Gainesville State School Youth Enjoy Special Homecoming

Gainesville State School celebrated this year’s Homecoming with a pep rally in the campus gym and halftime activities at their final football game. Gainesville High School demonstrated their kindness and generosity as they allowed the State School youth to use their beautiful stadium. To top off the festivities, the Gainesville Tornadoes won the game, defeating Chico 32-27.

This year’s homecoming was a special one with retired staff and successful alumni joining the festivities. They had returned to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the facility.

The homecoming court consisted of five seniors. They were given the traditional armbands made from garters decorated with bells, miniature helmets, footballs, players, and ribbons. The Student Council and staff provided music, skits, and entertainment at the pep rally. Coach Henry Thomas delivered his annual address and reminded the team to believe in themselves.

Youth Zachary sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem to begin the game. During halftime, the homecoming court was once again announced. As each senior walked out to the center of the field, a brief bio was given and the crowd showed their appreciation.

This year’s king, Elliott, was chosen by a campus wide vote. All 260 youth at the facility were allowed to vote for one senior who demonstrated positive behavior, academic success, and was a good role model.

The Gainesville community surrounds the State School youth with tremendous financial, spiritual, and volunteer support. Lives are being changed as youth understand, many for the first time, that there are people who truly care for them.

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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