Program:
Juvenile Justice, Chaplaincy, Character Counts, Life Skills
- Budget:
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$92,000
- Category:
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Crime & Legal
- Population Served:
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
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Offenders/Ex-offenders
Program Description:
NewDay has provided chaplains in the Tarrant County Civil Courts since 1997 and in the Tarrant County Juvenile Justice Center since 2000. These chaplains provide non-intrusive emotional support and encouragement to the children, adults and families as they experience the court system firsthand.
Program Long-Term Success:
The “Character Counts” began in 2002. It received its initial funding (2003-2006) from the Texas Governor’s Office through a grant from Safe and Drug Free Schools. NewDay has continued to fund the basic program through individuals, churches, and grants from the Adeline & George McQueen Foundation, Speedway Children’s Charities, Lockheed Martin AERO Club and the Ryan Foundation.
NewDay believes in the importance of this program and the positive impact on the lives of the juveniles. According to the Tarrant County Juvenile Services 2009 Annual Report, “The total number of felony referrals decreased by 24% from 2000 to 2009. In the last five years (2005-2009), the total number of felony referrals decreased by 18%. From 2008 to 2009, the total number of felony referrals decreased by 11%.
The “Character Counts!” program is unique from other crime prevention/intervention programs because it is the only one offered in the detention center where juveniles are faced with the consequences of their behavior and are actually prepared to listen to advice. Since the implementation of “Character Counts!” Level One behavior has increased to 49%
1) Over 30,000 character-related contacts by the chaplains have been made since the CC! implementation in 2002. Of those, approximately 24,000 have attended the CC! classes offered over the years.
2) From 2002 through Current 2010, an annual average of 43% of the detained juvenile population attained Level One status. By comparison, in 2002, the average was 41%, but in 2010 it has risen to 49%.
3) A total of 7,194 Prayers Bears have been donated on behalf of the compliant juveniles to sick and injured children at Cooks Children’s Medical Center since 2002 - as part of their community class.
4) Since 2006, when Life Skills classes were added to the CC! program, 87% qualified to return for Part Two and 80% qualified to return for Part Three.
Detained juveniles learn that they can change their behavior; having a positive impact on the community. Judges and probation officers are using participation in “Character Counts!” as an indicator regarding a juvenile’s commitment to change.
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Using information from the Detention Hearing Reports and the Distribution & Attendance Reports from the NewDay Chaplains Office’s, weekly status sheets containing number attending classes, percentage of Level One ratings and number of PrayerBears earned/delivered – will be maintained. NewDay staff will meet monthly to discuss any challenges the program has encountered and plan an adjustment response.
The program’s success will be measured by maintaining a Level One Behavior with a goal of 50% achieving Level One status. This serves as an indicator of self-control, better reasoning and a commitment to change – all of which will contribute to preventing the juvenile from re-offending after release. Tracking in the form of letters from juveniles to NewDay Chaplains will be encouraged. Previous letters state that, “…. I feel like hitting him but I am not going to do it”; and “I’m glad you wrote me back I’ve been doing good”; “I have not been getting in any trouble…”; “I am trying to get a job in welding.. I have welding classes”. Letters like these are proof that juveniles are redirecting their lives in a positive manner that is steering them away from violence and crime. They are considered a means of data collection and measurable outcomes. Pre and post test evaluations are administered to measure retention of information.
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Family Law Center Chaplaincy and Related Educational Classes
- Budget:
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$80,500
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Children and Youth (infants - 19 years.)
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Male Adults
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Female Adults
Program Description:
The Family Law Center program serves families by providing advocate/chaplaincy services within the courts. Additionally, there are educational classes to help families and individuals with life changes resulting from their encourter with the court system.
Program Long-Term Success:
NewDay Services was birthed in the Family Law Center, when the first Executive Director saw a great need to help families in crisis, due to separation, divorce, and break-ups. In 1997, he began meeting with families outside the court rooms for weeks and monthly on end. Eventually, judges in the courthouse invited he in after seeing his calming effect on the families. In 2002, NewDay was asked by the Texas Office of the Attorney General to develop a curriculum that judges could order fathers to attend, rather than send them to jail for non-payment of child support. The FOCUS(Fathers Offering Children Unfailing Support) Program continues today, after several over 2,000 fathers over the years. In 2010, the program was Field Tested by a local university (available upon request). While NewDay saw the drastic changes from week to week, the results of the studies have shown that the fathers pay more child support and, more importantly, have more quality time with their children. Additional programs at the Family Law Center developed over the last two years, Access Without Conflict and Time To Take Control, also show promising data
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Fatherhood Program - Fathers Learning their Value & Influence
- Budget:
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$287,102
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Male Adults
Program Description:
NewDay Services' Fatherhood Programs exist to help fathers connect with their children in meaningful ways while dealing proactively with life issues which threaten father/child relationships and child well-being.FOCUS Class for Fathers is a court-ordered class for men who have been placed on probation for failure to meet child support requirements; and it is a volunteer class for non-resident fathers of children in child welfare placements. FOCUS is a child-centered, masculine-based shared experience which provokes participants to reflect upon their desires to be strong, positive influences in their children’s lives while equipping them with tools to grow as a men and fathers. The FOCUS curriculum consists of 10 sessions totaling 20 hours and designed to be completed in successive order over ten weeks.
FOCUS began in partnership with Tarrant County IV-D Courts (child support) and Domestic Relations Office (DRO) Community Supervision Unit in 2002 under an Access and Visitation Grant from the Texas Office of Attorney General. Since then, FOCUS has enjoyed uninterrupted partnership with these agencies.
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NewDay has been placed in the position of helping to bring systemic change to the CPS system throughout the state of Texas. From 2008 – 2010, NewDay and Tarrant County CPS have been a part of a project called QIC-NRF. The QIC-NRF (Quality Improvement Center- Non Resident Fathers) project is collaboration with American Humane Association, Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services and NewDay Services. NewDay's previous and ongoing experience with the FOCUS program was a factor in DFPS's decision. This three year research project has been offering strategies for engaging fathers in child welfare cases as well as evidence on how the involvement of non-resident fathers of children in foster care impacts child safety, permanence, and well-being. Tarrant County through NewDay is one of four sites in the nation chosen for this project. Though the grant is over, he Child Protective Services Fatherhood Program is continuing with the complete support of CPS caseworkers, program directors and administrators.
Program Long-Term Success:
For FOCUS: In the 9 years of the program, well over 1,500 men have taken the FOCUS class for fathers. The average graduation rate is 80%. A recent audit by the OAG revealed graduates from FOCUS paid TWICE as much support during the 12 months following graduation than the previous 12 months. A 2009 study indicated 40% of fathers in the program substantially increased time spent with their children.
Most fathers in our CPS fatherhood program have experienced a dramatic increase in access and time spent with their children in CPS care. A number of them have gained custody. Data is currently being analysized by the American Humane Association (AHA) and will be available sometime after September, 2011 on the Children's Bureau website.
Studies shows on both programs that:
A. Men who graduate our fatherhood classes will indicate being at least 80% better equipped to engage the system (CPS & Legal system)
B. 50% of fathers will indicate an increase in time visiting with
their children in foster care.
C. Fathers engaged & trained will indicate a real change in their hearts, actions and behaviors. The following will indicate a change has taken place:
1. 2/3 of fathers indicate a willingness to work peaceably with their child's mother by the end of the course (if co-parenting)
2. 70% of men who begin the program will complete 7 of the 10 sessions in order to officially graduate
3. 2/3 of fathers indicate improvement in their
communication, co-parenting skills and understanding of
what is means to be a good father/husband
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Program:
Kids Quest
- Budget:
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$3,000
- Category:
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Human Services
- Population Served:
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Children Only (5 - 14 years)
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Youth/Adolescents only (14 - 19 years)
Program Description:
One of the heartbreaking aspects of famly break-up is seeing the effects on the children caught in the middle. In 2001, judges at the Family Law Center asked if NewDay would come up with a program that would help children through the crisis. The program was launched in January of 2002.
Kid’s Quest is a four hour workshop designed to help children and teenagers whose parents are going through divorce or family break-up. The goal is to get hurting children on a path to healing by helping them identify and communicate their feelings in positive ways. They realize that they are not to blame for the amily break-up and not alone in their experiences. Children leave encouraged.
For children, ages 4 – 17: They are divided into groups based on age. Ages 4 – 12 will rotate through a series of centers where they participate in crafts designed to help them identify feelings and validate them. Teens ages 13 – 17 hang out with caring leaders who listen and provide a safe place for them to xpress feelings and issues.
Program Long-Term Success:
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples: