Bay County
Juvenile Justice Council Meeting
3/7/12
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT
Bryan Russell (Bay County Dept. of Health), Randy Jordan (Teen Court), Michael Johnson (City of Panama
City/ASAP), Susan Rodger (St. Atty’s Office), Kelly Bowen (Bridging the Gap), Connie Evans (Bay County
Sheriff’s Office), Janessa Hart (Anchorage Children’s Home), Scott Ervin (Panama City Police Dept.), Marquita
McCollum (Anchorage Children’s Home), Wayne Maddox (Panama City Beach Police Dept.), Melanie
McGowin (Bay District Schools), Leon Miller (Community Citizen), David Murphree (Bridging the Gap), Kim
Russ (Bay District Schools), Leanne Schmitt (Big Brother/Big Sister), Tammy Stewart (Bay County Health
Dept), Bonnie Steelman (Bay County Health Dept.), David Taylor (CARE), Ann Wing (Florida Therapy
Services), Suzy Nadler (Healthy Start), Naret Morales (Anchorage Children’s Home), Barbara Moore
(Catholic Charities), Linda Wilson (CARE) .
DJJ STAFF PRESENT:
Wanda Jackson (DJJ-Probation), Lydia Breaux-Davis (DJJ-Prevention), Marcia Reightnour (DJJ-Probation),
Fred Womack (DJJ-Probation), Kathy Parrish (DJJ-Probation), Beth Carr (DJJ-Probation), Shelley
McKinney (DJJ-Probation).
ITEM #1 – CALL MEETING TO ORDER:
11:40 a.m. – Meeting called to order by Chair, Bryan Russell.
11:45 a.m. – Motion to accept minutes by Randy Jordan, seconded by Mike Johnson.
ITEM #2 – UPDATES
Youth Alcohol Coalition - Prevention Partnership Grant - Bay District Schools has been awarded this
grant for the past several years – it is now time to renew. DCF should be announcing a new RFP soon.
It’s geared towards life skills training, drug & alcohol prevention, education, etc. As soon as information
is received as to date applications are being accepted, the Council will be advised.
Q: Does the RFP require letters of support from the Council? A: Yes, the grant does require some
evidence of working with an approved community-based drug & alcohol abuse coalition with a good,
solid community action plan.
School District Surveys - A survey for the School Districts has been developed for grades 5 through 12
students to complete – awaiting School District approval. Once the District has blessed the survey, will
place in the hands of the teachers to distribute among students. This is an initiative by the Florida Youth
Substance Abuse Survey. Surveys are very in depth and completed every 2 years on the even years.
This is a collaborative effort between the Florida departments of Health, Education, Children and
Families, Juvenile Justice, and the Governor’s Office of Drug Control, and is based on the “communities
that care” survey, assessing risk and protective factors for substance abuse. Every other year, every
middle and high school in the State participates. A lot of the prevention groups and coalitions obtain
good data trends on alcohol, drug and tobacco use. There are also questions about gang roles on the
survey. Usually see results in December.
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Q: Would past data for Bay County be available for review? A: Yes, 2010 data is available – you can
Google: BayCountyFYSAS. You will also be able to see good hard data and trends’ dating back to 2002
as this was the first year the survey was completed.
Invest in Children’s License Plates
There have been several discussions over the last (2) years about “Invest in Children” license plates and
the money accumulated from the collections of dollars for Bay County. Based on F.S., dollars collected
are to be returned to the County and used towards prevention services – we have not received these
funds in over 5 years.
Recently, there was an announcement that funding is available to each County. Funds available for this
award are a combination of FY2010-11 “Invest in Children” tag collections and accumulated proceeds
from the license tax surcharge. Since “Invest in Children” license plate fees collected and any interest
earned on these fees are subject to an 8% service charge in accordance with Section 215.20, F.S.,
counties may not receive 100% of the proceeds collected from the sale of these license plates.
Available to Bay County is $14,700. The department is looking for a list of needs of services for children
in the individual counties related to delinquency prevention and intervention services. This list must be
submitted to DJJ by COB March 9, 2012. Hopefully, today we can have some conversations that will help
generate this list of services. Once the department receives a list from every county, they will announce
either an RFI or RFQ based on that list.
Suggestion – using the funds for a social media campaign – could use as a prevention strategy.
Response – because that is a form of advertising, not sure if this is an eligible service, but will add to
the list.
Programs like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and ASAP deal with youth before they reach the system – this is
where the need seems to be – dealing with those kids. Things to add to the list should identify the types
of services like this as a top priority.
Suggestion – send an e-mail list out to the entire Council based on today’s conversation and see if
anyone wants to add anything to the list. The result will hopefully identify those needs that tie into the
prevention plan outlined for the County.
Q: Is the department forwarding a template? A: No, it is a very informal e-mail addressed to Yvonne
Woodard that lists the needs identified for your County.
Motion made to add Big Brothers/Big Sisters and ASAP to the list; seconded by Bryan Russell. A
recommendation was made to add Boys and Girls Club to the list - Mike Johnson made a personal
statement that he took offense to recommending organizations that neither participate nor regularly
attend Council and Board meetings. Organizations have a tendency to “show up” when funding
becomes available, but at no other time.
Q: From a probation standpoint, do you see a need for additional substance abuse or mental health
programs based on the kids you deal with daily? A: Always. We all are dealing with families that are
stressed beyond belief – emotionally, financially and in every way, and with the mental health needs
of the kids being seen are a reflection of what’s going on in the household. The mental health needs
of these kids are significant. But many times, there is substance abuse and mental health issues in the
entire household which is why the department is trying to get a lot of communication out there that
determines what services are needed and what can be provided.
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Q: Is there a way to incorporate the schools, or get the schools to do some type of prevention services
during the day? After School programs are able to address prevention and intervention after the school
day has ended. A: Will find out if something can be done.
Other questions forwarded to DJJ headquarters on February 24th & 28th as a result of the recent funding
announcement:
Q1: Does this represent collections for FY10-11 only, or for the past (3) years? - A: Only for FY 10-11
Q2: How was the $412,903 derived and is that figure added to the $1.2 million dollar supplemental
which would total $1,612,903? - A: Yes
Q3: Where did the supplemental $1.2 come from? - A: Community Partnership
Q4: It was also stated there will be awards of less than $35,000 distributed statewide – how does this
apply to counties (Brevard, Broward, Dade, Duval, Escambia, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Osceola, Palm
Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Seminole and Volusia) that are eligible to receive higher amounts based on
the list? - A: The amount of each individual award will be capped at $35, 000. Counties with award
amounts over $35,000 will submit multiple proposals.
Q5: Regarding the list of services, in accordance with Florida Statutes license plate funds can only be
used for prevention. Are there services the department would consider ineligible? Could you give
examples? - A: At this time, we can’t think of any services that would be ineligible. We look forward to
receiving the list of service needs for your county.
Q: In response to question #1 (February 24, 2012), what has happened with the funds from FY08-09 and
09-10? At the Circuit Board meeting in October 2011, we were told the RFP was going to include funds
from the last (3) years. Why can't these funds be announced all at once? - A: Currently, the department
doesn’t have sufficient budget authority to award funding for previous fiscal years.
Q: This means there is a $99,503 discrepancy between the list and the sum of $1.2 million and $412,903.
A: Yes, there is a $99,503 discrepancy. All funds available will be fairly divided among all 67 counties
when the formal request for information (RFI) is issued.
Q: Also, where does the department stand with the SAG? Names were submitted by Bay County and
only (1) person received some acknowledgement. If we continue to forward names and nothing is done,
the momentum and enthusiasm of the individual recommended is lost. - A: The Executive Office of the
Governor is currently reviewing all applications.
ITEM #3 – PROGRAM UPDATES
DOH – Because this legislative session does not end until March 9th, unsure how the department’s
budget will be affected. The state is getting a new Surgeon General - current Surgeon General is
stepping down because wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Also working on the “Walking School
Bus” initiative along with the “Safe Routes to School” initiative which targets parents walking to school
with students – less likely to be approached by gang or gang members or having to deal with other
crime issues; health and safety related childhood obesity; increasing or bettering their education by
walking. The “Safe Routes to School” initiative is a partnership between Patronis, County and FDOT.
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Will be building a sidewalk behind Patronis Elementary to connect those (2) neighborhoods as opposed
to riding a bus to school every day.
DJJ - Detention Screening Unit - The County Council and Circuit Board has been very instrumental in
making the detention screening unit happen. Pleased to announce that the detention screening unit is
ready to gear up and ready to open doors March 16, 2012. Will have coverage after 5:00 p.m. and on
weekends - Coverage will be for the entire Circuit – there were some challenges, but they are fully
staffed and training will be complete by March 12th – this is Phase 1 of the Juvenile Assessment Center
(JAC). There will be a dedicated phone line for the screening unit - will need e-mail addresses for law
enforcement so all of the information can be communicated and they can have (1) number to call if they
have a question about a kid’s status. Electronic Monitoring – The technology has improved greatly and
Probation now has about (4) kids on electronic monitoring. The new technology has the capability to
basically use GPS to track the location of the kid. Also, JPO’s have the ability to send an alert to the kid
using the electronic monitor. They can send a 10 second vibration and the kid will be responsible for
calling back in - so, the unit is very interactive in that regard. Transition Groups - Fred Womack’s unit
has a staff person who’s involved with youth transitions. Transition is something that is dealt with after
a kid returns from a commitment program. These kids are on probation when they return – they have
rules, etc. The goal of the program is to install or continue the services, i.e., mental health programs,
other issues, before being released from commitment. The intent of the program is to continue
communication and they will be placed on the monitoring list. The way its set up is that the kid walks
out of school and immediately walks over to counseling. There are about 6-7 kids being released next
month. The next meeting to discuss cases for those kids is scheduled for Friday, March 9 @ 1:00 p.m. at
the DJJ office on 11th Street. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Q: Oscar Patterson Elementary says they have a huge truancy problem and the majority of those cases
are handled by Judge Shanna Gay – are any of those kids referred to DJJ Probation and, if so, are you
referring them out or handling in-house? A: If they are on probation, they will not go to truancy court
or anywhere in the DJJ arena. The majority of those kids are not associated with DJJ.
Healthy Start – Healthy Start’s World’s Greatest Come ‘n-Go-Baby Shower is scheduled for Thursday, April 5,
2012, between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Bay Banquet Hall, 5420 Hickory Street. If you are pregnant, or
have had a baby within the last six months, you and your family members are welcome to join. Free
Community Event – Games (Special Game for Dads) - Door Prizes – Refreshments - Entertainment.
Bridging the Gap – The program is grounded in the Twelve Steps as well as tried and true, evidenced-based
approaches to counseling and therapy. Treatment programs are licensed by the DCF. Upon admission to
the program, clients go through extensive assessments and evaluations including a medical history and
physical; blood testing when indicated; complete psychological-social evaluation; and a psychiatric work-up,
if indicated, as well. The results of these comprehensive assessments are utilized to create a customized,
detailed treatment program, which is followed by the patient for the duration of their treatment period.
The assessment findings serve as the framework for the treatment plan. The drug and alcohol rehab
treatment programs encourage clients to address key issues that caused them to turn to drugs and alcohol
in the first place, and obtain the life skills and coping tools needed to achieve and maintain long-term
recovery from the insidious diseases of alcoholism and drug addiction. Contact by calling or email 850.249.4300 – btgrecovery.com
Bay District Schools – All Stars – Serves financially disadvantaged youth – currently serving (2) high
schools – students 14 to 18 - getting ready to go on annual Spring Break trip to take their kids out of Bay
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County for Spring Break – will have approx. 40-42 kids going to the different parks in Tampa & Orlando.
Once they return from this trip and kids get back to school, will be gearing up for the summer program
where kids will be taught life skills, etc. They partner with Freedom 180 and would like to partner with
some other organizations to speak to younger students about alcohol prevention and substance abuse.
Also working on a community service cleanup project.
State Atty’s Office – Quentin Broxton is still in Texas recuperating – may be a long time before he is able
to return to work. Susan Rodger is running juveniles and will be the contact person until Quentin
returns.
Anchorage Children’s Home – Hannah’s House is a residential program whose primary goal is to assist
pregnant and parenting young women ages 16-21 years of age in making a smooth transition into selfsufficiency. The program accepts self-referrals and referrals from other agencies and private citizens. The
program provides furnished rooms for young women accepted into the program. Each participant in the
program learns basic life skills including family budgeting, housekeeping and food preparation. They work on
education advancement, job preparation and employment. The program also includes parenting instruction
and classes to develop parenting skills including child development, health and nutrition, family planning,
abstinence education and pregnancy prevention services. Program is not full and currently has (2) open
beds. Hidle House serves, on any given night, up to 20 youth, ages 10 – 17 years old, are kept off the
streets through their crisis shelter. Hidle House focuses on providing safe shelter while working with youth
to resolve immediate family problems. Often times, these youth and their families need short-term cooling
off periods, up to 21 days. Other youth are placed as a result of abuse, neglect or abandonment for up to 30
days. Currently have 9 youth.
Florida Therapy Services – As everyone knows, now in District 1 serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.
Down the road, they have plans on servicing Okaloosa and Walton counties. Also, has their substance abuse
license at Florida Therapy now. Will be doing outpatient substance abuse assessments for children and
adults.
Catholic Charities/Bridges to Circles – This is a new initiative that works with families that are living in
poverty. The program provides a support system for them and a 15 week training program that
evaluates their reasons for being in poverty, and provides volunteer support from the community to
work out and help them with their goals. The program is about 7 months old and still in its development
stages. The mission of the program is to transform communities by building relationships that inspire
and equip people to alleviate poverty.
Bay County Sheriff’s Office – Wilderness Camp is coming up for boy’s ages 12-17 residing within the
boundaries of Bay County. The Camp is a five day/four night stay in the woods, where the youth will be
living in cabins at the Sheriff’s Office campground off J.D. Nolin Road. There, they will interact with
camp staff consisting of School Resource Deputies, civilian counselors and trained medical personnel to
reinforce good points. The camp prides itself on teaching positive decision making, peer mediation and
proper communication skills. If anyone knows of a kid interested in going, contact Rhonda at the Bay
County Sheriff’s Office (527-5050) for an application.
Freedom 180 – The Teen Outreach Program address issues related to teens. Students learn important
life skills through lessons like developing healthy friendships, how to deal with social and peer pressures,
how to be assertive without being aggressive, and three C's of good decision making. Youth also
participate in community service learning projects throughout the county. A number of projects going
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on right now – (1) project is where the teens plan on catching fish at Frank Brown Park, cleaning them
and taking them over to the Rescue Mission to donate. Abstinence Education Program – the mission of
the program is to make a positive difference in the lives of youth by promoting healthy lifestyle choices
and teaching the message of abstinence in schools, churches and organizations throughout our
community. Just finished with the middle schoolers at PCMI, now at Merritt Brown MS with all of the 8
graders there – next month plan on being at Rosenwald. Shelton is doing quite a bit of mentoring with
the students at PCMI and C.C. Washington. If anyone knows of a youth that needs mentoring, please
contact Tammy Stewart – she has younger people from the Health department who are cool and hip
who are willing to take on some of the teenagers in need of mentoring. Planning on taking appx. 20 kids
to Tampa on a camping trip in June.
C.A.R.E. - agency dedicated to providing prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery services in
Circuit 14 to assist individuals and their families change unhealthy behaviors, reduce the stigma, and
improve their lives. Because of Spring Break and the number of kids vacationing, waiting to see how
many intoxicated kids they will have to deal with. Currently (3) detox beds available in Circuit 14. As for
residential, there are appx. 15.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters - Although there is a branch here, headquarters is located in Pensacola. Right now
caseloads are at its highest which is good – have 67 active matches which means 67 kids are paired with
mentors - only 10 remain on a waiting list which is the best it has ever been. In need of clients as far as girls
are concerned. Has a long waiting list for boys for the program. If you have connections that match with girls
between the ages of 6 to 14 that are looking to mentor Single parent home, or raised by another family,
foster parent or group home environment, they do qualify. Just had a huge fundraiser. Since the caseload is
so high, the board is now being forced to make a decision about expanding the program. Hopefully, this will
happen sometime this summer.
After School Assistance Program, Inc. (ASAP) – Doing well – Spring Break is coming up and plan on taking a
number of kids to Orlando to Universal Studios, Busch Gardens, and SeaWorld. Like Bay District Schools All
Star Program, leaving Sunday, March 11th and returning Saturday, March 17th. In order to make this trip, we
did a lot of fundraisers and charity events in order to raise the funds. Instead of hotel rooms, (2) homes
were rented which will accommodate everyone going on the trip.
City of Panama City – Florida is one of the hardest hit states that was affected by the downturn in the
housing market - other states include Arizona, California, and Nevada. Because of the market, high
unemployment and the economy itself, many local residents are suffering and potentially facing foreclosure
on their homes. Community Development is administering a state-funded program that helps homeowners
who are facing foreclosure. Homeowners must verify a hardship (unemployment or underemployment) to
become eligible to receive up to 6 months and/or $18,000 in monthly mortgage payment assistance. If you
know of anyone in this situation, please have them contact Community Development at 872-87230 for
additional information.
Teen Court – Currently 100 cases over last year’s numbers and therefore has been very, very busy working
on trying to close some of those 2011 cases. Hopefully, will have all of them completed by end of March at
which time they will start working on the 2012 cases. Have been watching the legislature closely on the
sanctuary bill that basically states that you cannot go on school property and arrest a youth on a
misdemeanor offense FDLE and the Sheriff’s office has been tracking this and found out it is now a dead
issue.
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Something positive that is being worked on where support and/or help is needed. There is a potential
grant available through the Tony Hawk Foundation for the construction of a skateboard park. The grant
requires that the park be made of concrete, free to kids using it, etc. Has been working with Mike
Johnson who feels there may be some City-owned land available that can be donated towards this
project. So far, have put together how it can be supervised. Also working on a Wells Fargo grant to
incorporate into the skate park project. This is project is being used as a crime prevention tool. The
attitude is that if you build something the kids will want to use, it will give them something to do –
constantly hear that kids have nothing to do. Every park in this community is geared towards little kids
with exception of the park on East Avenue that also has the therapy disc toss. The concept is to create
this park with youth buy-in – trying to get SRO’s from every high school to select at least 5 student
skaters to design a park that they’re excited about – this way the kids will have ownership of the park
and they will not ruin it – they laid it out, they designed it.
ITEM #6 – ANNOUCEMENTS
DJJ – A reminder that the informational legislative conference call is scheduled for March 16 at 3:30 p.m.
(EST) or 2:30 p.m.
At the next JJC meeting scheduled for April 4, we will hold nominations for be election of new officers
for Chair, Co-Chair and Secretary. The current officers have served for the last (2) year term.
ITEM #7 - ADJOURNMENT
12:45 p.m. Motion to adjourn meeting made by Mike Johnson; seconded by Randy Jordan. Next
meeting scheduled for April 4, 2012 will be held at the same location at the same time (Sonny’s Bar-BQ-, 2400 St. Andrews Blvd, Ph: 763-5114).
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