, and highlighted programs from around the state that are working to reduce juvenile crime. The 2013 Youth Success Ambassadors are Daniel Lugo and Kiara Warren of Prodigy Cultural Arts Program, Dennis Patton of Eckerd Youth Alternatives and Christopher Casanovas of the Home Builders Institute. Each youth ambassador was given the opportunity to speak and it was inspiring to hear them talk about their families, their dreams, hopes and the stony path they took to success. I want to thank all of the DJJ staff who participated in this week’s events. Special kudos goes to Florida Juvenile Justice Foundation Executive Director Heather DiGiacomo, who coordinated Youth Success Day from start to finish. The DJJ Youth Success Day motto reminds us that we are all “Part of the Community, Part of the Solution” to juvenile delinquency. (To read more about the 2013 DJJ Youth Success Ambassadors, click here.)

Florida Juvenile Justice Association (FJJA) board meeting in Tallahassee, April 10, 2013. We discussed collaborating for better outcomes among youth.

On April 10 and 11, the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Group (SAG) met in Tallahassee. SAG members discussed the role of the SAG, federal funding (including presentations by DJJ internal Juvenile Accountability Block Grant recipients), sunshine laws and SAG bylaws. Deputy Secretary Daly and Chief of Staff J. Alex Kelly and I spoke about the DJJ Roadmap to System Excellence, the upcoming re-writing of the juvenile justice statute, current legislative bills and SAG support of DJJ.

On April 11, I was privileged to stand with SAG members as we witnessed Gov. Rick Scott sign the “Quality-Parenting for Children in Foster Care Act” at the Capitol. SAG member Alan Abramowitz had a key role in the legislation, which is important to DJJ because many DJJ youth are in the foster care system.

Chief of Staff Kelly (2nd from left) and Deputy Secretary Daly kicked off 2013 Children’s Week at DJJ Headquarters by hosting an employee appreciation donut social on April 8.

DJJ BILL PASSES HOUSE: Today, CS/HB 353 - Juvenile Justice, by Rep. Gayle Harrell passed the full House of Representatives. Part of this legislation is a result of grand jury recommendations and is an attempt to provide state prosecutors an avenue to prosecute adults who neglect or abuse children in DJJ facilities who happen to be over the age of eighteen. Previously, the criminal statutes only covered youth under eighteen. Additionally, CS/HB 353, repeals two sections of law containing provisions for youth custody officers and punitive jail tours for juveniles. Funding for the Youth Custody Officer was discontinued a few years ago and the responsibilities have since been shifted to other areas of the department. Use of punitive jail tours violate the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, and can result in DJJ losing two-thirds of our federal funding for prevention programs. Further, data shows that the use of these types of tours as a punitive measure actually has no positive effect on recidivism rates. The bill will now be sent over to the Senate where its companion bill, CS/SB 672, by Sen. Evers is still making its way through the committee process. Thanks to Rep. Harrell and Sen. Evers for their hard work on this important legislation.

DJJ staff and I also met with key legislators this week leading up to the budget conference committees, where the budget will be finalized. Next week is already shaping up to be a busy week with several bills on the calendar awaiting a final floor vote, and budget conference committees set to start. We also hope to see SB 676-Juvenile Justice Boards and Councils, and SB 672- Juvenile Justice heard in their final committee stops in the Senate.

From the Miami Junior League’s April 7 event, “Women Who Make a Difference.” Left to right: Jennifer Cohen (event co-chair), me, honoree Sandy Skelaney (advocate for female victims of sex trafficking), honoree Virginia A. Jacko (advocate for the visually impaired), Roxanne Vargas (NBC 6 News Reporter) and Katie Lane-Arriola (President of the Junior League of Miami).

PUTTING A FLORIDA FAMILY FIRST: Kudos and thanks go tojuvenile probation officer Latrice Glenn and residential services program monitor Carldernett Davis for their efforts above and beyond the call of duty to assist a DJJ youth in extreme circumstances. In January, it was discovered that the boy had a malignant brain tumor. Tragically, the prognosis for his life expectancy is a maximum of 12-18 months. The judge approved for the youth to be placed conditional release so he could receive medical treatment. Unfortunately, the child’s aunt, who is his guardian, experienced a sudden loss that made it impossible to pay for the costs associated with the boy’s custody and treatment. Latrice and Carldernett spent countless hours communicating with other agencies and organizations to get help for the family. Latrice worked diligently to assist the youth in obtaining his Social Security documents and state identification, which are necessary for assistance programs. Carldernett helped get the youth's disability paperwork completed for Medicaid. Latrice accompanies the family to and from the youth’s chemotherapy sessions as the side effects leave the youth exhausted and his aunt is unable to transport him alone. Carldernett even surprised the boy at the hospital with a chocolate milk shake and candy apples after she learned he was craving them. Thanks also to the Florida Department of Children and Families and Rev. Frank Thompson, chair of DJJ’s volunteer Faith Network and Chaplaincy Services leadership team in Circuit 9, for placing the family in suitable housing, and donating clothing and furniture. The family appreciates all the assistance, encouragement, support and donations. Despite all the medical issues and side effects of the treatment, the youth is in good spirits.

Assistant Secretary for Prevention and Victim Services Wanda Finnie addressed the Haitian American Professionals Coalition regarding DJJ Prevention efforts on April 5, 2013.

RESIDENTIAL KUDOS: Thanks to AMIkids – Big Cypress in Ochopee, Florida, for sending this update on their activities: “On Saturday our culinary arts instructors Claudius Knowles and Vincent James took their students to the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs to serve up their trade-mark Swamp Boys Jamaican Beef Soup at the Empty Bowls fund raiser for Meals on Wheels. They worked diligently cooking the soup and working on their presentation skills as they ladled out bowl after bowl to the hungry attendees. The weather cooperated and the compliments came in as fast as the soup went out. We want to thank Susan Bridges and the board members of the Center for the Arts for allowing us to participate and giving the boys a chance to practice their craft in a public setting. Our cooks studied food safety prior to the event using the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association courses. These courses can help them earn certificates towards becoming a Food Service Manager. They learn the practical aspects of cooking in the school cafeteria but that is not the same as learning how to serve it like a restaurant. These fine cooks will be out again tomorrow at the Chili Cook-Off in Bonita Springs where they are expected to serve Jamaican curry chicken.”

DETENTION KUDOS: During March, detention facilities in the central region held a poster contest for youth. The contest theme was “Florida Families First” – which is the same as Gov. Rick Scott’s theme for his 2013-2014 Budget. Youth created posters that employed a variety of different artistic techniques and media, such as free-hand sketching, markers, water colors, magazine cutouts and 3-D effects. Regional office staff selected the winning posters and awarded the artists with a certificate and a gift card for McDonald’s. I applaud the central region detention staff for creating this activity for youth. Participation in this contest stimulated their creativity and civic awareness, and provided a positive exercise in competitiveness.

First Place—created by a child at Pasco Regional Juvenile Detention Center

Second place—created by a child at West Hillsborough Regional Juvenile Detention Center

CONTRACT TRACKING SYSTEM: I am excited to announce the release of the Department’s new Contract Tracking System (CTS). The CTS is a document management system enhanced specifically for DJJ that allows for electronic document management of all DJJ contracts. This new electronic process allows users to share contract documents and can decrease the processing time currently involved with the paper, manual contract process. The system allows for electronic review and approval of each step of the contract process as it moves within offices and across the program areas. Over the past two months DJJ employees involved in the development, procurement, and execution of contracts were trained on using the CTS. Department staff statewide tested the system prior to go-live this past weekend. Continued work will be done with CTS to develop expanded report capabilities for users. In addition, the system will be used to track Florida Single Audit Act (FSAA) reporting compliance for the agency. A special thanks to everyone involved in this important Department project. CTS is just one more step in DJJ’s efforts to improve the way we do business.

DETENTION THANKS: The staff at the Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Regional Detention Center (RJDC) want to thank the facility’s volunteer chaplain, Leo Fisher, the Circuit 15 Juvenile Justice Board and Fred Mascaro of the Juvenile Services Division of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office for graciously donating a brand new 18 cubic foot refrigerator for staff use. The generous gesture has boosted staff morale!

I am grateful to the 2013 DJJ Youth Success Ambassadors, who demonstrate the potential within all children who come into contact with the juvenile justice system.Standing proudly with them on April 9 to celebrate Youth Success Day strengthened my commitment to place Florida’s families first. Thanks to all DJJ providers, employees and contracted staff for supporting the success of our at-risk and troubled children.

Sincerely,

Wansley Walters

Secretary

PS: Please send any noteworthy or newsworthy items for consideration in my weekly letter to the Communications Office at News@djj.state.fl.us or call 850.921.5900. Submissions are considered on a space-available basis and may be edited for clarity and length. Thank you for your cooperation.