TJJD News & Announcements

GIDDINGS, Texas – Youthful offenders honored their mentors at an appreciation dinner at the Giddings State School in late December. About 40 youth served the mentors a barbecue dinner, then dine with the 20 or so mentors who came to the evening program.  Several youth paid tribute to the volunteers. “I appreciate mentors for coming out because they don’t have to do it,” said one young man. “This is free time for them, time out of their days and away from their families.” Said another, “Because we’re separated from family, the people who come out and talk to us become family. You find out you can trust people and people do help you even though they are strangers.   “You get closer and start knowing them and you become family,” the youth said.  “This is what mentors are to me.  They’re someone you can trust, rely on, and always look to for help.” Giddings Superintendent Jorge Gonzalez, Giddings Chaplain Frederick Horton, and Suzanne Scharle ...

AUSTIN, Texas – The National Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Neglected or Delinquent Children and Youth (NDTAC), in conjunction with the American Institute for Research, just released The Mentoring Toolkit 2.0: Resources for Developing Programs for Incarcerated Youth, and it features TJJD’s Mentoring Program. NDTAC serves as a national resource center to provide direct assistance to states, schools, communities, and parents seeking information on the education of children and youth who are considered neglected, delinquent, or at-risk. Tammy Holland, TJJD’s manager of community, family, and chaplaincy programs, helped launch the Toolkit during a nationwide webinar for juvenile justice officials on August 31, entitled “Designing Effective Mentoring Programs for Neglected, Delinquent, and Incarcerated Youth.” Mentoring can provide the opportunity for at-risk youth and youthful offenders, who often have limited contact with positive adult role models, to form and susta...