Second Chance Act Grantee’s Juvenile Justice Work Recognized by NACo, State Correctional Education Association

The Maricopa County Education Service Agency (MCESA), a FY2013 Second Chance Act Juvenile Demonstration grantee, was recently awarded the 2015 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for their collaborative, community-based program for youth transitioning out of incarceration or detention.

The program, Transforming Juveniles through Successful Transitions (TJST), is a 5-year initiative that grew out of Maricopa County’s plan to reduce juvenile recidivism to 20 percent or less by 2018 by increasing the number of youth who are successfully reintegrated back into school and the community through coordinated support. Its partners include the Maricopa County Regional School District, the Maricopa County Adult and Juvenile Probation Departments, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections.

“Our job is to create an environment and conditions for success where youth can gain knowledge and develop productive skills and abilities for the future,” said Dorothy (Dottie) Wodraska, founder and director of TJST and a recent governor appointee to the Arizona Juvenile Justice Commission.

The Arizona Correctional Educators also named TJST the “Innovative Program of the Year” in 2015 for its commitment to serving youth in the juvenile justice system.

Learn more about MCESA’s work with youth.