THINK. LEARN. DECIDE. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM 10.15.2013 Presenters Mary Hynes | Arlington County Board Abby Raphael | Arlington School.

THIN

K. LEARN. D

ECIDE.

ARLINGTO

N, VIR

GINIA

SECOND C

HANCE PROGRAM

10.15.

2013

PresentersPresenters

Mary Hynes | Arlington County Mary Hynes | Arlington County BoardBoard

Abby Raphael | Arlington School Abby Raphael | Arlington School BoardBoard

Theo Stamos I Commonwealth’s Theo Stamos I Commonwealth’s AttorneyAttorney

John Andelin I Partnership for John Andelin I Partnership for Children, Children, Youth and Youth and FamiliesFamilies

Debby Taylor I Phoenix HouseDebby 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

HISTO

RY

5

HISTO

RY

6

HISTO

RY

7

HISTO

RY

8

HISTO

RY

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLS

• Surveys• Process mapping• One-on-one interviews with key

agency heads• Small focus groups – substance

abuse counselors, police, principals, parents

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WHAT POLICIES NEEDED TO CHANGE?

• Arlington Public Schools• Arlington County Department of

Human Services• Law enforcement• Courts

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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

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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 evidence-based practice

• Includes parents as well as youth

• Addresses gaps in services

• Provides alternatives for first offenses:•School – detention/suspension/expulsion• Law enforcement/courts - diversion

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PRELIM

INARY R

ESULT

S

IS IT

WORKIN

G?

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92% SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OVERALL

Second Chance Successful Completions

102 96

198

93 90

183

9 6 15

SY 2012 - 91% SY 2013 - 94% Total - 92%

Second Chance Participants Successful Completions Unsuccessful Completions

SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS DOWN 59%

2009-2010• 49 students suspended for drug-

related reasons

2012-2013• 20 students suspended for drug-

related offenses

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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

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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]

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THIN

K. LEARN. D

ECIDE.

ARLINGTO

N, VIR

GINIA

SECOND C

HANCE PROGRAM

Thank You!Thank You!