Global Youth Service Day

Youth all across Texas are gearing up for the 30^th Anniversary Global Youth Service Day event, including hundreds of youth in the Texas juvenile justice system. TJJD was selected as one of 56 Lead Agencies across the country by Youth Service America – and the only juvenile justice organization in the nation – and has convened 34 partners who are planning 89 service-learning projects during the month of April. It’s not too late for you to join us and have your youth group engaged in community service projects. Just contact Tammy.Holland@TJJD.Texas.Gov for more information. #GYSD

GYSD is celebrated each year in more than 100 countries, with young people working together – and with schools, youth organizations, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations, national service programs, government agencies, and adult mentors – to address the world’s most critical issues and change their communities.

Why: To mobilize the world’s youth to find their voice, take action, and impact the biggest problems facing the planet.
How: Thousands of youth-led service projects to help achieve the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
What: Impact on youth (acquiring employment and leadership skills) and impact on community (achieving the Global Goals).
Who: Young people, ages 5-25, regardless of their location, economic circumstances, gender, or abilities.
Where: Over 100 countries on all 7 continents.

Learn more about GYSD at www.GYSD.org and www.YSA.org.

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. “In case a youth i

McFadden Ranch High School Graduates Honored

DENTON, Texas -- The Kiwanis Club of Denton recognized nine youth from McFadden Ranch who earned their high school diploma or equivalency by inviting them to their April 17 noon meeting and luncheon where they were awarded $50 each for their trust fund. Spearheaded by JCO IV Gregory Winn, a longstanding member of the Kiwanis Club of Denton, the event was truly memorable for the youth who attended. They heard a motivational and moving presentation by Texas Rep. Pat Fallon, who completed the Greatest Endurance Challenge – the World Marathon Challenge – tackling seven marathons in seven days on seven continents. He took the challenge after being inspired by Jonny Wade, a 7-year-old boy who battled pediatric cancer and had only one wish – ‘that no other kid ever gets cancer.’ Wade’s death led to the creation of Pediatric Cancer Foundation for which Fallon raised over $250,000 so far. Fallon, who represents a portion of Denton County, said the takeaway from his experience is that we

Teamwork Leads to Arrest Without Incident

GAINESVILLE, Texas – Late at night on July 21, a young man escaped from the Gainesville State School, and an exceptional team effort ensured that he was found the very next day. Employees from TJJD State Programs, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, local law enforcement, and TJJD Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigators from Gainesville, Brownwood, Mart, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin all answered the call that night. Sgt. Gabriel Medellin was contacted at approximately 2:00 a.m., on July 22. He left San Antonio for Gainesville at approximately 6:00 a.m. to meet with other investigators and begin searching for the youth. At approximately 12:25 p.m., Sgt. Medellin observed a male walking down a highway in Gainesville who matched the description of the youth. Sgt. Medellin made contact, confirmed his identity, and made the arrest without incident. He was assisted by OIG Sergeants Walker Willey (Ron Jackson) and Tom Hamilton (Mart). OIG Chief Forrest Mitchell s

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