Issue 62 Holiday 2006 Archives
State Advisory Council Welcomes Chief Justice Parker
The State Advisory Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
welcomed Chief Justice Sarah Parker to its November 29, 2006, meeting. As
Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Parker serves as co-chair
and assists in advising and coordinating efforts among state agencies providing
services to juveniles.
“Chief Justice Parker brings a vast array of expertise to this Advisory Council,”
said Secretary George Sweat. “We look forward to working with her on juvenile
justice issues.”
At this meeting, the Advisory Council also discussed the upcoming legislative
session, the success of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
Prevention’s two pilot programming projects, its staffing proposal for the
replacements facilities, and the joint use proposal with the Department of
Correction (DOC) to jointly use the Swannanoa Valley Youth Development
Center property.
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Department Continues to Lay Groundwork for Replacement Facilities;
Holds Two Groundbreaking Ceremonies in November
The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention continues to lay
the groundwork for what promises to be a successful endeavor for youth,
families, and communities across the state of North Carolina. In November
2006, the Department held two groundbreaking ceremonies to mark its
continued replacement facility efforts. The ceremonies announced the
construction of youth development centers in Chatham and Cabarrus counties.
These groundbreakings follow the Department’s first groundbreaking held in
Lenoir County in September. Community members, lawmakers, government
officials, juvenile justice representatives, and school officials were in attendance.
The construction of these replacement facilities will become the foundation for an
effective, community-oriented juvenile justice system. By providing youth throughout North Carolina with smaller, community-connected
facilities, the Department will more effectively assist youth with the tools needed to become productive members of North Carolina’s
communities.
Both the Chatham County Youth Development Center and the Cabarrus County Youth Development Center will offer a positive economic
impact to their local communities. The 32-bed facility in Chatham County will provide approximately 71 jobs with an estimated annual
operating budget of $3.2 million to the local community and the 96-bed facility planned for Cabarrus County will provide approximately 203
jobs with an estimated $9.1 million annual operating budget.
Construction on both facilities is to be completed within the next 18 months.
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Therapeutic Environment Training Continues at Youth Development Centers; Planning Starts for Court Services
The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is now providing Therapeutic Environment Training (TET) for staff at all
five youth development centers. Meanwhile, court services staff held their first meeting on November 14, 2006, and began planning the
training structure for TET within court services. Two court counselor representatives from each district attended the meeting and are now
working on the planning and design of the modules.
The TET training within court services will incorporate these same tools as well as focus on developing a standardized service planning
format with the training curriculum. The TET training, a curriculum that delivers skills and knowledge and gives staff tools to create a
therapeutic, teaching environment, will transition current youth development center operations to therapeutic environments for all
committed youth and result in the implementation of an environment in which youth receive education and treatment in ways that allow for
the development of skill competency and behavior and life changes.
State Advisory Council Welcomes Chief Justice
Parker
Department Continues to Lay Groundwork for
Replacement Facilities; Holds Two
Groundbreaking Ceremonies in November
Therapeutic Environment Training Continues at
Youth Development Centers; Planning Starts for
Court Services
DJJDP Submits Joint Use Proposal for
Swannanoa Valley Youth Development Center
Property to North Carolina General Assembly
Governor Easley Announces Results of Review
to Improve School Safety; DJJDP-Center
Participates in Recommendations
Grants Update: Planning for the Coming Year
YDC Students Participate in Holiday Celebrations
Dobbs Youth Development Center Hosts Blood
Drive
Camp Woodson Meets Milestone: Holds 30th
Birthday
About the News Express
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Staff from the Eastern, Western, Central, and Piedmont areas have been trained to teach the therapeutic environment model. Some of
these participants were also identified as master trainers, presenting material for the instruction session as well as being part of their area
training team. These trainers are currently instructing staff at Dillon, Dobbs, Samarkand, Stonewall Jackson, and Swannanoa as well as
selected court services and detention staff. Each trainer delivers content through various activities as well as through lecture.
The Department plans to have all five youth development centers fully operating in a therapeutic environment by early 2007.
For additional information about the TET initiative click here. (PDF)
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DJJDP Submits Joint Use Proposal for Swannanoa Valley Youth Development Center Property to North Carolina General
Assembly
The Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP) and the Department of Correction (DOC) submitted a joint
report in mid-November to the North Carolina General Assembly regarding proposed joint use of the Swannanoa Valley Youth
Development Center (SVYDC) property. The proposal has been approved by the Governmental Operations Committee on Justice and
Public Safety.
"This transition benefits both DJJDP and DOC," said Secretary George L. Sweat. "DJJDP will be able to transition from a large facility to a
smaller, more community-connected facility based on a treatment-education model. At the same time, DOC will be able to meet the
demands of a growing female population."
During the first phase of the proposed plan, DJJDP will continue to operate the southern part of the campus as a youth development
center for male juvenile offenders, while DOC will move its operations from Black Mountain Correctional Center for Women (BMCCW) to
the northern part of the SVYDC campus. The agencies propose to jointly use the campus until 2010, when DJJDP hopes to be able to
move into a new 32-bed facility in the Western part of the state. DJJDP intends to seek approval for the new facility during the upcoming
legislative session.
If the plan proceeds as proposed, DOC eventually will assume complete control of the Swannanoa campus. When the transition is
complete, DOC will house approximately 454 inmates at the Swannanoa campus with a staff of nearly 200. DJJDP will employ
approximately 66 staff members at its new youth development center.
For more information as well as a copy of the joint use proposal, visit the Department’s website at www.ncdjjdp.org
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Governor Easley Announces Results of Review to Improve School Safety; DJJDP-Center Participates in Recommendations
Gov. Mike Easley has announced the results of his statewide school safety review. Over the past three months, Secretary Bryan Beatty of
the Department of Crime Control & Public Safety and Attorney General Roy Cooper coordinated a comprehensive review of North
Carolina’s school safety programs in an effort to guarantee student safety in the state’s schools. Beatty and Cooper asked the
Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention- Center for the Prevention of School Violence to assist in assessing current
efforts and determining if additional measures should be taken to better protect the state’s school students.
The review recommends expanding the School Resource Officer program in high schools and middle schools so there is at least one
resource officer for every 1,000 students. There are currently 773 resource officers in the state’s public schools.
The review also recommends law enforcement, technology, and school experts convene to examine the effectiveness of current
technology and develop recommendations for school districts to acquire the appropriate technology to ensure two-way communication in
their schools.
According to the review, information sharing is crucial to preventing school violence. North Carolina has been proactive in this area, with
DJJDP-Center setting up a toll-free safe schools tip line so students, parents, and others can anonymously report threats or suspicious
activity at schools. The report recommends increased public awareness of the tip line. That number is 1-888-960-9600.
Additionally, the review recommends that all school districts have school safety plans in place and that they conduct exercises to test
those plans. Furthermore, the report recommends new legislation be drafted to require regular drills and exercises for dealing with threats
such as school shootings, chemical explosions, severe weather, and terrorism incidents. Current law only requires monthly fire drills at
schools.
Other recommendations from the school safety review include:
􀁺􇩐 Providing technical assistance from state law enforcement to help schools conduct security assessments of campuses;
􀁺􇩉 Identifying key agencies, such as mental health responders, by the Department of Health and Human Services to be dispatched to
help cope with emotional and psychological needs of staff and students after a violent incident; and
􀁺􇩁 Adopting a formal debriefing process by state education, law enforcement, and health services agencies to help local school and
law enforcement officials improve their response plans.
North Carolina has been working to address the issue of school safety since the early 1990s. When Easley was Attorney General, he
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worked to create the DJJDP-Center. DJJDP-Center focuses on understanding the problems of school violence and developing solutions
to them.
For more information as well as a full copy of the report, visit the DJJDP-Center website at www.cpsv.org
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Grants Update: Planning for the Coming Year
As the end of the year approaches, it is time to think about the coming year. One of the most crucial components of the grants process is
putting plans in place to continue the project once the grant funds are no longer available. This is called sustainability.
The lack of a strong sustainability plan appears like a bad “investment” to the funding agency. Funders want to see a solid commitment
that is strong enough to continue the project even after the initial grant has ended. Therefore, sustainability planning should be on-going.
However, if you have waited to the last minute, the end of the year is as good a time as any to dust off your original sustainability plan and
take action!
There are no shortcuts, but the following ideas can help you get off to a solid start:
􀁺􇩌 Leverage shared positions and resources
􀁺􇩂 Become a line-item in an existing budget
􀁺􇩃 Create a sustainability committee
􀁺􇩃 Collaborate with groups focused on similar missions
􀁺􇩔 Tap into existing personnel resources
􀁺􇩓 Solicit donations and in-kind support
􀁺􇩈 Hold a fundraiser
􀁺􇩄 Develop a fee-for-services structure
􀁺􇩓 Secure endowed funds/planned giving
􀁺􇩅 Establish membership fees or dues
Remember, grant funds should be used for start-up projects, program enhancement and expansion, or seed money. They should not be
counted on as a long-term funding solution. Thus, tackling sustainability is the key to making sure that your project has a lasting impact
on the youth, families, and communities you serve.
For additional information, or assistance with your sustainability plan, contact Jay Cheston, via email at jay.cheston@ncmail.net
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YDC Students Participate in Annual Holiday Celebrations
This year the annual holiday shows were a huge success! Students currently residing at the five individual youth development centers
worked diligently to put on and participate in various holiday celebrations for family, friends, and staff throughout the month of December.
After each celebration, the students and their family members spent some time together as they enjoyed refreshments prepared by
cafeteria staff at each of the facilities.
The holiday program for Samarkand involved a play produced by the cottage life staff. Students spent hours practicing the play which
depicts the life of a teenage girl who finds herself with an addiction and is committed to Samarkand Youth Development Center. The
teenage girl thinks about her bad choices, learns from her mistakes, and decides to become a responsible individual. Special thanks goes
out to Ms. Melinda Kay Evans for her leadership in producing the event.
Chaplain Sandra McKeon led a chorus of students through an amazing array of holiday songs at C.A. Dillon. The students, who were
dressed in tuxedos, also put on a holiday play.
Under the direction of Dr. Charlene Hemphill, Swannanoa Valley staff and students celebrated the holidays with song and a holiday play.
English teacher, Marta Kraay, directed and wrote the holiday play while Rusty Eskew, a volunteer from the Epiphany Ministries Band
provided the music. Michael Borkay of Asheville-Buncombe Community College and Chris Wilmoth, a literacy teacher, also added to the
celebration by leading students and the audience in joyous song.
At Dobbs, the students provided entertainment in the form of a dance performance and a play about the story of Christmas. Paula Sutton,
the broadcasting teacher, directed the event and was assisted by Chaplain Jim Cavanaugh. After the event, students spend time with
members of their family over lunch.
With leadership from Hope Tarpley-Moore, Cynthia Stanback, and Annie Fleming- Weaver, students at Stonewall Jackson sang, danced,
and tumbled their way into the hearts of the audience. A highlight of the program was a dance with mothers and their sons.
Thanks to all staff and students involved in these celebrations for putting us in the holiday spirit.
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Dobbs Youth Development Center Hosts Blood Drive
At the end of November, the Dobbs Youth Development Center hosted its annual blood drive. The Bloodhound Committee successfully
sought commitments from 41 people and received response of 30 productive pints.
Due to the wonderful response, the management team pooled its resources to give away a $25 gas card to one lucky giver. In addition,
the Bloodhound Committee gave away a Thanksgiving dinner which included a turkey, homemade pies, farm fresh eggs, turnips, collards
and many other goodies.
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Camp Woodson Meets Milestone: Holds 30th Birthday
As we near the end 2006, Camp Woodson met a milestone by holding its 30th reunion at Camp High Rocks in Cedar Mountain, North
Carolina. The first session of Camp Woodson began in April, 1976, when students loaded up backpacks, laced up hiking boots, and took
the initial steps on a journey that has now spanned three decades.
Over 100 former and current employees traveled from California, Oklahoma, and Maine to celebrate Camp Woodson’s 30th birthday. The
day’s events included paddling, climbing, swimming, music, dinner, slide shows, and a silent auction that raised money to offset the cost
of future reunions.
Many technological changes have occurred over the years, but Camp Woodson’s founding core values of self-reliance, service to others,
challenge, adventure, and personal growth have remained constant. Those values have not only served the students well, but have
cultivated an enduring staff dedicated to using nature and adventure to change lives.
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