Mar 22, 2013
I spent the first two of days of this week in San Francisco at The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s School Discipline Consensus Project. This is a year-long effort to develop what will be proposed as national policy.
Dear DJJ team members:
Welcome to my weekly letter. I am pleased to share the following news and announcements.
I spent the first two of days of this week in San Francisco at The Council of State Governments Justice Center’s School Discipline Consensus Project. This is a year-long effort to develop what will be proposed as national policy. I firmly believe that education is the key to keeping kids out of trouble, in school and on the track to success. Our conversation centered around the fact that when students are removed from the classroom as a disciplinary measure, the odds increase dramatically that they will repeat a grade, drop out, or become involved in the juvenile justice system. We discussed the growing need to identify strategies that effectively manage students’ behavior and align school policies to support student engagement and learning, and reduce poor academic outcomes and juvenile justice contact. If you have an opportunity, I would encourage each of you to read Breaking Schools’ Rules: A Statewide Study on How School Discipline Relates to Students’ Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement [ Adobe PDF Document ].
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Agency priority bill, CS/HB 353-Juvenile Justice, by Rep. Gayle B. Harrell passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously on March 20. The 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 18. Previously, the criminal statutes only covered youth under 18. Thank you to Rep. Harrell for her hard work in sponsoring this important piece of legislation.
KUDOS FOR COLLABORATION: This week, we have a few great examples of program offices working together.
On March 19, 2013 Prevention, Probation and Residential staff from Circuit 6 held the second quarterly YOUTH/LEO focus group at the PACE Center for Girls. The YOUTH/LEO focus group consisted of a panel of law enforcement officers – St. Petersburg Police Department, Pinellas County Sheriff Department, Clearwater Police Department, Pinellas Park Police Department, Pinellas County Campus Police – and youth from Gulf and Lake Academy, HBI, Brit Halfway House, Daniel Memorial, Paxen, Boys & Girls Club, as well as youth on supervision. Pastors Wanda and Dexter McCree of Anointed Word Fellowship facilitated the YOUTH/LEO focus group, and the youth and law enforcement communicated openly on a wide variety of topics. The panel and audience members described the focus group as enlightening, powerful, insightful, deep, honest and fun.
On March 20, Prevention and Probation staff in Circuit 11 joined forces with the Continental Societies, Inc. of Miami-Dade on an anti-bullying project. Prevention Specialist Marie Boswell and CPO Terria Flakes, for the second consecutive year, organized a panel discussion on anti-bullying for parents and children. The panel included JPO Tracy Magwood, Miami-Dade County Juvenile Services Department (JSD) Director Morris Copeland, JSD Clinical Director Cathy Burgos, local law enforcement, and community leaders. The organization was so impressed by DJJ’s staff they have already requested the same panel be presented at their seminar next November.
DETENTION KUDOS: Four DJJ staff members from Central Region Detention Services, Latrenda Daniels, Jackie Bryant, Troy Jones and Jacob Soto alerted administrators of the escalating cost of propane at Orange Regional Juvenile Detention Center and suggested that the facility consider using natural gas, a less expensive alternative to propane. They contacted the Region’s General Services Liaison, Ty Berdeaux, who looked into the issue and discussed the idea with TECO, the electric power company that serves Tampa. TECO determined that based on historical propane consumption, Orange Detention, as new customers, would generate enough profit over four years that it would more than offset the cost of installing the required natural gas lines at TECO’s expense. TECO installed the required line for natural gas at no charge, saving $12 – $14k on installation alone. Propane gas costs had ranged from a high of $3.35 to a low of $2.21 per gallon while the price of natural gas is $1.04/gallon. Due to the foresight and dedication of the above-mentioned DJJ staff, taxpayers will save approximately $16,500 per year.
PREVENTION KUDOS: Tina Levene, Delinquency Prevention Specialist in circuits 10 and 13 recently published a book, “Let Your Lessons Become Your Blessings.” The book is an auto-biography turned devotional guide to giving hope to the hopeless, purpose to the lost and teaching acceptance through forgiveness. It’s a story of extreme restoration from a past of abuse, trauma, addictions and bad choices that led to a successful life as an advocate for children in need.
PROBATION KUDOS
Circuit 5: Lake Cares Food Bank Director Irene O’Malley honored DJJ’s Lake County Probation Officers and youth for their community service efforts at the food bank’s annual awards breakfast for collecting and donating 9,500 canned goods to the food bank. Lake County probation officers and youth have already helped Lake Cares feed more than 18,000 people this year.
From left: JPO Supervisor Julie Vest; Director Irene O’Malley and Senior JPO Bobby Vest.
Circuit 7:JPO Kristina Picone of Unit 301 in West Volusia participated in a Zumbathon earlier this month to support Operation Changing Lives, a non-profit 501 c3 medical service organization based in Daytona Beach, that provides life-altering maxillofacial surgeries for disadvantaged patients with severe facial deformities. The event raised $2,710. To learn more about Operation Changing Lives and future events, visit http://operationchanginglives.com.
Circuit 17: JPOs in Circuit 17 partnered with Circuit Court Judge Merrilee Ehrlich to plan a special service opportunity for youth in the juvenile justice system that allows them to creatively and constructively express their feelings through art. Interested youth were given t-shirts and supplies and asked to paint their feelings, using pictures and words (non-vulgar, of course), on the front and/or back of the shirts. Once complete, the shirts were displayed in Courtroom 4840, known as the Clothesline Museum. Judge Ehrlick gave extra kudos to Officers Albert McKenzie, Tekeisha Mauseby, and Christopher Hamel, saying that without them this project would not have succeeded. This is just the first of four phases and I can’t wait to see what else is in store. I promise to share it with all of you!
PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY KUDOS: Lisa Eaton, Senior Management Analyst, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation March 21, 2013. Her dissertation provides an analysis and evaluation of factors influencing states to enact inpatient health care transparency laws between 1971 and 2006 inclusive, using event history analysis. The Unified Model of State Policy Innovation, developed by F.S. Berry and W.D. Berry (1990), provided the framework for the study hypotheses and the analysis of inpatient health care transparency law enactment by states. To supplement the quantitative findings, a case study of a national health care data professional association was conducted using several techniques, including telephone interviews. Lisa has been working toward her doctorate for 13 years, during which time she worked a full time job filling her role as wife and mother of two small children. Congratulations, Dr. Eaton!
PURCHAING KUDOS: Gov. Scott proclaimed March 2013 as Purchasing Month, recognizing Florida’s purchasing staff for its hard work and commitment to transforming procurement in Florida. To view the proclamation, click here.
STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING KUDOS: For the young ladies between 5 and 17 who attend Bethel AME Church, Spring Break annually marks the spiritual, educational and fun-filled occasion of the Daughters of Sarah Allen (DOSA) Weekend Retreat. During the two-day event, which was held this year on March 15 and 16, the young ladies are treated to guest presenters, a sleepover and a mother-daughter luncheon. As in years past, DJJ was once again invited to make a special guest presentation. This year’s installment, entitled “Verbally Volleying for Verbs,” was an overwhelming success. The young participants rallied in learning how verbs add vim, vigor, and vitality to the spoken and written word. Having nailed all of the lessons presented, five young ladies joined the ever-growing list of Grammar Hammers and were awarded gold-embossed blue ribbons distinguishing them as scholars erudite in the effective use of verbs. The successful participation in the DOSA program proves yet again that even on Spring Break learning never takes a vacation!
STAFF DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING KUDOS II: I have placed great emphasis on stabilizing and strengthening the direct care workforce of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. As part of ongoing efforts to improve DJJ’s services to youth, direct care staff working in detention facilities, and applicants for those positions, were evaluated and trained using tools called the Ergometrics IMPACT Assessment and Training, tools that have been used widely by other state and local agencies around the country. These cutting-edge tools helped current detention employees by determining their strengths and reinforcing appropriate behavior through training.
Current detention direct care employees participated in a one-day, video-based session consisting of a 1½ hour assessment, followed by four hours of training. For job applicants, the IMPACT assessment is used as a screening tool to determine suitability for direct care positions working with youth in detention facilities. To date, 1,015 incumbents have undergone testing and training and 675 applicants have been tested.
SAFETY UPDATE: In February, DJJ reported 27 First Reports of Injury/Illness in February. This represents a continued positive trend of workplace injury/incident reduction. All state-owned and operated residential facilities and almost half (48%) of detention facilities reported no incidents in February. Congratulations to Falkenburg, Les Peters, Britt, Duval, and Pensacola Boys Base Residential Facilities. Detention Centers with no reports include Bay, Duval, Marion, West Hillsborough, Manatee, Brevard, Collier, Broward, Monroe, and SW Florida. This week marked the beginning of Spring – a great time to do housekeeping inside and outside of buildings, a major component of safety and work efficiency. Please take time to organize work stations, paying special attention to safety hazards and get rid of any paper clutter that can be fuel for fire. You should be sure to cut over-hanging limbs, sweep sidewalks and parking lots, and inspect the outside of buildings for insects and nests and treat to avoid stings and bites. Thanks to all for making safety a priority!
SPECIAL COMPENSATION EXPIRES SOON: Many employees still have special compensation hours that accumulated between October 9, 2012 and January 21, 2013 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. These special compensation hours must be used by April 30, 2013, or they will be forfeited. If you have questions, please contact your supervisor.
Thanks to all staff for the professionalism you show to one another and your caring dedication to the youth we serve and their families.
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.