TJJD News & Announcements

Dozens of young people are graduating at TJJD’s Lone Star high schools this spring – and two will receive a special recognition for having earned a “distinguished” academic diploma. Giddings State School spring 2019 graduation in April.    All the TJJD graduates can rejoice in their accomplishments. Many of these youth were able to turn-around what had been a spotty or interrupted school record, fill in the gaps, and secure either their high school diploma or graduate equivalency certificate. Others were doing well in their home high school and simply crossed the finish line at TJJD. The two graduates receiving the special honor this graduation season attained a Distinguished Level of Achievement under the Texas Foundation High School program by completing advanced courses that exceeded those required for a high school diploma. These two young men, one at the McLennan County State Correctional Facility and the other at the Evins Juvenile Correctional Center sho...

By Patty Garza Community and Family Relations Coordinator, South Parole District In honor of National Crime Victim’s Week and National Child Abuse Awareness month, Ayres Halfway House and the TJJD San Antonio Parole office participated in an awareness program called Childsafe “Cardboard Kids” Campaign in San Antonio. This multilayered project included picking up cardboard “kids” from Childsafe, decorating them, distributing them to the community, and educating youth and those involved on the importance of intervention and prevention of child abuse and neglect. In 2018, there were 5,865 confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect in Bexar County. While that number is devastating, it’s even more alarming to know that only 1 in 10 sexually abused children ever report it, leaving nine others to keep a terrible secret. Those nine children are represented as these cardboard kids by giving them a voice. Our youth had a good time decorating their “kids” and engaging in the conversation...

By Y. Denise Caldwell  Community and Family Relations Coordinator  TJJD Parole - Northern District  “My other son can come too?” an excited mom asked after learning that the YouthBuild program accepted youth of all ages. Frank Kuykendahl of YouthBuild addresses youth and parents. “What do I have to do next?” one youth asked, when she realized that she could get assistance to pursue her dream of becoming a phlebotomist. Both were attending the recent 2019 Fort Worth Parole Family Resource Fair, an event dedicated to providing parole youth and their families with information about all of the resources available to them in the community. The invited guests included not only YouthBuild, but Job Corps, Redemption Bridge, WorkForce and MHMR of Tarrant County -- all services that can help youth build skills and connections to become a success in the working world. In addition, TJJD Ombudsman Allen Wallace and Reentry Specialist Angela Barry shared information about...

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. ...

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community and Family Relations Coordinator FORT WORTH, Texas - TJJD youth on parole in the Northern Region received certificates and replicas of the Martin Luther King National Monument for submitting and completing award-winning essays about Martin Luther King, Jr.   Dr. King delivers his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington on the National Mall. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) The three youth, T.F., K.L., and M.J. shared their thoughts and feelings in heartfelt essays that expressed admiration for King and how his life inspires them to want to achieve success. The winning essays included a wealth of information about Dr. King, highlighting his self-sacrifice and fortitude. M.J. noted in his essay that Martin Luther King Jr. once went to jail in Montgomery, Alabama, for driving 30 mph in a 25 mph zone, and in total was jailed 29 times for  “defending what he believed in, an equal government, and for everyone, the rights to free...

By Vanessa Bell VISTA Intern – TJJD MART, Texas – Dozens of family members recently reunited with their youth at the McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility for the first “Family Day” of 2019. The event’s theme was “Winter Wonderland,” so chili was served, games were snowman-themed, and the decorations were blue and white to give the event a wintery feeling. A sister joyfully greets her brother while their grandfather looks on. Despite the theme being a cold winter wonderland, the vibe throughout the gym was warm and welcoming. Family members laughed with their youth, while enjoying a warm bowl of chili and corn chips. Many got their pictures taken and played games as well. Family Days are held quarterly at all TJJD secure facilities, creating a safe haven where families can just be silly and have fun together and enjoy being a family again, which is the main goal. For some families at Mart, this was their first time coming to an event like this...

Everyone – especially young people -- needs encouragement from loved ones. Which is why TJJD arranges family visits for its youth on weekends and designated weeknights, and hosts special periodic “Family Days” with games and food so families can get together at a festive occasion at TJJD campuses.  Still, busy working parents and guardians cannot always make the drive or fit their schedule around visitation. That’s when technology comes to the rescue.  A.E. speaks with his mother. Thanks to the universality of cell phones and easy-to-use apps like FaceTime, Skype and Hangouts, caseworkers and family liaisons are able to offer families “virtual visits” with their son or daughter. Virtual visits started in earnest in fiscal 2016, and took off like wildfire. The number of virtual visits across all TJJD facilities jumped from 178 that year to 2,398 in fiscal 2018 – a more than 12-fold increase. “The kids love it and they ask for it all the time,” says J...

Twelve parole families in the Northern District, Tarrant County, had a very merry holiday thanks to the generosity of the Fort Worth Resource Council for Youth, parole staff, volunteers, and several friends and family members of retired Parole Service Assistant Leaner Singleton. These Santa’s helpers, along with donations from ALDI’s and Albertson’s groceries, provided enough food for the families to eat comfortably during the two-week break. Each family received three boxes  of food, each included a turkey and a ham, two boxes of cold cereal, instant oatmeal, instant mashed potatoes, instant stuffing, a six pack of ramen noodles, and two cans each of corn, green beans, peas, mixed vegetables, ravioli, spaghettios and tuna as well as two boxes of cake mix and two cans of icing.  In addition, there were two boxes of macaroni and cheese, a box of spaghetti, a jar of spaghetti sauce, a can of pork n beans, a can of chili, and a bag each of rice, kidney and pinto be...

Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Facility’s wide lawns and walkways are nearly deserted on a quiet summer afternoon. Youth in residence are inside taking classes or attending therapy. Several young women rest in dayrooms after an exhausting intramural field game meet that morning. A scant breeze rustles the giant oaks, and then -- a burst of activity! A huddle of girls and dogs spills from a low brick dorm in a far corner of the campus. The chattering hive of pony tails and wagging tails emerges as one, then separates into girl-dog pairs, trotting around the yard. The girls command their leashed canines to walk, sit and retrieve toys. Here at the PAWS Dorm, where 11 girls and their assigned foster dogs live and train, there’s rarely a slow moment, or many contentious ones. Visitors often remark about the “very warm environment,” says Dorm Supervisor Holli Fenton, who helped co-found the PAWS (Pairing Achievement with Service) program at the Texas Juvenile Justice Departmen...

  The Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is proud to release Texas Juvenile Law, 9th Edition. For more than 30 years, this publication has served as a comprehensive reference guide on statutes, case decisions and procedures affecting the day-to-day operations of the juvenile justice system. The Office of General Counsel – Legal Education and Technical Assistance has continued its tradition of collaborating with guest contributors to update the book originally written by the late Dr. Robert O. Dawson, former Bryant Smith Chair in Law at the University of Texas School of Law. Get your copy now!  For the first time, The Texas Juvenile Law, 9th Edition will be available for purchase from an online vendor. Click here to order directly from the online Book Shop. USE COUPON CODE TJJD11209 for a 50% Discount.  TJJD will no longer distribute or process sales of printed copies. Digital Download. The Texas Juvenile Justice Department has expanded its cou...

Painting walls, laying tile and planting flowers are more than home repairs, according to Reggie Hill, mentor and volunteer instructor for “Home Repairs Made Easy,” the 2018 State Volunteer Resource Council 2018 grant awarded to Willoughby House.  “It needs a better name,” he said about his program, which teaches youth about flooring, painting and landscaping. “They’re learning construction, commercial property repair skills,” Hill said. Youth who complete the 12-week program, taught in 4-week long sessions, can earn three Certificates of Completion for Commercial Repairs 101 (in flooring, painting or landscaping or all three).   They’ve learned to install tiles, wood and carpet flooring using measuring tapes.  Their math skills have improved as well, as they have to figure how much material to get for each room and take other measurements. The painting classes consist of learning not only how much paint to buy but which paint and paint brush is best for the j...

Oil changes, flat tires and dead batteries are just a few of the automotive repairs youth at McFadden are learning how to fix as part of “Car Smart,” a 2018 State Volunteer Resource Council Innovation Grant program. The funding came from the SVRC but it took the generosity of Tim Miller, owner of Grapevine Motors and a committed volunteer at the halfway house,  and Oswaldo “Ozzie” Patino, a certified auto mechanic, to get the program off the ground. Miller recently delivered a black 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt to the Ranch.   “When Mike (Mike Stine President of the McFadden Community Advisory Council) asked if I would donate a car I said yes,” said Miller.   “It’s a standard and needs work but it drives. “ The Cobalt, in fact, was not the clunker one might have expected. Staff noticed that the car appeared to still be a nice ride. Miller replied that “all his cars are nice.”  He added that he started working on cars when he was a teenager an...

Registration has opened for the 14 th Annual Strengthening Youth & Families Conference, which will be held beach-side this year at the San Luis Resort, Spa and Conference Center in Galveston. Professionals and volunteers who serve youth, as well as family members, are invited to attend the interagency-sponsored conference, set for Nov. 5-8.  The conference features workshops related to the promotion of positive youth development and the prevention, intervention and treatment of high-risk behaviors in youth. Workshops are expected to qualify for continuing education credits (up to 27 hours) for social workers, mental health providers, juvenile justice providers, and law enforcement.   Shandra Carter, deputy director of State Services for the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD), will headline the event as the first keynote speaker, opening the session on Nov. 6. An accomplished mental health professional with 20 years of experience in the human services f...

Nominations for three very distinguished awards -- the Annual Champion Awards -- are now being accepted! The awards will be presented at the 14th Annual Strengthening Youth & Families Conference, Nov. 5-8, at the Galveston San Luis Resort & Conference Center. Nominations are due by September 21. The Jimmie Hall Kester’s Champion for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Award will be presented to a leader in Texas who champions excellence in juvenile justice or who has... helped communities move forward in the provision of delinquency prevention services. Nominate someone you know who has been a leader and visionary in the field of juvenile justice and delinquency prevention, promoted juvenile justice and delinquency prevention and helped move communities and the state forward in this field. The Stella Churchill Mullins Champion for Children’s Mental Health Award will be presented to a leader in Texas who champions a commitment to excellence in children’s mental h...

Pam Gereau has received the TJJD Employee Excellence Award for the month of August. Gereau began her employment with the agency in April 2002 as an Administrative Investigator for the County Unit and is currently a Senior Administration Investigator with the Administrative Investigations Division (AID). She has demonstrated “extraordinary effort in improving her skillset and she is arguably our best investigator,” wrote Kevin DuBose, director of Administrative Investigations “In honing her craft, Pam has proven herself to be an exceptional sexual abuse investigator” and demonstrates “an unusual ability to develop rapport with earn the trust of victims of sexual abuse,” DuBose wrote. In addition to being an excellent investigator, Pam has embraced her role as a tenured employee and become a reliable mentor to her peers, said DuBose, who nominated Gereau, citing her competency, character, resilience and commitment to the agency. Perhaps Gereau’s secret to maintainin...

Young men at Schaeffer House acquired a special mascot this year, whom they’ve grown to adore. He’s cuddly and perky -- and unlike some mascots, his fur suit is no cheap imitation! Cody is Schaeffer's canine charm. Make that charmer. The wrinkly little Pug made his first visit to Schaeffer House last December when he was still wobbly on his feet and not yet 3 months old, says TJJD Parole Officer Lori Calderon.  “I just saw the faces of the kids. These kids, even some who they were having issues with, they just went crazy over a puppy. Their looks. They just became kids again,” Calderon said. That prompted her son, Zackery, Cody’s owner, to propose that Cody serve as a comfort dog at Schaeffer House. Making Cody a goodwill emissary seemed natural to Zackery, 24, who'd grown up watching his mom help people in crisis or transition during her employment at Child Protective Services. “He’s always had a heart to help others,” Calderon said. She asked for and received app...