Skip to main content

Evins Provides Parenting and Paternity Classes

Evins Regional Juvenile Center Family Liaison Elva Benitez introduced the Parenting and Paternity Awareness (p.a.p.a.) curriculum to eight youth at the facility who are young fathers.  Key themes in the curriculum focus on the importance of father involvement, the value of paternity establishment, the legal realities of child support, the financial and emotional challenges of single parenting, the benefits of both parents being involved in a child’s life, healthy relationship skills, and relationship violence prevention.

Mrs. Benitez said she hopes the program will provide the youth with tools that will help them be good responsible parents when they leave TJJD and are reunited with their children.  The 10-week course consists of weekly classes and is optional for the youth.  During their first class, Mrs. Benitez went around the room and each youth was asked to introduce themself and give their child’s first name.  Youth Raman, who is a soon to be father, said, “My son is due soon-as early as next month and I’m very happy about it and I want to learn as much as I can.”

The p.a.p.a. curriculum was originally developed by the Office of the Attorney General’s Child Support Division and has been in use in Public Schools since 1995.

PHOTO: Elva Benitez discusses the privilege and responsibility of parenting with Evins youth.

Popular posts from this blog

Employees Receiving Tenure Awards

TJJD would like to recognize the following employees who have received a tenure award since November 2015. On behalf of the agency, we extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for their dedication and service to the State of Texas. November 2015 FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE Adrian B. Jones, McFadden Ranch Christy L. Watson, McLennan CSJCF David I. Whitson, Ron Jackson Deborah K. Unruh, Austin (Ombudsman) Dwight A. Sadler, Austin (Ombudsman) Frederick D. Clemmons, McFadden Ranch Frederick D. Mask, Gainesville Iyesha S. Bellard, Giddings James R. Williams, Giddings Jarrett R. Massey, Giddings Juan C. Fernandez, Schaeffer HWH Roxanne S. Martinez, McFadden Ranch Victor O. Hughes, McLennan CSJCF TEN YEARS OF SERVICE Charlene M. Hunter Lane, Giddings Mary M. Perez, Ron Jackson Natasha E. Brown, McLennan CSJCF Royce R. Myers, Austin (Human Resources) FIFTEEN YEARS OF SERVICE Carl M. Smotherman, McLennan RTC Darrell S. Lewis, McLennan CSJCF DeLana D. Smethers, ...
Read more

Employees Receiving Tenure Awards

TJJD would like to recognize the following employees who have received a tenure award since February 2016. On behalf of the agency, we extend our sincerest gratitude and appreciation for their dedication and service to the State of Texas. February 2016 Five Years of Service Debra G. Foster, Gainesville Andrea G. Brazell, McLennan CSJCF Brandon E. Spears, McLennan RTC Ron’Neshia D. Spears, McLennan RTC Maria A. Muhammad, Cottrell HWH Mario Ramirez York, HWH Ten Years of Service Robin C. Motley, Gainesville Debra A. Sullivent, Giddings Jimmy W. Loewe, Giddings Raul De La Torre, Evins Stephanie A. Allen, McLennan CSJCF Timothy A. Redic, McLennan RTC Christi R. Villegas, Dallas Distict Office Fifteen Years of Service Donna L. Box, Ron Jackson Twenty Years of Service Cristopher L Burton, Austin (State Programs & Facilities) William L. George, Ron Jackson Joe I. Barraza, Evins Twenty-five Years of Service Venita Y. Foran, Gainesville Mary L. Mahon, Giddings Richard C. Anderso...
Read more

A Message From the Director

May has been a big month for TJJD.  We completed our first site visit at Giddings for the Youth In Custody Practice Model (YICPM).  It was great having the YICPM consulting team of Ned Loughran with the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, Shay Bilchek and Michael Umpierre with the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, and Kelly Dedel with One in 37 Research, Inc., on campus and meeting with our implementation team.  Giddings staff were gracious hosts and the time was well spent.  I am extremely excited about the opportunity the YICPM brings to TJJD.  This will give us a proactive chance to thoroughly examine ourselves to create safer campuses, help kids be more successful, become more cohesive and collaborative as an agency and establish a more positive culture.  Self-examination is never easy, but the result is worth it.  I look forward to the next 18 months. Our Capstone Project continues to move forward with the Ron Jackson and Gaines...
Read more