1. THINK. LEARN. DECIDE. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM 10.15.2013 Presenters Mary Hynes | Arlington County Board Abby Raphael | Arlington School Board Theo Stamos I Commonwealth’s Attorney John Andelin I Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Debby Taylor I Phoenix House

2. OVERVIEW  The problem(s)  Our journey to create Second Chance  What we needed to change  Who we needed at the table  The Second Chance program  Preliminary results 2

3. THE PROBLEM(S) Too many Arlington kids regularly engaged in binge drinking and marijuana use Cavalier attitude among some parents Community didn’t have a coordinated, proven approach to young transgressors Inconsistent consequences from schools, courts and police department 3

4. OUR GOAL To reduce substance use among Arlington youth with an educational diversion program instead of school suspension and/or juvenile court involvement. 4

5. Community conducts Youth Risky Behavior Survey Results: Binge drinking for 10 th and 12 th graders 28% National average 25.5% 2006 Public Health conducts health stakeholders survey Binge drinking and substance use by young people identified as high priority 2007 HISTORY 5

6. County, Schools, Police, Courts and non- profit agency Phoenix House collaborate to create an early intervention education program Goal defined: Substantially reduce the development of high-risk drinking and marijuana use among youth in Arlington by 2017 2008 6

7. Thirteen focus groups conducted to define parameters of the program and obtain buy-in. Key factors emerged: 1) Need for county-wide consistency of requirement for student participation 2) Need for a neutral location 3) Mandatory parental involvement Collaboration expanded to include key agencies and community partners 2009 HISTORY 7

8. Policy changes developed and approved by collaborators Conducted research for curriculum Developed curriculum Funding provided by Arlington County and The Century Council 2010 Monthly program launched in September Centrally located in fire station Four month pilot 2011 8

9. HISTORY Process and outcome evaluation by an independent outside evaluator started 01/2012 2012 Partnership for Children Youth and Families Foundation becomes owner of the program and curriculum Arlington Public Schools becomes additional funder Program began its 3rd year September 9, 2013 2013 9

10. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLS Surveys Process mapping One-on-one interviews with key agency heads Small focus groups – substance abuse counselors, police, principals, parents 10

11. WHAT POLICIES NEEDED TO CHANGE? Arlington Public Schools Arlington County Department of Human Services Law enforcement Courts 11

12. THE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Foundation Arlington Public Schools Arlington County Police, Fire and Human Services Departments Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Arlington Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic Arlington READY Coalition 12

13. THE SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM Substance abuse education for first time substance use offense by Arlington middle and high school-aged youth Curriculum developed for submission as an evidence- based practice Includes parents as well as youth Addresses gaps in services Provides alternatives for first offenses: School – detention/suspension/expulsion Law enforcement/courts - diversion 13

14. PRELIMINARY RESULTS IS IT WORKING? 14

15. 92% SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OVERALL

16. SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS DOWN 59% 2009-2010 49 students suspended for drug-related reasons 2012-2013 20 students suspended for drug-related offenses 16

17. 9% RECIDIVISM - JUVENILE COURT REFERRALS

18. OUTSIDE SCIENTIFICALLY VALID EVALUATION IN PROGRESS

19. WHAT WE LEARNED Be honest about the problem Build support Bring partners Leave no stone unturned We still have a problem… But now we have a three-legged solution – a consistent message, education, parent involvement 19

20. CONTACT INFORMATION Partnership for Children, Youth and Families Foundation John Andelin | jandelin@aaahawk.com County Board Mary Hynes | mhynes@arlingtonva.us School Board Abby Raphael | abby.raphael@apsva.us Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney Theo Stamos | tstamos@arlingtonva.us Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic Deborah Taylor | Dtaylor@phoenixhouse.org 20

21. THINK. LEARN. DECIDE. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM Thank You!