Juvenile Program Honored

"Comprehensive" would be a good term to use when describing Van Zandt County’s VOICES — or Vocational Occupational Initiatives Creating Employment — juvenile at-risk program.

When it comes to reaching out to troubled youths in the county, the program offers help in a multitude of areas, program coordinator and community resource officer Joe Perritt said.

"We see a lot of kids who need assistance in not just one area of their life. A lot of counties have programs for these youths but not a multitude of programs with wraparound services," he explained.

"Instead of offering just one program, we can put that young person in three to five programs, totally surround that youth with programs," Perritt added.

Since its inception in 2005, VOICES has worked so well it has garnered recognition, becoming one of 24 programs statewide honored by the Texas Association of Counties (TAC) Leadership Foundation during TAC’s annual conference in Austin last week.

Van Zandt County Juvenile Probation Director Bobby Colacino said the secret to the program’s success is in its variety of programs and the cooperation of a wide array of instructors, counselors and community partners.

"We do vocational and occupational training, we do job placements, teach kids how to obtain employment, and offer employment incentives," he said, "Joe works with businesses in the community to secure work sites as well as doing community service."

The program was started through a grant from the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It provides training in everything from horticulture to office skills and computer skills, Colacino added.

To offer such a diversity of programs and training, though, takes a commitment from a number of people throughout Van Zandt County.

"I think why the program is so highly recognized is because different members of the community — the commissioners’ court, ETCOG, criminal justice division, juvenile board, mental health counselors, substance abuse counselors through the Andrews Center — everybody is part of it and it’s amazing to get that many people involved in something," Colacino said.

It gives the program a flexibility that works to the youth’s benefit, Perritt said.

"We are going to do everything we can to help turn things around for a youth, and maybe if my standpoint does not work, a different counselor’s will. We find the youths a program that catches their eye," he said.

"We try to do specialized programs, something that focuses on a particular issue like substance abuse," Perritt continued. "Our vocational program strictly deals with vocational training and finding jobs. We’re not just putting a youth somewhere and saying that person is in a program."

The proof the program works can be seen in the recidivism rate of those who enter it, under 10 percent in the three years.

"When kids come to the programs, they really seem to enjoy it," Perritt said. "With some of the programs, the kids request to come back even though the program is over. They enjoyed the discussions, or really connected with a counselor over that program. That’s very unusual to see."

"We provide a support system for kids not provided elsewhere, whether at home or at school. The program provides a stable environment for a lot who don’t have that," he added.

Colacino said it was a big honor to have the program recognized by the TAC.

"Joe has done a real good job with it, and it wouldn’t have been as successful without all the volunteers and individuals in community, in both public and private sectors," he said.