TJJD News & Announcements

FORT WORTH, Texas – Willoughby House youth are gaining a new and valuable skill thanks to the efforts of JCO IV Christopher Golden. Mr. Golden has created a woodworking class for youth who are interested in refurbishing furniture. Mr. Golden said he initiated this project because, “I wanted to provide the guys with an opportunity to stay busy and learn a craft, which they can later use as an opportunity to generate income. One youth has expressed to me that he wants to pursue this as a possible career, since he enjoys it so much.” Mr. Golden has donated most of the supplies, such as a sander, paint, stain, paintbrushes, and other items as needed to complete the projects. So far, the youth have completed two end tables, a card table, and they are currently working on refurbishing the television stand in the facility. Other staff have donated items for the youth to work on as well. Mr. Golden stated that this was a craft that he’s been doing for the past ten years and wanted to g...

ROCKWALL, Texas – Angie Scalf, the Department Director for Rockwall County Juvenile Services, has been an outspoken advocate for changing the methodology of working with at-risk youth, providing more at-home services for the families, providing free outpatient drug counseling, and using innovative techniques to avoid detention, placement or commitment to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. The Department, which employs five probation officers and two licensed counselors, provides drug education, supportive outpatient drug counseling, intensive outpatient drug counseling, anger management, family preservation, individual counseling, a 1st Offender Program, a gardening program, in-house community service and Experiential Education. Rockwall County’s Experiential Education Program began with the assistance of Marla Burns, an adventure-based counselor with Williamson County Juvenile Services and Texas State University. Burns facilitated several camp outs with youth and probation of...