The Electronic Newsletter of the Texas Youth Commission.
The TYC Spotlight highlights events and people making a difference in the lives of those youth committed to the state's juvenile corrections agency. It is periodically published under the direction of Public Affairs Director Jim Hurley and Communication Director Tim Savoy. If you have problems viewing the newsletter or using the embedded links, please contact Tim Savoy at (512) 424-6005, tim.savoy@tyc.state.tx.us
TYC Salutes Its Mentors
Information provided by Tammy Vega, TYC Manager of Volunteer Services, and all of the Community Relations Coordinators statewide
The Texas Youth Commission is fortunate to have 439 active mentors enrolled in volunteer programs across the state. January is National Mentoring Month – a time to recognize the service these individuals contribute and the impact they have on youth in TYC. Last fiscal year (FY2008), TYC mentors donated a combined total of 13,249 hours of their time to TYC youth. Fiscal Year 2009-to-date, which began September 1, 2008, volunteers have already given 4,043 hours of service.
Homer DeGlandon, one of TYC’s 439 volunteer mentors,
has been serving TYC youth since 2004. He is pictured here
with teens at the Turman Halfway House in Austin.
Jimmie (name changed to protect the youth’s privacy), a youth at the Corsicana Residential Treatment Center recently spoke about his mentors, Kenneth and Linda Williams, a husband and wife team. “I really look forward to their visits. Mr. Williams comes on Thursday nights and they both come after church on Sunday. They have never missed a Sunday!” said Jimmie. “I stopped getting in trouble once I started getting mentors because I don’t want to lose them or have them get upset with me.”
Mr. Williams helps Jimmie with his reading when he comes on Thursdays. When they have finished reading, they play a game of dominoes or battleship before Mr. Williams leaves.
TYC mentors agree to spend between four and eight hours every month visiting with their youth mentee. They also agree to visit consistently with their mentee for a minimum of 6 months. It is a hefty commitment, but the mentors say it is worth it.
“I am grateful for this unique opportunity to serve my Lord by loving His children!” said mentor Pam McCullough, a faith based volunteer at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood, Texas. “The many volunteers and staff members I encounter at Ron Jackson continue to inspire me. Their loyal dedication and unwavering faithfulness provides hope to the young ladies incarcerated in this facility. However, they also motivate and encourage me to persevere with my efforts!”
The primary goal of mentoring at TYC is to develop trusting, supportive relationships between mature adults and a carefully matched youth in which the youth are encouraged to reach their potential, discover their strengths, and develop self-confidence.
TYC’s faith-based mentorship program is based upon religious and spiritual principles. Personal spiritual growth is treated as a core element in the overall development and moral guidance of the youth. The sponsorship mentoring program helps youth remain clean and sober of drugs or alcohol. These assignments are conditional on the youth consistently demonstrating the desire to remain clean.
Take time to thank a TYC mentor in January and congratulations to the following mentors who are among the largest contributors of their time to TYC youth: Dennis Bowers, West Texas; Chassidy Carroll, Brownwood; Claude Cox, Brownwood; Jorge Cuellar, San Antonio; James Dean, Brownwood; Pete Garza, Brownwood; LaChandra Lewis, Dallas; Pamela McCullough, Brownwood; Robert Ortega, El Paso; Chaley Perkins, Brownwood; Dennis Smith, Houston.
Interested in becoming a TYC mentor? Send an e-mail to Tammy Vega
In Their Own Words – TYC Youth on Mentorship
From youths Adam and Nick, Turman House & youth Juan, Ayres House
Who better to explain the value of TYC mentors than the youth? These are real letters from youth; though their names have been changed protect their privacy.
The following is an excerpt letter from two Turman House youth to their mentor Ms. Pat Doughty:
Dear Ms. Doughty,
On behalf of Turman House youth and especially from Adam and Nick, we want to thank you for being a great inspiration, leader, provider, listener, and supporter. You are also a mother figure to us as well.
Ms. Doughty you have taught us many things in life that my family never could make time for. By being a great role model for us and a wonderful supporter we have been able to learn different skills. Some of the things we have learned are comparison shopping, different cultures, and managing our money.
There have been times when we have felt like giving up on ourselves but you never let us. You just won’t stand for it. The lessons we have learned from you is that money is not needed to make us happy or successful but just having a support system and good friends makes us rich in so many ways. Your continued kindness has allowed us to open up to others about our thoughts and feelings and this was something that we were not able to do before TYC.
Even though our time is nearing an end at Turman House, we hope that we can still come to you for advice and guidance when we face our biggest challenge of going back into the community.”
Sincerely,
Adam and Nick
The following is an excerpt letter from an Ayres House youth to his mentor Ms. Martha Chavez:
My name is Juan and I have been in TYC for over 3 years. I have been to Marlin, Giddings and I am currently at the Ayres Halfway House in San Antonio. While here … I was presented with the opportunity to have a mentor assigned. At first I was skeptical of the whole situation because I have always been one who doesn’t really get close to anyone. It is also hard for me to trust anyone. But I decided to give it a try.
Martha Chavez became my mentor. She is a very religious woman and a caring person. She is someone who I can just talk to and trust with anything. I feel comfortable sharing things with her. She has also helped me with life problems and helps me daily in my walk with the Lord. She is way more than what I expected. My mentor has just had a life changing affect on my life and will never be forgotten.
Perhaps the biggest inspiration is that she has inspired me to want to mentor when I enter adulthood. A mentor can be found anywhere and everywhere and it can be anyone that can influence your life even in the smallest way. I have been blessed to have Ms. Chavez as my mentor.
Juan
News Roundup
Youth Perspective on Sunset Advisory Commission Review of TYC/TJPC/TYC Ombudsman
Article from the Victoria Advocate Newspaper
Below is an excerpt from an article, and a link to the full text, that recently appeared in the Victoria Advocate newspaper:
TYC and Juvenile Probation may combine
BY MADELINE LEWIS - MLEWIS@VICAD.COM
January 13, 2009 - 10:33 p.m.
When the 18-year-old man left Giddings State School seven months ago, he was surprised to see how much had changed in three years.
"We didn't have iPods, iPhones," he said. "I barely knew how to text."
The Dallas-area man, who is now 19, had just completed 38 months of incarceration in Texas Youth Commission facilities, such as Giddings, for aggravated robbery.
He asked to remain anonymous because he was a juvenile when he committed the offense. The experience was not enjoyable, but one he felt was necessary.
"I think that, ultimately, I benefited from it," he said.
Now a student at Collin County Community College, the man is defending the autonomy of the youth commission, which underwent major reforms in 2007 after accusations of sexual abuse in some of its facilities came to light. He opposes the proposed consolidation of youth commission with another state agency, the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission.
"There has been a lot of reform," he said. "I think TYC, as a whole, has become a lot safer."
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, a 12-member legislative body that reviews state agencies, is set to vote Wednesday on whether to recommend consolidation to the Texas Legislature. It isn't likely the Sunset Commission will resolve the question easily.
Opponents and proponents of consolidation have already lined up and voiced their opinions.
Full article: http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/story/392242.html (link the Victoria Advocate Newspaper website)
Let TYC Spotlight know what you’re up to. Send stories or requests to be added to the mailing list to tim.savoy@tyc.state.tx.us.