Apply to be a volunteer with the Texas Youth Commission Volunteer Application: Word • pdf Note: Mail your application to the Community Relations Coordinator where you wish to volunteer. If would like further information email tammy.holland@tyc.state.tx.us. |
State
Volunteer Council Newsletter (August 2011) 
Affiliated Community Resource Council Network Operations Manual
Volume 3, Updated October 2008
Program Background
The importance of community volunteers was emphasized in an agreement approved by the federal courts when a class action suit, Morales vs. Turman, was settled in 1984. That agreement states that: "The Agency shall take steps to expand the use of volunteers in TYC institutions and facilities. Volunteers shall be utilized to expand students' opportunities for educational and recreational experiences, to provide students with increased social interactions and to assist students, as appropriate, in successfully completing the treatment program."
Philosophy and Mission
The Texas Youth Commission recognizes that all youth, including TYC youth, have a need for a wide range of experiences and positive relationships in order to accomplish the task of normal growth and development. The Texas Youth Commission believes that, through volunteers, the community has the ability to enhance lives of youth by providing meaningful activities and resources that promote pro-social, educational, emotional, and spiritual growth, and healthy family relationships; thus, expanding services provided by staff.
Each TYC program has a volunteer services component administered by a qualified Community Relations Coordinator. The coordinator functions under the direct supervision of the institutional superintendent or quality assurance administrator.
The Mission of the TYC Volunteer Services Department is to maximize community resources and utilize volunteers to provide opportunities that enable youth to become responsible and productive citizens.
Primary Volunteer Initiatives
The TYC volunteer services program seeks to involve the community through four primary initiatives:
Mentoring Program
Volunteer Mentors are carefully screened and selected from local communities, and matched with TYC youth who are recommended for the program by their caseworker or parole officer. Mentors must make a six-month commitment to their assigned youth, and agree to meet a minimum of one hour each week in establishing and building a trusting relationship that focuses on the goals and needs of the student. Mentoring visits take place usually during the evening and on the weekend. The Community Relations Coordinator supervises mentors. Mentors receive additional guidance and training from Juvenile Correctional Officers and treatment staff.
Mentoring Partnership
On April 1, 2009, Amachi Texas joined the TYC's mentoring effort. The partnership will greatly expand mentoring services for youth who will be returning to the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Specifically, this mentoring project will target some of TYC's youngest youth, ages 14 to 16. Each adult volunteer will be matched with a TYC youth for six months prior to the youth's release, and will continue the mentor relationship for a year after the youth has been released to parole. The mentor will receive specialized training and help from a professional 'match support specialist' who will monitor the match monthly. Match support specialists will serve as liaisons not only between mentors and youth, but also parents and guardians to help with any issues that may arise.
Amachi Texas (http://www.amachitexas.org) is a statewide initiative involving The Governor's Office, The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, OneStar Foundation, Texas Department of Education, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas. The program provides safe, positive role models to children impacted by incarceration. Recent findings by the U.S. Bureau of Justice indicate that children of offenders have a 70 percent greater likelihood of being incarcerated themselves -unless some sort of one-on-one intervention occurs. Studies by the Texas Youth Commission show that youth who have mentors are less likely to reoffend. The Amachi Texas program currently serves more than 3,000 children.
Tutoring Program
Teachers and caseworkers may refer TYC youth for tutoring services through the volunteer services department. Tutors are carefully screened, selected and trained, then assigned to an individual youth for weekly visits in the classroom. The tutoring assignment focuses on an educational goal identified by the student's teacher. Tutors usually work with students for six to nine weeks at a time. The Community Relations Coordinator supervises tutors. They receive additional guidance and training from educational staff.
Gainesville State School Tornados Football Seniors, Football Mom
Teresa
Berry. Each of the team members enjoyed the annual
sports awards banquet
sponsored by the Gainesville Bible Church
and the Student Support Council.
Chaplaincy Services
TYC facilities often rely upon the involvement of community volunteers to provide religious training and pastoral counseling services to youth. Hundreds of faithful volunteers visit our institutions and halfway houses each week to direct religious training classes and worship services, as requested by our students. The Community Relations Coordinator supervises religious volunteers. They receive additional guidance and training from the Chaplains at eight of the TYC facilities.
Community Resource Councils
Community
councils support the volunteer services work at eachinstitution/program.
Councils include representatives of local civic, service and religious
organizations who serve because of their individual concern for youth,
the community, and the TYC program. Often called Community Resource
Councils, these groups of volunteers obtain community assistance, refer
projects to known resources, and help inform the community of the facilities'
goals, accomplishments, needs and problems. These volunteer councils
are private non-profit (501(c)(3) corporations dedicated to the benefit
of the young people receiving services from the TYC.
Local councils solicit contributions from businesses, service organizations, corporations, foundations and from individuals. Funds are also raised through various types of fund-raising projects, including car washes, bake sales, food booths, golf tournaments, and annual solicitation campaigns through the mail.
The councils use these funds for various projects and activities that benefit the youth committed to the Texas Youth Commission. Examples of such projects are graduation receptions and other education recognition events, financial assistance for family members visiting students, and holiday celebrations. There are 18 volunteer resource councils that benefit the youth we serve. The Community Relations Coordinators provide administrative support to the councils.
In addition to these primary initiatives, volunteers may be involved in unique programs developed by the local TYC institution or facility. These volunteer roles include Foster Grandparents, recreation assistants, music/art teachers, guest speakers, gardening instructors, clerical workers and college interns, to name a few.
Contributions in FY2010
- TYC youth performed 49,418 hours of community service work across the state.
- Our community relations coordinators spoke to 7,360 citizens through speaking engagements and provided 414 facility tours.
- Volunteers contributed 103,120 hours, valued at $2,088,118 working with our youth and programs.
- $75,139 in cash was raised by our 20 councils throughout the state to fund projects benefitting TYC youth.
- Councils assisted 1,759 families for a total of $33,104 in financial support to families through special activities, Family Days, food, and travel assistance.
Screening Process for Volunteers
A qualified Community Relations Coordinator at TYC facilities screens prospective volunteers and carefully matches selected individuals to a suitable assignment. A volunteer assignment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of:
- Volunteer application
- Criminal and driving record check
- Personal references
- Personal interview
- Agreement of confidentiality, release of liability
- Orientation and job-specific training