TJJD News & Announcements

Kevin Mann started position in March 2 This article appeared in the June 2, 2016 edition of the Odessa American By Nathaniel Miller nmiller@oaoa.com Kevin Mann said he had always been interested in a career with criminal justice, but he was not sure on what avenue he wanted to pursue in the field. Then, in 2002, Mann said a friend told him the Ector County Youth Center needed employees and he applied, being hired to work as a youth center detention officer. It was about a few weeks into the job he said he decided working with at-risk youths was his passion. “I’ve always wanted to help kids,” Mann said. “This door opened and when I first started working here, I knew criminal justice is where I wanted to go.” The youth center is a detention facility where minors charged with crimes are held. It also houses an education center. Mann, who now has 14 years of experience with the department, also worked as an intake officer and then as a probation officer before he was select...

Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program held its inaugural HUB Vendor Fair on Friday, June 17, 2016 in the Lone Star Conference Room at the Austin office.  The event is designed to allow HUB vendors to meet face to face with agency personnel.  In addition, the meet-and-greet was designed to allow the end users to see who they are buying products and services from.   Many of the vendors at the fair were vendors who contract with TJJD or have products purchased for the agency. Included in the list of vendors at the event were new HUB vendors, looking to start their small business and hoping to make that business connection here at TJJD.  A business is considered a HUB if it is: A for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standards prescribed by 34 TAC §20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas; and At least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native America...

The Student Support Council of the Gainesville State School held a fundraiser at a recent Frisco Rough Riders baseball game.  Tickets were $20 and included wonderful seats, all the hot dogs, brats, chips, peanuts, and Dr. Pepper you can enjoy, and a fireworks presentation.  For each ticket sold, $3was donated to the Council. Television star Erik Estrada made a guest appearance and threw out the first pitch.  State School employee Corina Almanza enjoyed a photo op with the handsome Estrada.

In April, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department completed its 11th year as a Texas Lead Agency for Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). TJJD enlisted the participation of 34 partners during this year’s event, including eighteen juvenile probation departments and a public school district. In addition, our partners engaged 43 public school campuses. A total of 92 service-learning projects were completed by 10,133 children and youth, and 12,777 hours of service were recorded. There were 153 family members of youth who participated in the projects. TJJD staff estimates that 177,695 Texas citizens benefitted from these service projects in 69 different zip codes across the state. There were 14 media stories that provided coverage and visibility for our GYSD projects. And 29 elected officials participated by issuing proclamations, attending projects, engaging our youth in conversations about social issues, and speaking at opening or celebration events.   Furthermore, the following imp...

Ayres House in San Antonio marked the conclusion of the school year by hosting its annual family day event the Walter Gaskin Picnic on June 4.  This annual event is sponsored by the Volunteer Council for Texas Youth and SA Northwest Civil & Social who have a long distinguished history supporting Ayres House in memory of one of their founders and TJJD supporters, Walter C. Gaskin.  This event allows the volunteers, the youth and their families to fellowship while enjoying music and barbeque lunch. PHOTO: Mark Harris and Al Harris

Evins youth celebrated the 4th of July weekend with an “Independence Day Challenge,” an activity that rewards good behavior with an enjoyable campus outing.  The youth were asked to be on their best behavior and meet certain criteria to qualify for the event three weeks prior to the event. Eventually, 43 youth were able to meet the challenge and enjoyed a full fun day of on-campus activities. Although it was a hot day, the youth were able to enjoy a watermelon eating contest, chili cheese hotdogs, chips, and nachos while listening to music and having fun by the pool and a giant inflatable waterslide.  One youth said, “Oh my God, we ate so much watermelon.  It was perfect for the occasion and it was so sweet.” Watermelon harvest season is in full swing in South Texas and the Evins Volunteer Council was able to purchase plenty for the youth.  Some of the criteria to qualify to attend were no major rule violations, working all aspects of program and remaining in p...

The Mart Regional Treatment Center hosted a family event in April with the theme “Hope Springs Eternal- Steps to a New Future.”  Family members enjoyed lunch with their youth and then worked on  a family project where each youth and their families uniquely designed and painted a stepping stone. The stepping stones will be planted on the campus of MRTC, some of which adorn the walk way into the facility.

On May 19th, 2016, McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility received 60 visitors to celebrate the mothers of youth on campus at a Mother-Son Banquet. Families enjoyed a song written and sung by one of the youth and a presentation of the seven habits to practice raising strong children by the recreation staff. Then, while eating lunch, the mothers were encouraged to stay strong by a guest speaker discussing the importance of mothers in a child’s life. The sons presented a certificate of appreciation to their moms for being there for them through the good and bad times. The afternoon wrapped up with a few rounds of bingo and family photos.

Where are you from originally and where have you spent the majority of your adult life? I was born in Little Rock, Arkansas; however, my father was in the Army, and growing up, I traveled across the United States, spanning three states (Colorado, Texas, Kansas) and we lived in Germany twice. I graduated high school in Junction City, Kansas, outside of Ft. Riley, Kansas. I was previously married to a military officer, and this union took me cross country again to an live in three more states (Georgia, Missouri, and North Carolina, and Texas again). I have been fortunate to live in many different parts of the country, but I still consider Arkansas as my home, being all of my family still resides there. What led you to your career in juvenile justice? I’m the oldest of five daughters, and I’ve always enjoyed working with young people. When I moved to Ft. Hood, Texas in 1998, I was one year short of completing my Bachelor’s degree, so when I went to be advised at the University of...

The construction class at the Lone Star High School South (Evins) designed and created 18 zoo animal chairs to be donated to a local school for young children to enjoy.  The chairs featured three pandas, five elephants, five zebras, and five giraffes. LSHSS construction class students knew the chairs would be donated to a local school for young children and took great care to apply the skills they learned in the class. The chairs were donated to the Lincoln Elementary School that serves pre-K through 5th grades in the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. Lincoln Elementary School Principal Eva Sandoval was very appreciative of the 18 chairs and noted that the students will love the chairs.  She added they would be given to the early grades to motivate the students to read. Construction teacher Roberto Flores and LSHSS former Principal Dr. George Padilla delivered the chairs to the school on Friday, May 13, 2016. Dr. Padilla actually attended Lincoln Eleme...