February 2023 | Vol. 2, Issue 2 |
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In This Issue
New Assistant
Executive Director
February Awareness
Month & Holiday
HCJPD Org Chart
Celebrating
Black History Month
Helpful Resources
Youth Diversion & Development
Residential Services
Did You Know?
Communications Corner
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Our New Assistant Executive Director |
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First, I would like to thank everyone who reached out with kind words and support when I was announced as the new Assistant Executive Director. I cannot imagine a more exciting time to be moving into this new role.
HCJPD has undergone many changes, and we have reinvented and transformed the department in many ways over the past four years. Those changes are a testament to the hard work and dedication of all HCJPD employees.
I am consistently amazed by the positive impact each of you has had on the lives of our youth and our communities, and I am dedicated to supporting you as we move forward.
I want to recognize how important each of you is to the department, and you have my promise that I will work to do whatever is necessary to appreciate your accomplishments and support you.
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Matt Shelton, PhD
Assistant Executive Director
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Ultimately, a significant part of my new role is to support staff so that you can be in the best position to support youth, their families, and our community. I look forward to going on this journey with you! |
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Q: What is the most
exciting part of your new role?
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I am looking forward to being more involved with the entire agency. I've loved each of my roles as I have moved through my career with the department, and this new role is an opportunity to use my experience to help guide the department into the future.
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Q: What’s the best advice
you can give someone who
recently began their HCJPD career?
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Be flexible, learn as much as you can along the way, and always remember that we are here to help youth! Our department is large and has so many unique roles. Learn different things as much as you can, and opportunities will likely present themselves when you are least expecting them.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
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I am a car guy and can typically be found in my garage when I am not at work. I am always in the middle of working on a project car and will talk your ear off about it if I get a chance.
Q: Do you have a favorite sports team?
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I grew up in Kansas City and am a huge Chiefs and Royals fan. However, I have also adopted the Texans and Astros as my two, second favorite teams and love going to games and watching both of them play!
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February Awareness Month & Holiday |
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Presidents Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February in honor of George Washington, the first president of the United States. Presidents Day '23 occurs on Monday, February 20th.
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February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.
Together we can save lives by each learning the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke and consulting a doctor if we have risk factors or symptoms.
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February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Dating violence is more common than you may think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults.
Check out the links below to find out how everyone can make a difference by reaching out to young people in simple ways.
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HCJPD Organizational Chart |
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Have you ever wondered how our department all fits together? If so, you're not alone!
The HCJPD Organizational Chart pictured here was created for new and existing employees to see how we are currently structured.
The eight Divisions that compose our agency are listed on the top with their units listed below.
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Celebrating Black History Month |
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A Message From The Equity Team |
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Black History Month is a celebration to commemorate the achievements of African-American blacks in the history of the United States.
President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
The theme of Black History Month 2023 is "Black Resistance," chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
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Q: Why is it important we
celebrate Black History Month?
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It's important we celebrate Black History Month because Black History is American History. Anytime we don't share black stories, we're not telling the whole story.
Q: What does Black
History Month mean to you?
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Black History Month, to me, is a time to honor, celebrate and acknowledge the achievements of black people from our past and present.
Q: What influential, African
American leader inspires you most?
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The influential, African American leader who inspires me the most is Harriet Tubman.
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Jasmine Scott
HCLA Credible Messenger Mentor
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Q: How do you want to make an impact?
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Harriet Tubman escaped slavery by following the underground railroad. After she was free, she chose to become a conductor and help others along the path to freedom. I was once a troubled youth in and out of the juvenile system. I am now a conductor that is leading and helping children choose a different and positive path.
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LaRandol Cowart
LSPA Administration
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Q: Why is it important we
celebrate Black History Month?
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It's important to celebrate Black History Month because February 1 is the anniversary of the approval of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865. This month is directly linked to the struggle for freedom from slavery and the struggle of black Americans to be counted as 5/5 rather than 3/5 of a person.
Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History," chose the second week of February to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass, a famed abolitionist who escaped slavery, and President Abraham Lincoln, who formally abolished slavery.
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Q: What does Black History Month mean to you?
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Black History Month is an opportunity to improve communities through education and awareness. Black History Month was developed because Carter G. Woodson believed it was essential for young African Americans to understand and be proud of their heritage.
Mr. Woodson said, "Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history."
Q: What influential African American leader inspires you most?
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George Washington Carver has inspired me the most. He was the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in the United States, and in 1896, Carver earned his Master of Agriculture degree. He was a prolific researcher and writer who believed education was essential to individual success.
One of my favorite quotes from Mr. Carver is, "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom."
Q: How do you want to make an impact?
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I want to make an impact, just as George Washington Carver did, through his scholarship and research. His contributions improved the quality of life for many American families, making him an icon for African Americans and all Americans.
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Jared Martin
JDC Youth Development Officer
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Q: Why is it important we
celebrate Black History Month?
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During Black History Month, it is very important to commemorate the past to understand, reflect and learn about the difficulties faced by black people. However, it is also essential to look to the future.
Q: What does Black
History Month mean to you?
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It's an opportunity to understand Black stories, uplift Black voices, and spotlight those who have made a difference in our culture and history.
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Q: What influential African American leader inspires you most?
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It would have to be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Baptist minister, and social activist. He dedicated his life to the nonviolent struggle for justice in the United States. King's leadership played a pivotal role in ending entrenched segregation for Black Americans and created the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Q: How do you want to make an impact?
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I make an impact by showing up! With over ten years of being in the department, I have built great relationships with my peers and helped bring a new way of thinking to the youth in detention. I designed and facilitate the "Behind the Blue Door" podcast. Along with my cohost YDO Mr. Knotts, we entertain, educate, and bring awareness to the kids. I will continue to make a better way, one child at a time.
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Community Youth Services (CYS) is a school-based crisis intervention and case coordination program offered in 13 school districts and in the community. The goal of the CYS program is to prevent school aged youth from becoming victims of child abuse, running away, dropping out of school or entering into delinquent behavior. |
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Shakespeare In
American Communities
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A picture from the 2022 HCYV Shakespeare summer program is now on the Arts Midwest (National Endowment for the Arts) website! It’s nice to get recognition on a national level.
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Youth Diversion & Development |
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The Service-Learning team has been busy building new connections and strengthening current relationships with the community. We've recently started a partnership with Beauty's Community Garden, where young people help maintain the community garden area through horticulture and beautification. We are excited to watch our young people contribute to the community in this new partnership! |
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Recently, Service-Learning Coordinators created bags for Kids Meals on Wheels, made board games out of recycled goods to promote recycling, and coordinated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) sessions focusing on robotics. Additionally, coordinators have been educating youth on various topics through Town Hall. |
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Fun Fact — During the pandemic, Town Hall was a virtual way for young people to stay connected with their JPOs about events occurring during that time. The Service-Learning team adopted the name and morphed it into a one-time virtual session where they teach young people about decision-making, job finding, positive social media use, and financial literacy. |
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The Service-Learning team has exciting plans for this year, expanding the Beauty's Community Garden program, STEM sessions, and ongoing Service-Learning projects. We will soon partner with the Red Cross on the Pillow Case Project to create a youth disaster preparedness project. The youth will learn and explore disaster preparedness and make pillowcases to personalize and use as a personal preparedness kit. |
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2021 Service Learning Project
Featured on Display at Texas Children's Clinic
A 2021 Service-Learning project created for Child Abuse Awareness Month is now displayed at a Texas Children’s clinic that mainly serves high-risk children and families, and those in foster care.
Each butterfly on the mobile represents one thousand children in the U.S. who suffer each year from child abuse. Each butterfly was made with a wish that one day, child abuse will end.
Texas Children’s tells us the art installation is the centerpiece of the waiting room, and families and staff absolutely love it! Our young people and staff really outdid themselves with this project, and we are delighted to know it will be enjoyed by so many.
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Juvenile Consequences Workshop Is Back! |
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Juvenile Consequences Workshop resumed on October 2022 for the first time since the pandemic. The Juvenile Consequences Workshop is a partnership of the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, the Houston Bar Association, the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the Harris County Public Defender's Office, and the Houston Police Department. It is a one-time requirement, held once a month, to educate young people about the juvenile justice system in our Diversion Program (Second Chance or Diversion 180). |
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Last month, Youth Diversion and Development (YDD) Each partner organization presents information on the potential impact of becoming further involved in the Juvenile Justice System and offers suggestions on lessening opportunities to do so. We invite a guest with lived experience who can connect and motivate the youth and families. The program's goal is to give youth a second chance and keep them out of the system through an increased understanding of the juvenile justice system and its consequences. |
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Diversion Supervisor Laura Powers retired after 33 years of service to the department. Laura began as an Intern at Intake in 1989 and officially joined the department on January 9, 1990, as a Child Care Worker, where she worked until 1996. She then became a Placement Diversion Officer. In January 1997, and became a Juvenile Probation Officer in Placement where she worked for over 10 years. She then worked as a Training Specialist in TQA for seven years before being promoted to Supervisor in the Field in 2014. Laura was a supervisor for ISP and Diversion, and most recently oversaw the Second Chance Diversion Program in partnership with the Harris County Resources for Children and Adults.
Laura plans to travel, cruise, and spend quality time with her family, especially her granddaughter, Skye. Her friends and colleagues will greatly miss Laura and her leadership and we wish her all the best!
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Thank you, Laura for your many years of service to youth, families, and HCJPD! |
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Congratulations LaShunda Law!
Congratulations to LaShunda, on being promoted to Administrator over Intake Services! LaShunda has been an enormous asset to the YDD Division as a Supervisor, most recently at the Therapeutic Connections Unit (TCU). She will be greatly missed at YDD, but we all wish her well in her new position at Intake. We know LaShunda will bring to Intake the same compassion and leadership she brought to her team and the youth and families at YDD.
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This year the Transformation Team is focusing on the importance of regulation for our staff and youth. For staff, compassionately caring for our youth can be challenging while dealing with their own life stressors. In addition, understanding how to de-escalate youth in crisis and effectively respond in a trauma-informed way can be quite the task.
Therefore, the Transformation Team has titled their Annual Recertification Training (ART) “Help Me Regulate” (Understanding sensory needs), with the intention of teaching staff what it means to be dysregulated and how it affects not only youth but themselves as well.
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The training focuses on what happens to the body when we are overwhelmed by crises and how that may affect our behavior. The goal of the training is to help staff build the competence of dysregulation and identify practical TBRI concepts, strategies, and interventions they can use while serving the youth and themselves.
The Transformation Team will provide a sensory diet for staff to offer youth to meet their physical needs, increase felt safety, and achieve self-regulation. Similar to nutrition, what we offer our bodies will determine how they respond in overwhelming moments.
The “sensory diet” will help the youth identify an individualized sensory plan specifically for them to regulate their behavior. Sensory plans can be utilized in a variety of ways, such as a tool for caseworkers, therapists, or staff. The youth can also complete the sensory plans and place them on the unit as a daily resource when needed.
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We focus on continuous improvement, work toward professional growth, and promote strategies to support youth and staff.
During the Mental Health Minute at January 2023's General Staff Meeting, Dr. Caryn Darwin, Clinical Director at HCLA presented information to staff on Prevention and Behavior Interventions.
The team recently created Therapy C.U.R.E.S. rules to display throughout areas in the building where therapy takes place and teach and reinforce behavior expectations to youth in therapy. |
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Dr. Blount, Youth Development (YD) Coordinator/Casework supervisor, recently created an excellent document to streamline the Case Planning Process. In 2022, greater emphasis was placed on multidisciplinary teaming during the initial and subsequent case planning process and meetings. The YD Coordinator team (case workers) has been working diligently to ensure the meetings flow smoothly to gather information to support our youth and help them meet their goals. Great work Dr. Blount and her team of YD Coordinators!
Congratulations to HCLA Therapist Brittany Georges for passing her Mental Health Licensure exam and becoming an LMSW in the state of Texas in November 2022! Congratulations, Ms. Georges!
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Harris County Leadership Academy |
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HCLA Highlights
The LeSA project with Texas Christian University (TCU) began last month. They will work with the youth and families, using TBRI principles and practices to improve communication and relationship building.
Staff and youth participated in a kickball tournament and
cook-off to celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday.
Reminder
Family visitation and JPO visits have started back at HCLA.
For JPOs: When visiting your youth at HCLA, please coordinate the visit with Juan Guzman.
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The Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) held a special presentation honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. last month. Students paid tribute to MLK's legacy in poetry, dance, musical and acting performances.
With only a short preparation time, our young people did a phenomenal job with their performances. They collaborated with Intake Juvenile Probation Officer (JPO) Gary Smith to sing a song. The youth didn't let stage fright get in the way; they memorized their parts even though they could utilize paper. We commend the performers for immersing themselves in this presentation and for their bravery and talent!
Thanks to all of our attendees for coming out to support this event. We want to thank everyone who contributed to this presentation, including our JDC Program Coordinator, Lakesha Brown, JDC Administration, Youth Development Officers Randall Knotts, Jared Martin, Vanessa Gray, JPO Gary Smith, and Principal Brett Higgins.
Great job commemorating and celebrating the life of MLK JDC!
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The Annual Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) Holiday Party occurred in December. It was a magical event for our young people! They felt the support of our department and the community during the holiday season.
Our executive team joined us, staff, members of the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Houston: reVision, Youth SOULutions, elected officials representing Harris County and the City of Houston, and Mayor Sylvester Turner. The young people enjoyed a delicious Chinese lunch provided by State Representative Gene Wu. Great memories were created during this holiday party.
We are grateful for our wonderful staff and partnerships for the continued support to help make a difference in the lives of the young people we serve.
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Harris County Youth Village Graduate |
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An HCYV graduate took captivating photos with the HCYV horses Grace and Mercy shortly before his release in December!
As a reminder, our young people have the opportunity to work with the horses and help heal the horse from their trauma but themselves as well.
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Division Announcement
Andrea Rice is rejoining Residential Services as the Residential Process Manager. She will join Aaron Beasley, Residential Operations Manager, as part of our residential management team. Mr. Beasley will primarily focus on standards and day-to-day operational issues at our residential facilities, and Ms. Rice will focus on the services the youth receive as they move through our residential system.
Ms. Rice brings a wealth of experience from her previous time in Residential Services and her history in Field Services and Human Resources. Join us in welcoming her back to Residential Services!
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Determinate sentencing is a hybrid system that allows young people adjudicated for a serious offense to serve a portion of their sentence in the juvenile justice system. It may result in a youth serving time beyond their 19th birthday. Determinate sentencing is an alternative to certification, the goal of which is to give youth with a serious offense the opportunity to first begin rehabilitation within the juvenile justice system.
A youth adjudicated with a determinate sentence will either be sentenced to placement in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) or placed on probation. Probation can be up to 10 years with a total 40-year maximum, with possible transfer of supervision at age 19 to the adult criminal court for placement or community supervision.
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In each case, the juvenile court retains jurisdiction over the youth up until the youth turns 18 or 19 years old.
Determinate Sentencing Transfer hearings (Probation and/or TJJD) are held before the youth’s 19th birthday.
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Our public website has a new look!
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