Department: Juvenile Probation
Department Head/Elected Official: Henry Gonzales, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Grant
Project ID (if applicable):
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable):
MWDBE Contracted Goal (if applicable):
MWDBE Current Participation (if applicable):
Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
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Request by Juvenile Probation for approval to submit an application to the U.S. Department of Justice/Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for grant funds in the amount of $999,992, with no required match, for the Transition Center - Opportunity Center Enhancement Program.
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Background and Discussion:
To address negative outcomes of youth detention, Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) proposes to expand and enhance its Education Transition Center (ETC), which is a one-stop community school for justice involved youth. HCJPD will ask Judges to change custody of youth who would otherwise be sent to detention to the ETC on a probationary basis, in effect utilizing the program as a diversion alternative to detention. The ETC would expand its hours of service to allow for a full day of activities, and also enhance the array of services and educational programs provided as well as the base of community partners and stakeholders involved. At the end of the day, youth would return home rather than to a detention center.
Expected Impact:
When weighed against negative outcomes of incarceration, the expanded/enhanced ETC's program will serve as a successful alternative. ETC will promote positive behavior change as measured by our school-based reward system, address existing delinquency factors, decrease the recidivism risk, and effect long-term successful re-entry by increasing the number of GEDs obtained, vocational training provided, and other referrals to the labor market.
Alternative O...
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