Office on Youth Kennedy Lane, Suite 100 Fredericksburg, Virginia

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1 Serving the Greater Fredericksburg Region by promoting healthy and responsible behavior in youth and young adults by supporting families and providing programs that encourage positive development for over 25 years. Office on Youth Kennedy Lane, Suite 100 Fredericksburg, Virginia ; Ben Nagle; Office on Youth. All contents property of Office on Youth. Cover photo Rappahannock River by Sagansapien flickr.

2 Office on Youth The Office on Youth is a regional commissioned agency serving the City of Fredericksburg, and the Counties of Spotsylvania and Stafford, with additional services provided to the Counties of Caroline, Essex, King George, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland. The Rappahannock Area Youth Services and Group Home Commission is the Board of Directors appointed by each locality of our main service area to oversee the activities of the Office on Youth, and its divisions. Members are appointed by the respective Boards of Supervisors of each locality. One member must be an elected official of the Board, the second is the County Administrator or his/her designee. The Commission appoints three additional members of the community who have a professional tie to the Office s work to serve as Advisory Council Members. The chair of the Advisory Council serves as the seventh voting member of the Commission. The agency is organized into four (4) separate units. The Administrative Services Division comprises the oversight and support division for the three (3) programmatic divisions the Fredericksburg Regional Division, the Northern Neck Regional Division, and the Residential Services Division. Each programmatic unit is responsible for serving a different segment of the population. Overviews of each division and the services provided by each are contained in the following pages. Rappahannock Area Youth Services & Group Home Commission Mr. Gary Snellings, Chairman Stafford County Dr. Tim Duffy, Vice Chairman City of Fredericksburg Ms. Gail Crooks Ms. Donna Krauss Mr. Gary Skinner Spotsylvania County Stafford County Spotsylvania County Mr. Mark Whitley Mr. Bill Hefty Mr. Brendan Hefty City of Fredericksburg Legal Counsel Legal Counsel Advisory Council Ms. Christen Gallik 1 st Sgt. Rob Pomeroy Ms. Sarah Reid City of Fredericksburg Stafford County Spotsylvania County

3 Administrative Services Division The Office on Youth s Administrative Services Division was created in 2014 to serve as the administrative headquarters of the agency. This division houses the agency s executive leadership and provides support to the agency s programmatic divisions. Director s Message: Another year has come and gone. It seems that time continues to fly past, regardless of our attempts to slow it down. I ve entered my 13 th year as the Executive Director. The agency is very different than when I started. The youth and families we serve have ever changing and complex problems that challenge all of our systems in new ways. Indeed, our world is a different place. We continue to be hopeful that our services will provide much needed education and valuable skills to the youth and families we serve, and as we move forward, we attempt to instill hope for a brighter future. Thank you to all of those agencies and individuals who partner with us each and every day. We value your efforts and your consistent support! Yours in Service, ~Ben Nagle AGENCY REVENUE SOURCES Benefits 11% State & Local Govt 96% Personnel 56% Operating 27% Other 4% AGENCY EXPENSE CATEGORIES Other 6% Client Fees 1% Other 3% Capital 4% Other 2% Administrative Services Division Staff Benjamin J. Nagle, Executive Director Amy DeMatteo, Office Manager Kimberly Koon, Administrative Assistant Melanie Lee, Administrative Services Specialist

4 Fredericksburg Regional Division The Office on Youth s Fredericksburg Regional Division serves the City of Fredericksburg, and the surrounding Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford, and occasionally Orange County. Programs offered through this division include Anger Management, Community Service Work, Restorative Justice, and Substance Abuse Services. The table below represents the overall numbers of referrals per locality for FY2017. Locality Anger Community Restorative Substance Management Service Justice Abuse Services Total Caroline Fredericksburg King George Spotsylvania Stafford Other Orange Referral Totals Fredericksburg Regional Division Staff Deb Lokrantz, Fredericksburg Regional Program Director Linda Vohs, Case Manager Wafeeq Amin, Facilitator Roy Branklin, Facilitator Ryan Buckley, Facilitator Sandra Corvin, Facilitator Olivia Hildebrand, Facilitator Kimberley Merritt, Facilitator Claudia Sisk, Facilitator Shela White, Facilitator Anger Management Program Overview Designed around a research-based curriculum, incorporating topics and discussions from Skillstreaming the Adolescent, an additional evidence-based curriculum, this program presents enrolled youth with the awareness of personal triggers and cues for anger, and positive and negative thought process. Skill-building focuses around healthy communication, conflict management and resolution, empathy, relaxation and stress management, along with the thought processes necessary to successfully manage anger without resorting to violence. The classes are presented over six weeks in weekly, two hour sessions. Referred youth must attend all sessions to complete the program, though one make-up session is offered. Parent(s)/guardian(s) may be required to attend one or more sessions of this course. This program is available to all localities in our main service area and referrals are accepted from any agency, school, or private provider within the region, and parents may refer their own child. There is a $50 intake fee that is required prior to enrollment. Average age at referral is 16.3 years old. Participants are 51.4% male, and 40.5% white, 48.6% black. Stafford County referred the most youth in FY17 (22 referrals out of 37). 96.2% of enrolled clients complete the program successfully. 60.0% of participants showed an increase in knowledge from pre to post-test.

5 Community Service Work Program Overview The Community Service Work Program is the Office on Youth s longest-running program. The program is a structured and supervised means for youth to complete community service hours, who are courtordered to do so. Projects are community-based and occur throughout the Region in each locality. CSW sites are rotated among the three main localities. This program is available to all localities in our main service area. There is an intake fee that is required prior to enrollment, based on the hours ordered. Average age at referral is 16.2 years old. Participants are 79.6% male, and 33.3% white, 53.8% black. Stafford County referred the most youth in FY17 (38 referrals out of 93). Activities for FY17 2,893 hours ($86,674.28) Stafford County Litter Program - 25 service days, 1,650 hours ($44,484.00), and 672 bags of trash; Spotsylvania County Litter Program - 6 service days, 173 hours ($4,664.08), and 423 bags of trash; Rappahannock Goodwill Industries 830 hours; Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank 160 hours; Earth Day (Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation) - 40 hours; and Riverfest (Friends of the Rappahannock) - 40 hours. Restorative Justice Services Overview Based on restorative principles and practices that help the offender build empathy and understanding for victims of crime, the Restorative Justice Class offers group activities and discussions that were adapted from activities developed by the U.S. Department of Justice s Office of Victims of Crime and the Richmond Peace Education Center. Students focus on the harmful effects of crime and the process of victimization, while learning about accountability and healthy decision-making. As an alternate option to an RJ class, Restorative Conferences have been added to our programming. A Restorative Conference is an interactive, facilitator-led group discussion involving the offender, victim, family members, and others affected, allowing for increased empathy and understanding. A list of the offender's harm-repairing obligations is created by all participants and distributed to all attending the circle. Through a partnership with Spotsylvania County Schools, Restorative Justice has been written into their Code of Conduct SY The classes are presented over six weeks in weekly, two hour sessions. Referred youth must attend all sessions to complete the program, though one make-up session is offered. This program is available to all localities in our main service area. There is a $50 intake fee that is required prior to enrollment. Average age at referral is 16.0 years old. Participants are 79.2% male, and 36.1% white, 52.8% black. Spotsylvania County referred the most youth in FY17 (32 referrals out of 72). 94.9% of enrolled clients complete the program successfully.

6 Substance Abuse Services Overview All clients referred for Substance Abuse Services will be assessed for risk and need, in order to be placed appropriately. OOY staff members administer an Adolescent Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory (SASSI-A2) and a urine drug screen on every client at intake. Should the client score in the high risk range for substance use or abuse, or test positive for any substance, the client immediately receives a clinical assessment by a member of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB) clinical staff. The youth will be placed in the most appropriate service (education or treatment) based on this assessment. Both programs are based on the Words Can Work curriculum, a clinical intervention designed to prevent drug use among young people in grades 5-12 by positively changing the attitudes of youth and their parents regarding the use of drugs. This intervention includes a 30-minute video and discussion guide which include 2 personal stories from teens who have experienced harmful effects associated with drug use. It also explores how families can work together to help teenagers abstain from drug use, possibilities for teenagers to recover from drug dependence, and how making smart choices can save lives. Group sessions cover topics like dependence, addiction, prescription drug abuse, trying to get clean, and recovery. It also incorporates the family and open communication within the family about teenage drug use. Assessments are available to all localities in our main service area and referrals are accepted from any agency, school, or private provider within the region that feels this service may be of benefit to a youth they are currently serving, and parents may also refer their own child. Education sessions are presented over eight weeks in weekly, one hour sessions; treatment sessions are presented over ten weeks. Referred youth and a parent must attend all sessions to be compliant, with make-up sessions offered. Weekly urine drug screens are performed to maintain accountability. There is a $60 intake fee that is required prior to enrollment. Spotsylvania County referred the most youth in FY17 (34 referrals out of 59) Average age at referral is 16.7 years old. Participants are 66.1% male, and 59.3% white, 35.6% black. 86.9% of enrolled clients complete the program successfully. 52.8% of participants showed an increase in knowledge from pre to post-test. 70% of why anyone changes a negative health behavior is because of the person who connects with them and inspires them to change it. Relationship is the evidence-based practice. ~ Dr. Allison Jackson

7 Northern Neck Regional Division The Office on Youth s Northern Neck Regional Division serves the Counties of Essex, Lancaster, Northumberland, Richmond, and Westmoreland. Programs offered through this division include Anger Management, Community Service Work, Electronic Monitoring, Life Skills, and Substance Abuse Services. The table below represents the overall numbers of referrals per locality for FY2017. Locality Anger Community Electronic Substance Life Management Service Monitoring Abuse Services Skills Total Essex Lancaster Northumberland Richmond Westmoreland Referral Totals Northern Neck Regional Division Staff Mike MacNamara, Northern Neck Regional Program Director Malcolm Weldon, Northern Neck Program Specialist Kevin Garner, Life Skills Coach Larry Willis, Life Skills Coach Anger Management Program Overview The Anger Management Program in the Northern Neck is implemented in smaller group sessions as the client based is so widespread in the Northern Neck Division. Often, staff work with the school divisions in that region to provide sessions within the school system for 3 or 4 clients. The curriculum has been modified to work with smaller groups of youth. This program is available to all localities in the Northern Neck Region. There are no intake fees in the Northern Neck Region. Average age at referral is 14.8 years old. Outcomes for this program are not tracked separately from the Fredericksburg Region at this time. Community Service Program Overview As in the Fredericksburg Region, the Community Service Program in the Northern Neck is a structured and supervised means for youth to complete community service hours, who are court-ordered to do so. Projects are community-based and occur throughout the Region in each locality. This program is available to all localities in the Northern Neck Region. There are no intake fees in the Northern Neck Region. Average age at referral is 16.6 years old. Outcomes for this program are not tracked separately from the Fredericksburg Region at this time. Northumberland County referred the most youth for FY17 (17 referrals out of 48) Participants are 81.3% male, and 41.7% white, 56.3% black.

8 Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Program Overview The Electronic Monitoring & Surveillance Program consists of the Electronic Incarceration Program (EIP) and Surveillance. EIP is intended to provide a community-based alternative to secure detention for low and moderate risk clients pending a court appearance. Participants are fitted with a monitoring system and receive regular visits from a staff member to monitor compliance. Surveillance is used to monitor compliance with house arrest or curfew, for those youth who are under a court order to comply with such terms. Both programs also provide drug screening as a component of the monitoring. This program is available to all localities in the Northern Neck Region. There is no client fee for this program. Outcomes for this program are measured by the number of youth who remain in the community until their scheduled court appearance (completion), and the number of youth who incur additional charges while under supervision (recidivism). Westmoreland County referred the most youth in FY17 (12 referrals out of 34). Average age at referral is 16.2 years old. Participants are 76.5% male, and 47.1% white, 44.1% black. Life Skills Program Overview The Life Skills Program was previously known as Mentoring. Though it is still a mentoring program, the curriculum and activities undertaken by the matched pairs are geared toward life skill development, such as employment, academic, social skills, decision making, and behavior management. All activities are oneto-one with a client and a life skills coach. Evaluations are conducted with each client at the close of the program. This program is available to all localities in the Northern Neck Region. There is no client fee for this program. Westmoreland County referred the most youth for FY17 (4 referrals out of 10) Average age at referral is 15.9 years old. Participants for FY17 were 100.0% male, and 10.0% white, 80.0% black. For cases closing in FY16, 80% of parents reported that the service made a positive impact on their child. The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

9 Residential Services Division Chaplin Youth Center is a 12 bed, community-based, residential facility serving male and female youth ages 12-17, licensed by the Department of Juvenile Justice. Chaplin provides 24-hour supervision in a safe and structured environment, where residents are supported and encouraged to develop healthy, responsible behaviors. The table below represents the overall placements per locality for FY2017. Locality Shelter Care Group Home Total Fredericksburg Spotsylvania Stafford King George Referral Totals Residential Services Division Staff Tom Keating, Residential Services Director Jessica Wince, Residential Case Manager Natasha Benefield, Residential Counselor Monica Brown, Residential Counselor Ronald Chapman, Residential Counselor Steven Davis, Residential Counselor Allen Harris, Residential Counselor Don McLaurine, Residential Counselor Adam Mickens, Residential Counselor Julia Morales, Residential Counselor Robert Oakes, Residential Counselor Shelter Care Services Shelter Care Services are short-term and emergency placements for youth pending disposition on a juvenile charge. Youth may be placed via a Shelter Care Order either by the court or Intake Officer. Youth placed under Shelter Care Services will be often be discharged to home, with supportive services, or transitioned into the Group Home Program within 60 days. Post Dispositional Group Home Program The Group Home Program is designed for youth who require a less restrictive placement than secure detention but are unable to remain in their homes due to their behaviors or criminal involvement. Youth move through a level system designed to develop healthy, responsible behaviors and positive decisionmaking skills. Youth at the upper levels may earn weekend home visits that assist with family reintegration. Once a youth reaches Level 4, they begin the transition period to returning home. Youth remain in the program an average of 6 months (about 200 days). FY2017 Outcome Data Total Placements 34 (SC - 16 / GH - 18) Overall Utilization Rate 64% (2,784 Total Bed Days) Average Daily Population 7.63 Average Age at Referral 16.0 years Successful Discharge Rate 92.31% (SC) / 63.64% (GH)

10 My Life Mentoring & Leadership Program The My Life Mentoring and Leadership Program served nine (9) teens from King George in FY17. David Hughes, a former My Life youth and KGHS 16 graduate is now an adult volunteer in the program! Four of our mentors graduated from KGHS in Awards were presented at KGHS to Hayley Bland for 714 volunteer hours, Nick Horsman for 996 hours, Savannah Haynes for 438 hours, and Tatyana Burrell for 845 hours. These mentors donated hundreds of hours as workshop facilitators, peer educators, and positive role models to the younger program participants. They received many hours of training in group facilitation, conflict resolution, and social justice issues. They are each committed to working to better their community and their world. Through the OOY s partnership with the Richmond Peace Education Center (RPEC), the teens have been active in the Richmond Youth Peace Project (RYPP), attending monthly RYPP meetings to explore topics related to diversity, historical events, food deserts and agriculture, equality, and helped to plan the annual Generation Dream concert. Five mentors created and led workshops at the Richmond Youth Peace Summit on Healthy Relationships, Anger Management, and LGBTQ issues. Many also attended a 2-day RPEC training called Help Increase the Peace (HIP) where they obtained more advanced conflict resolution skills. The My Life mentors presented a panel discussion at the statewide Building Healthy Futures Prevention Conference hosted by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance for prevention practitioners from Virginia and other states. Six of our mentors showed a slide show about the My Life program and answered questions about how prevention programming has changed their lives. Six mentors attended a Youth Activist s Camp at Wayside Center in August 2016, where some of them served as co-facilitators for group discussions with all teen participants. They also attended a workshop offered by the Earthwalk Center in Stafford called Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Therapy), where they learned how nature can help teens to de-stress and cultivate a sense of calm. Octavia Walker, Zeyno Aksit, and Tim Carter attended the 2-week Global Youth Village in Bedford VA where they networked with other teen leaders from all over the world, and explored cultural humility and conflict resolution in a diverse setting. Funding for this opportunity was provided by Legacy International, the Opp Shop, and Birchwood Power Partners. We are very proud of the accomplishments of these students who have been working to become positive youth leaders since they started in the My Life After School Program in 7 th grade. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it s the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead