CONNECTING WITH A PURPOSE A Seamless Transition Model Texas Youth Commission

Thomas Fuller, M.ED., L.P.C. Manager, Educational Liaisons June Richmond, M.ED., M.S.W. Special Educational Liaison Bobby King, M.S. Educational Liaison Edna B. Martinez, B.A.T. Educational Liaison x405 Wendy Gable, M.A. Educational Liaison Texas Youth Commission Presenters:

TYC Facilities Approximately 7,800 Youth in Texas are incarcerated in institutions, contract care facilities, halfway houses or are on parole. Successful completion of the TYC program involves completion of the resocialization process and movement through four phases of treatment. TYC’s goal is successful transition to the community for each youth.

Phase Assessment Team (PAT) Each TYC youth’s progress is reviewed: Every 30 calendar days Within the three resocialization areas In terms of the four phases to be reached for success

Resocialization Process A Academic & Workforce Development CORRECTIONAL THERAPY Behavior BC

EDUCATIONAL GOALS College Vo-Tech Program/ On-site work High School Diploma GED TYC Facility Post Secondary

Youth are given a copy of their withdrawal record upon release from a state facility, contract facility or halfway house. In addition, copies must be sent to the parole officer and appropriate educational liaison within 24 hours. First things first!

The Best Solution Students who have earned a GED and are wishing to return to public school to earn a diploma or attend college are assisted in doing so. Youth of compulsory school age are encouraged to complete their high school diploma upon release. Number of prior credits earned and the age of the youth are used in making this consideration…but each case is considered on its own merits

Transition to Parole: Our strength lies in collaboration and cooperation A Seamless Educational Transition for Adjudicated Youth Requires Cooperation Between:  State Facilities  Local Education Agencies (LEAs)  Parole Officers  Educational Liaisons  Youth  Parents/Guardians

We’ve got you covered! All 254 counties of Texas are served by an Educational Liaison and a Special Educational Liaison

Cheroke e Bosque Hunt Camp Hutchin- son Dallam Sherman Hansford Ochiltree Lipscomb Hartley Moore Roberts Hemphill Oldham Potte r Carson Gray Wheeler Deaf Smith Randall Armstrong Donley Collings worth Parmer Castro Swisher Briscoe Hall Child- ress BaileyLamb Hale Floyd Motley Cottle Hardeman Foard Cochran Hockley Lubbock Crosby Dickens King Knox Yoakum Terry LynnGarza Kent Stone- wall Haskell Gaines Dawson Borden Scurry Fisher Jones Andrews Martin Howard Mitchell Nolan Taylor WinklerEctor Midland Glasscock Sterlin g Coke Runnels Ward Crane Upton Reagan Irion Tom Gree n Concho Pecos Crockett Schleicher Sutton Menard Kimble Terrell Val Verde ElPaso Hudspeth Culberson Reeves Jeff Davis Presidio Brewster Edwards Kinney Uvalde Real Kerr Bandera Medina Gillespie Maso n McCulloch San Saba Llano Blanco Kendall Bexar Maverick Zavala Dimmit Frio LaSalle Webb Atascosa Mc- Mullen Duval Zapata Jim Hogg Starr Brooks Hidalg o Cameron Willacy Kenedy Nueces Kleberg Jim Wells Live Oak San Patricio Bee Refugi o Aransas Goliad Victoria Calhoun Karne s Wilson DeWitt Jackson Lavaca Gonzales Guadalup e Comal Matagorda Wharton Colorado Brazoria Ft. Bend Austin Harris Waller Fayette Caldwell Hays Travi s Burnet William son Bastrop Lampasas Mills Bell Coryell Hamilton Coleman Brown Comanche Callahan Eastland Erath Somer vell McLennan Falls Milam Lee Washington Burleson Robertson Hill Limestone Leon Brazos Grimes Madison Freestone Montgomery Walker San Jacinto Trinity Shackel- ford Stephens Palo Pinto Hood Johnson Ellis Navarro Parke r Tarrant Dallas Kaufman Rock Wall Henderson Anderson Smith Van Zandt Throck- Morton Young Jack Wise Denton Collin Rains Wood Hopkins Upshu r Gregg Rusk Franklin TitusTitus Morris Panola Harrison Marion Nacogdoches Polk Tyler Hardin Liberty Chambers Jefferso n Orange Jasper Newton San Augustine Sabine Shelby Wilbarger Baylor Wichita Archer Clay Montague Cooke Grayson Fannin Lamar Delta Cass Bowie Red River Galveston Loving Angelina Clyde McClatchey 2462 E. Long Ave. Ft. Worth, Texas Fax: 817/ Edna B. Martinez 6400 E.MLK Blvd. Austin, Texas Fax: Vernon Broussard & Ada Tasso 3930 Kirby Drive Ste.200 Houston, Texas Fax: Wendy Gable 1575 W. Mockingbird Ln. Ste.650 Dallas, Texas Fax: Max Schwarz 321 N. Center Ste.W-106 San Antonio, Texas Fax: 210/ Jenella Durham 1810 W. Jefferson Harlingen, Texas Fax: 956/ Houston

Educational Liaisons: Roles and Responsibilities Records retrieval Communication with: youth parents guardians parole officers school personnel Clarification of education law Involved in GED Preparation and Testing Assist parole officers to understand educational terminology and processes Enrollment assistance for youth in: public schools special education GED programs higher education work programs Review of educational programs and services at TYC contract care facilities and halfway houses

Target Population: Data are compiled and regular reports are generated about TYC youth who are:  of compulsory school age,  in need of a GED or diploma  students with disabilities, not currently enrolled in a formal educational program

Youth with disabilities in the aftercare process who do not have a diploma or GED are entered in the Special Education Tracking System Three databases are maintained: Under 18 Over 18 No longer active

Examples of Data Tracking Distribution of youth by type of placement and disability Identification of youth who are not enrolled or receiving special education

Pitfalls and Possibilities in the Seamless Transition Process

Pitfalls for TYC Youth You don’t live in our district… That class isn’t being offered right now… It’s the wrong time of the year… Is it safe to have this youth in our school?

Possibilities for TYC Youth Youth completes FAFSA and financial assistance application Parole Officers present a recommendation Student meets Student Expectation guidelines Youth must demonstrate aptitude for and interest in higher education Youth must successfully complete the THEA (Texas Higher Education Assessment)

Avenues of Opportunity Welding Auto Mechanics Computer Technology Barber School Health Occupations Building Trades

Workforce Development Collaborates with: Parole Educational Liaisons Community based organizations Workforce development boards AND Provides specialized transitional aftercare workers in three parole offices

A comprehensive strategy coordinated with: Resocialization program Specialized treatment Educational programs It includes workforce development programs and linkages with community based organizations (CBO's) for additional training, supportive services, and employment assistance during aftercare. Workforce Development at TYC

Offer students a variety of opportunities to obtain skills necessary to make their transfer back into society successful, such as: Employability Skills Training through the Project RIO-Y (Reintegration of Offenders) Program On-the-job Training and Employment Experience through the Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE) and Campus Work Programs Occupational Skills Training through our Career & Technology Education (CATE) Programs Workforce Development Programs at TYC

Outcome Measures TYC tracks the number of youth who are:  Enrolled in School  Enrolled in GED preparation classes  Enrolled in a post-secondary program  Entering the workforce and earning a wage  Demonstrating responsible citizenship These measures, when met, result in a positive discharge and reduced recidivism.