Juvenile Detention Alternatives Texas and Harris County Perspective Rebecca M. Beyda MD MS SAHM Conference, March 2014

O 5 year Texas commitment profile O Decline in number of youth institutionalized O 119 (15%) youth in 2013 were from Harris County O All commitments since 2008 are for felony offences New Commitment Profile Accessed 2/28/14http://

Texas Disposition Summary 2011 Griffiths, Mike. The State of Juvenile Probation Activity in Texas Calendar Year Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Austin, TX. November 2013.

New Commitment Profile Accessed 2/28/14http:// Kids Count Data Center Texas race?loc=45&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/868,867,133,38,35/66,67,68,69,70,71,12,72/423,424http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/103-child-population-by- race?loc=45&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/868,867,133,38,35/66,67,68,69,70,71,12,72/423,424

FISCAL YEAR IQ AT COMMITMENT AGE AT COMMITMENT LAST GRADE COMPLETED READING GRADE LEVEL AT COMMITMENT MATH GRADE LEVEL AT COMMITMENT yr5mo86yr4mo5yr2mo yr5mo86yr2mo5yr2mo yr4mo85yr9mo5yr2mo yr5mo85yr7mo5yr0mo New Commitment Profile Accessed 2/28/14http://

Harris County: includes Houston, TX Juvenile Justice Referrals

Harris County Juvenile Probation Department Harris County Juvenile Probation Department. 100 years of Evolution: 2012 Annual Report. Houston, TX. March 2013.

Opportunities for Diversion Referrals Arrests Detainees Screening calls Probation Risk assessment tool Parent contact Court hearing Probation

Juvenile probation programs Harris County

Community Probation Services Community Unit Probation Services (CUPS) CUPS 6: Female intervention program CUPS 7: Specialized program unit CUPS 9: Special Needs Diversionary Program

CUPS 6: Female Intervention Program O Community based intensive supervision programs for adjudicated girls O Focus: self-awareness, social skills, relationships, career education and counseling for youth and family O Activities: Job fairs, college campus tours, CPR classes, and equine therapy Probation Service Programs. Accessed 2/28/14http://

CUPS 7: Specialized Program Unit O Specific program for gang-involved youth O ROPES Program O Reality Orientation through Physical Experiences O Gang Awareness Program O Workshops: Anger management and decision making skills O Partner with City of Houston’s D-TAG program including free tattoo removal

CUPS 9: Special Needs Diversionary Program MHMRA-IDD service coordinator Juvenile Probation Officer Intellectual Developmental Disability Program Licensed mental health provider (MHMRA) Specialized Juvenile Probation Officer Community Based Stabilization Program

Other interventions On BELAY Building engagement, leadership and assets for youth Create youth leaders to foster community change Y.E.S. Youth Educational Shoplifting Program Home study course for youth and parent PACE Project Self- Esteem, Academics, Character Development and Employment Prep Classes for parents and youth

PACE Youth “I learned a lot out of the program. It is very positive and educational. The teachers are very active and good listeners. They make you feel very comfortable and open to be able to talk to them about everything. The time you spend is very much worth it.” T.W. (youth) “I enjoy coming each week and always take something home from the sessions.” M.J. (parent)

TRIAD O 24 hour intake center for youth ages 10 – 17 years O Collaboration of services O Assisted 1150 youth in 2012 Triad Prevention Program. Accessed 2/28/14http://

Summary O Many Texas and Harris County youth encounter the Juvenile Justice System O Strides towards diversion and evidence- based programming are taking place O Further efforts in prevention and more diversion opportunities are needed

You No matter what anyone tells you You are somebody You can be whatever you want to be And deep inside You have the ability to be The best person You can be Osike, age 14 Art and poetry from Children’s Prison Art Project workshops

Thank you O Harris County Juvenile Justice Center Medical staff, administrative staff and youth O Texas Juvenile Justice Department O Marilyn Broussard Webb, HCJJC Deputy Director/Field Services O TRIAD volunteers O Danielle E. Parrish, Ph.D., UH Graduate School of Social Work O Laura J. Benjamins, MD, MPH, HCJJC Medical Director O Titilola Balogun, UTHSC School of Public Health O Martin Nguyen, UTHSC School of Public Health