Merging Two Worlds:A Transition/Career Planning Curriculum for Youth in the
Justice System
Dorothy (Dottie) WodraskaCorrectional Education Specialist
Director, Federal Education Grants ProgramArizona Supreme Court
Administrative Office of the CourtsJuvenile Justice Services Division
Arizona Secure Care Education
Secure Care education is defined as every education program which exists in a county detention, county jail, state juvenile corrections, and state prison facility in the State of Arizona excluding Native American and federal facilities.
AOC 14 county juvenile detention facilities (age 8-18)
Jails 15 county jails (age 14-22) ADJC 5 state juvenile correction facilities
(age 8-18)
ADC 10 state prisons and 3 private prisons (age 14-
22)TOTAL: 47 facilities statewide
Arizona Secure Care Education
Secure Care Education must address these acknowledged needs:
1) Institutional confinement programming must prepare youth for a successful reintegration back to their community.
2) Lessons and skills learned in secure care environments must be monitored and reinforced outside of the institution.
Arizona Legislation
County Detention Law: ARS 15 - 913 Days: 225 per IGA Minutes Per Day: 240 after
48 hours of detention Agency: County School
Superintendent & Presiding Juvenile Judge
Special Ed: Under 18 Regular Ed: Under 18 Records: ARS 15 - 828 (f)
within 5 school days Funding: County pays and
ADE reimburses county. $20,000 base rate plus $15 a day & Special Ed daily rate
County Jail Law: ARS 15 - 913.01 Days: 225 Minutes Per Day: 240
after 48 hours of incarceration Agency: County School Super. &
County Sheriff Special Ed: Under 18 and 18-22 Regular Ed: Under 18 Records: ARS 15 - 828 (f) within
5 school days Funding: County pays and ADE
reimburses county. $14,000 base rate plus $10.80 a day & $10.50 for juveniles & Special Ed daily rate
Arizona Legislation Cont’d.
ADJC Law: ARS 15 - 1371 Days: 204 Minutes: 360 Agency: ADJC Special Ed: Under 18 Regular Ed: Under 18 Records: ARS 15 - 828/141
(f) within 10 working days Funding: ADM - ADE pays
base level; capital outlay revenue limit, in accordance with ARS 15-1371.G.
ADC Law: ARS 15 - 1372 Days: 208/240 Minutes: 180 Agency: ADC Special Ed: Under 18 & 18-22 Regular Ed: Under 18;
mandatory daily education Over 18 education; for 120 days to
achieve 8th grade literacy (based on TABE scores) in all areas in order to earn early release credits at 85% of sentencing.
Records: ARS 15-828 (f) within 5 school days
Funding: ADM – CEF pays .67 base level plus .5 capital outlay revenue limit, In accordance with ARS 15-1372.D.
Juvenile Detention Education - Arizona
Statewide Financial Support, supplemented by Federal Funds
Shared Jurisdictional responsibility between the County School
Superintendent and Presiding Juvenile Court Judge
Coordination and Oversight by the Arizona Supreme Court,
AOC
14 Juvenile Detention Schools served 12, 913 youth in FY03
Approximately 21% of students require Special Education
Services
Juvenile Detention Education - Arizona
Fully Certified Teachers with Special Education endorsement
preferred
12 Month Programming - Minimum of 225 Instructional Days
Average Length of Stay in Facility is 12-15 days Statewide
Educational/diagnostic Screening; student-focused educational
instruction utilizing both individualized computer curricula and
classroom instruction; transition planning
Curriculum correlated with Arizona Academic Standards
County Jail Schools- Arizona
Fully Certified Teachers with Special Education endorsement preferred
12 Month Programming - Minimum 225 Days Average Length of Stay - 67 Days Juveniles with felony charges remanded as adults Approximately 50% Return to the community Approximately 50% sent to prison 51% are special education students Approximately 500 inmates daily
Jail Education Program
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Teacher case management Disability(s) accommodation Annual audio/vision testing Parental Involvement in Individual Education Plan (IEP) Supplemental Programs Anger Management Class Cognitive Restructuring Class Psychological Evaluation Transition Planning beyond jail
Juvenile Corrections Education - Arizona
Dr. Kathleen Karol, Education Superintendent
Statewide Financial Support, supplemented by Federal Funds
Average Length of Stay – 7 months
Average Stay on Parole – 6 months
Accredited by North Central Accreditation
Fully Certified Teachers with Secondary and Special Education
endorsement preferred
Juvenile Corrections Education - Arizona
5 facilities statewide serving 2,076 students in FY 2002
Schools Beds• Adobe Mountain School 438 • Black Canyon School 115 • Catalina Mountain School 143 • Eagle Point School 150• Sunrise Mountain PV Center 75
12 Month Programming - Minimum of 204 Instructional Days
Approximately 30% of students require Special Education
Services
Adult Prisons Education - Arizona
13 facilities statewide serving over 28,000 in FY 2002
Inmates 14-24 years of age - 4,800 males - 290 females
12 Month Programming - Minimum of 208 Instructional Days
Screen over 2,500 inmates under the age of 22 annually for special
education needs and eligibility
Approximately 10% of students require Special Education Services…This
is due in large part to the individualized nature of academic and
vocational instruction offered by the prison education system
Fully certified teachers with certifications ranging across all ages and
areas
Average length of stay is 34 months
Award , on average, 1,100 GEDs annually
Secure Care Education Committee (SCEC)
Mission To advocate for excellence in secure care education which leads to
student centered seamless reintegration from correctional facilities into community settings in order to reduce recidivism.
History The SCEC was formed in 1998 by staff of the Arizona Department of
Education and secure care educators from across the state to address the glaring educational needs of youth and adults in correctional settings.
Accomplishments The SCEC has developed the Merging Two Worlds (MTW) Curriculum
through a ADE grant-supported partnership with the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office, Special Programs Division.
Since 1999 the SCEC has hosted four statewide conferences for secure care educators to receive training on implementation of the MTW curriculum.
Secure Care Education Committee
Current Committee Members:
Dorothy Wodraska, Chair – Arizona Supreme Court, AOCJudeth Badgley - Yuma County School SuperintendentPaul Johnson – Maricopa County Accommodation School DistrictJeff Johnston – Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections Barbara Kilian – Arizona Department of CorrectionsLisa Klukosky – Pima County Accommodation School DistrictChris Roberts – Arizona State University/EDJJJim Scullary – Arizona Department of CorrectionsLt. David Williams – Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Thelda Williams – Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Special Thanks and Acknowledgements:
Gari Strohm and Tess Alan, Ph.D. – Arizona Department of Education/Exceptional Student ServicesKathleen Parkhurst, Ed.D. - Pinal County School Superintendent’s Office Chris Nybakken, Gayle Siegel, Debbie D’Amore, Donna Williamson, Jean Cornelli, Don Lawhead and Carole Ferlazzo – Pima County School Superintendent’s Office
Local Challenges…National Focus
Transient student population Students have attended various public schools/charters and/or have
dropped out of school due to lack of success. Records exchange for prompt provision of specialized instruction if a
student has a history of special education. Conflicting organizational philosophies within agencies between
security (punitive) and education (rehabilitative). Reintegration: cooperative and collaborative relationship with the local
school districts prior to release from a secure care facility to ensure continuum of services and appropriate placement which can reduce recidivism.
Shortage of adequately trained personnel in the area of correctional education.
Effective Reintegration/Transition Strategies
Link between education and recidivism In Arizona, it costs an annual average of $4,200 to
educate a student, compared to $56,000 in ADJC and $32,000 in ADC to house an inmate annually. Reducing recidivism decreases the burden and expenses to taxpayers.
Interagency collaboration Effective transition practices are those that are shared by
correctional education staffs, as well as personnel from public schools and other community based programs, such as mental health and social services.
Effective Reintegration/Transition Strategies Cont’d.
Team based planning/Intra-agency collaboration Transition services need to be developed and
implemented by the IEP team in cooperation with the correctional counselors, probation/parole personnel and vocational instructors.
Tracking and Monitoring Systematic and continuous monitoring of the youth
through the juvenile justice system facilitates achieving transition goals and outcomes. The present secure care system is disjointed and has no means of following a student to determine outcomes.
Promising Practices to Facilitate Successful Reintegration/Transition
Linkages with community, business and professional organizations Cooperative contractual agreements among local agencies that provide
transition services need to be established to maintain a seamless continuum of care.
Wraparound services to deliver comprehensive and coordinated services Historically, transition services for juveniles offenders have been
fragmented, inefficient and disconnected. These services must be individualized and encompass all aspects of the youth’s life.
Pre-release training in social skills, independent living and pre-employment training Students who receive training or support in these areas are more likely to
succeed upon release from a secure care facility.
(Correctional Education Bulletin, June 2001)
MTW Curriculum Focus:Resiliency Building Skills
Sense of Purpose
Inner direction Bases choices on internal evaluation Internal focus of control
View of future Optimistic
Spirituality Personal faith in something greater
Perseverance Doesn’t give up despite obstacles
Resiliency Building Skills (cont’d)
Social Competence
Relationships Form relationships Able to be a friend, and keep close
Humor Can see the funny
Perceptive Insightful understanding of people and situations
Assertive Clearly expresses opinions, feelings, ideas Understands how attitude influences others
Resiliency Building Skills (cont’d)
Problem Solving
Flexibility Can adjust to change Can adapt to cope
Love of Learning Needs to know Loves to find out
Creativity Sees unique choices, consequences Individualistic
Goal Setting Knows power of goals
Decision Making Uses process; can explain
Resiliency Building Skills (cont’d)
Autonomy
Independence Health/wellness Adaptive distancing from unhealthy people and
situations Self motivation
Inner passion and direction Competence
Is “good at something” Has skills to manage life
Self worth Feeling self confident
MTW Curriculum Organization
Pre-Assessment Tools: Structured Interview; Individual Learning Plan; Student Screening Report for Child Find; Credit Information and Certificate; Educational History
Four Chapters with 10 Lessons in each Chapter:
Chapter 1: Transition Planning: Who Am I?
Chapter 2: Career Preparation: Where Am I Going?
Chapter 3: Transition Planning: How Do I Get There?
Chapter 4: Life Planning: How Do I Keep It All Together?
Teacher Resources: Work Evaluation Rubric & Lesson Resources
My Resource Guide (MRG), Personal Transition Survival Guide: Merge Checklist; Certificate of Competency; Chapter Reflection Sheet
MTW Chapter Organization
Acknowledgement Facilitation Tips Chapter Background Overview of Chapter Contents & Format Table of Contents Work Evaluation Rubric Aligned with Arizona State
Standards Lesson Theme, Objective & Steps to Follow Materials Needed: Handouts etc. Evaluation Rubric Enrichment
Chapter 1 - Transition Planning: Who Am I?
Concept of Resiliency as Critical to Successful Reintegration
Self-Awareness Strengthens Resiliency – “Bouncing Back” Lesson Topics Include: Value, Beliefs, Self Confidence,
Learning Styles & Interests, Personal Skills, Job/Career Paths, Decision Making
Career Planning as a Dynamic Process Employment Trends: Impact of Technology, Globalization,
New Economy Managing Change through “Process and Self-Awareness” Building My Resource Guide (MRG) – A Personal
Transition Survival Guide
Chapter 2 - Career Preparation: Where Am I Going?
All lessons include self talk, self-awareness, stop and think, resiliency, decision making and planning
Each lesson concludes with the Self-Talk litany Lesson Topics Include: Make a Decision, Values, The
Power of Goals, Priorities, Lifestyle, Choices and Consequences, Gathering Information/Observe, Gathering Information/Ask Questions, Gathering Information/Listen, Other Points of View, Make a Decision
Building My Resource Guide (MRG)
Chapter 3 - Transition Planning: How Do I Get There?
Concept of Self-Assessment leading to Self-Awareness Life Through a Wide-Angle Lens and Other Points of
View Lesson Topics Include: Self talk, Self Awareness,
Decision Making, Social Skills, Planning Resiliency: Successfully Bouncing Back from Adversity Planning Process: Goal Setting Nine Life Areas: Leisure, Spiritual, Health/Wellness,
Learning, Career, Financial, Family Relationships, Community
Social Skills Practice Building My Resource Guide (MRG)
Chapter 4 - Life Planning: How Do I Keep It All Together?
Continues concept of self assessment as self-awareness through emphasizing community resources
Lesson Topics Include: Transition into the Community, Self Talk, Self Awareness, Stop and Think, Resiliency, Decision Making, and Planning
Lessons include: Finding a Place to Live, Money Management, Food, Medical Treatment, transportation, Communication, Employment, Education, Leisure Time, Support
Continues development of MRG (My Resource Guide)
Closing Thoughts…
Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog.
Mark Twain 11/23/1900
Contact Information
Dorothy (Dottie) Wodraska,Correctional Education SpecialistDirector, Federal Education Grants Program Arizona Supreme Court,Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)Juvenile Justice Services Division1501 West Washington, Suite 337Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-9573Fax: (602) 542-9479Email: [email protected]
ADE Website: www.ade.az.gov/ess/secure care
