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Think. Learn. Decide. Arlington, Virginia Second Chance Program. 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.
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Think. Learn. Decide. Arlington, Virginia Second Chance Program • 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 10.15.2013
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
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
Our Goal To reduce substance use among Arlington youth with an educational diversion program instead of school suspension and/or juvenile court involvement.
CommunityEngagementTools • Surveys • Process mapping • One-on-one interviews with key agency heads • Small focus groups – substance abuse counselors, police, principals, parents
What Policies Needed to Change? • Arlington Public Schools • Arlington County Department of Human Services • Law enforcement • Courts
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
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
Preliminary Results Is it working?
School suspensions down 59% • 2009-2010 • 49 students suspended for drug-related reasons • 2012-2013 • 20 students suspended for drug-related offenses
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
Contact information • Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Foundation • John Andelin | jandelin@aaahawk.com • County Board • Mary Hynes | mhynes@arlingtonva.us • School Board • Abby Raphael | abby.raphael@apsva.us • Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney • Theo Stamos | tstamos@arlingtonva.us • Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic • Deborah Taylor | Dtaylor@phoenixhouse.org
Think. Learn. Decide. Arlington, Virginia Second Chance Program Thank You!