Transcript Slide 1
Presenters Mary Hynes | Arlington County Board Abby Raphael | Arlington School Board Theo Stamos I Commonwealth’s Attorney John Andelin I Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Debby Taylor I Phoenix House OVERVIEW The problem(s) Our journey to create Second Chance What we needed to change Who we needed at the table The Second Chance program Preliminary results 2 THE PROBLEM(S) • Too many Arlington kids regularly engaged in binge drinking and marijuana use • Cavalier attitude among some parents • Community didn’t have a coordinated, proven approach to young transgressors • Inconsistent consequences from schools, courts and police department 3 OUR GOAL To reduce substance use among Arlington youth with an educational diversion program instead of school suspension and/or juvenile court involvement. 4 2006 2007 Community conducts Youth Risky Behavior Survey Results: Binge drinking for 10th and 12th graders 28% National average 25.5% Public Health conducts health stakeholders survey Binge drinking and substance use by young people identified as high priority 5 2008 County, Schools, Police, Courts and nonprofit agency Phoenix House collaborate to create an early intervention education program Goal defined: Substantially reduce the development of high-risk drinking and marijuana use among youth in Arlington by 2017 6 2009 Thirteen focus groups conducted to define parameters of the program and obtain buy-in. Key factors emerged: 1) Need for county-wide consistency of requirement for student participation 2) Need for a neutral location 3) Mandatory parental involvement Collaboration expanded to include key agencies and community partners 7 2010 Policy changes developed and approved by collaborators Conducted research for curriculum Developed curriculum Funding provided by Arlington County and The Century Council 2011 Monthly program launched in September Centrally located in fire station Four month pilot 8 2012 Process and outcome evaluation by an independent outside evaluator started 01/2012 2013 Partnership for Children Youth and Families Foundation becomes owner of the program and curriculum Arlington Public Schools becomes additional funder Program began its 3rd year September 9, 2013 9 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLS • Surveys • Process mapping • One-on-one interviews with key agency heads • Small focus groups – substance abuse counselors, police, principals, parents 10 WHAT POLICIES NEEDED TO CHANGE? • Arlington Public Schools • Arlington County Department of Human Services • Law enforcement • Courts 11 THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS • Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Foundation • Arlington Public Schools • Arlington County Police, Fire and Human Services Departments • Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court • Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families • Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic • Arlington READY Coalition 12 THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM • Substance abuse education for first time substance use offense by Arlington middle and high school-aged youth • Curriculum developed for submission as an evidencebased practice • Includes parents as well as youth • Addresses gaps in services • Provides alternatives for first offenses: • School – detention/suspension/expulsion • Law enforcement/courts - diversion 13 14 92% SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OVERALL Second Chance Successful Completions Second Chance Participants Successful Completions Unsuccessful Completions 198 102 96 93 183 90 9 6 SY 2012 - 91% SY 2013 - 94% 15 Total - 92% SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS DOWN 59% 2009-2010 • 49 students suspended for drug-related reasons 2012-2013 • 20 students suspended for drug-related offenses 16 9% RECIDIVISM - JUVENILE COURT REFERRALS OUTSIDE SCIENTIFICALLY VALID EVALUATION IN PROGRESS WHAT WE LEARNED • Be honest about the problem • Build support • Bring partners • Leave no stone unturned • We still have a problem… • But now we have a three-legged solution – a consistent message, education, parent involvement 19 CONTACT INFORMATION Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Foundation • John Andelin | [email protected] County Board • Mary Hynes | [email protected] School Board • Abby Raphael | [email protected] Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney • Theo Stamos | [email protected] Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic • Deborah Taylor | [email protected] 20 Thank You!