Taking PAWS To a National Stage

By Cris Burton
(TJJD’s Cris Burton was invited to present the Pairing Achievement With Service program at the American Correctional Association at the organization’s August 2016 meeting in Boston. The following is his report on the presentation.)

"The 146th National Congress of the American Correctional Association has accepted your proposal."

If you would have told me this when Holli Fenton and I started PAWS in 2010, I would have said you were not playing with a full deck. But, in 2016, this is now a reality. The chance to talk about PAWS on a national stage and to colleagues in the field of corrections was an honor and somewhat overwhelming. When I think about what it took to get here, it is and continues to be an incredible journey. The ACA conference in Boston was certainly a pinnacle experience. One highlight of the conference was the opening Keynote from Governor Charlie Baker and guest speaker journalist David Gergen. Both had insightful comments on the corrections industry and on the current political atmosphere.

The PAWS workshop, "Canine Programs in Juvenile Justice," was well received. There was a wide range of attendees from counselors and social workers to wardens. All had some familiarity with canine programs and the wardens, in particular, from Alabama and Georgia, were already running adult canine programs. Many had questions about juveniles working with dogs. Some of the comments ranged from, "Everyone should attend this presentation," to "We need more presentations on Juvenile Justice." Everyone in attendance seemed to agree that the PAWS program is unique in that PAWS has an intentional therapeutic design, where other canine programs tend to concentrate on the outcomes of the dogs, especially in the adult programs.

As the journey continues, there are too many to name for the success. Much, if not most, of the credit has to go to Holli Fenton and the incredible staff at Ron Jackson that have hung in there over the last six years and have made PAWS the success it is today. Also, Deidre Reece and the staff who are just getting started at Gainesville are doing a great job continuing the PAWS legacy.

Look for PAWS at the upcoming Texas Correctional Association (TCA) Conference December 1-2, 2016 in Round Rock and at the Counsel for Juvenile Corrections Administrators (CJCA) in association with the ACA Winter Conference in San Antonio, January 22, 2017.

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 MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April. She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III. She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010. Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend. Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic. The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952. She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.

Canyon Lake Evening Reporting Center

When Comal County Juvenile Probation Chief Kris Johnson joined the department in March 2011, he brought with him a long-term vision to open an Evening Reporting Center (ERC) in the county. ERCs, which require youth offenders to report to specified locations during evening hours for programming, skills building and community service, were first used in Chicago, where juvenile justice advocates needed after school programs to keep their higher risk kids from getting involved in the gang scene. They also serve as an alternative to detention pending a youth’s hearings. ERCs have become common detention alternatives in many communities throughout the United States and are based on research and best practices recognized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Johnson believed implementing an ERC in Comal County would reduce juvenile crime by providing supervision during the hours crime is most likely to occur. Additionally, it could significantly reduce the cost of deten...

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