March Madness Begins: Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Completes First Round of Therapeutic Environment Training

It's March Madness at the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and we're not talking just about basketball. We're talking about the first round of Therapeutic Environment Training (TET) initiative.

The training, a curriculum that delivers skills and knowledge and gives staff tools to create a therapeutic, teaching environment, will transition current youth development center operations to therapeutic environments for all committed youth and result in the implementation of an environment in which youth receive education and treatment in ways that allow for the development of skill competency and behavior and life changes .

Thirty-eight participants from the Eastern and Central areas were trained to teach the therapeutic environment model over the next eight months. Some of these participants were also identified as master trainers, presenting material for this training session as well as being part of their area training team. Nine additional master trainers instructed during the three-week course.

Secretary Sweat visited on three occasions during the three week training and was impressed with the participants commitment to the training and dedication to the material. Participants worked through the instruction of 8 modules of training:

1. Mission/Vision /Teamwork
2. Understanding Juvenile Needs and Issues
3. Building Collaborative Helping Relationships and Helping Skills
4. Defusing Explosive Situations
5. Group Leadership Skills
6. Documentation/Written Communication
7. Motivational System as part of Therapeutic Environment
8. Relating Effectively to Families and Communities

“The participants and trainers worked very hard over the three-week period and showed amazing enthusiasm for the subject material as well as the training opportunities,” said Kathy Dudley, Central Area Administrator. “This training will give staff members the necessary tools to effectively work with youth and families we serve.”

The newly trained trainers will begin training staff at Dillon and Dobbs as well as selected court services and detention staff in April. There will be up to twenty staff members in each training session. Each trainer is prepared to present portions of the modules. Content is delivered through various activities as well as through lecture.

Training for trainers from the Piedmont and Western areas will be held at Ridgecrest Conference Center beginning April 24. TET will begin at Swannanoa Valley and Jackson beginning on May 22. Training for trainers to deliver the model at Samarkand will begin in late May or early June. The Department plans to have all five youth development centers working with therapeutic environments by early 2007.