2. GIVING BACK BEFORE THEY GIVE UP Brad Vuncannon Program Manager NFusion 4 A Work Program seeking to provide transition-aged youth with a chance to give back in Tishomingo County, MS.

3. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? ► Community needed a solution to youth and families being charged $90 a day for a stay in the Detention Center. ► Juvenile Court Judge wanted to provide the youth a way to: ► Pay off fines ► Learn a skill ► Give back to the community ► System of Care Sub-Grantee, NFusion 4, would be responsible for transportation, supervision, and education of the youth. ► Juvenile Justice System would be responsible for setting up work, and logistics of fines between counties.

4. HOW DID IT GET STARTED? ► The program began in the summer of 2012 initially at 3 days a week ► A Peer Support Specialist was hired to oversee the work program and provide the youth with guidance in the work ► The local school district provided the youth with lunches through a summer program that was in the school district ► The youth worked at the school doing different jobs from 9-2 pm ► From 2-3 pm, there was group to discuss a variety of topics

5. HOW DID IT GO? ► Youth worked at the school site Monday, Wednesday, and Friday ► Transportation was provided by Peer Support Specialist when needed ► Youth helped move desks, paint, landscape, and other various jobs ► Peer Support Specialist led group for the youth. Topics included anger, coping skills, alcohol use, living skills, and other issues ► Results: 1.Youth paid off their fines 2.Youth learned job skills 3.Youth gave back to a school where several had gotten into trouble

6. WAS IT A SUCCESS? ► A formal evaluation for this first year could not be completed. BUT ► 5 youth completed the work and worked an average of 60 hours. MORE IMPORTANTLY Youth found that they could share and talk about issues that were affecting them with the Peer Support Specialist and other group members and found.... THEY WERE NOT ALONE!

7. WAS IT A SUCCESS? ► Tishomingo County used the program again in Summer 2013. ► The program ran for six weeks. ► Youth worked only two days a week this year due to time constraints. ► Transportation, lunches and school site remained the same. ► Results: ► 8 individuals started the work program, including the first two females. ► 7 finished the program, with an average of 55 work hours.

8. NEXT STEPS! ► Great interest expressed by other counties in replicating the work program. ► Tishomingo County already set to run the program in the summer of 2014, with youth going back to working 3 days per week. ► The evaluation piece is currently in development. ► Continue to work on program improvement by finding out what the community and youth need.

9. THANK YOU! ► Judge Joey Cobb – for having the idea and desire to help youth rather than giving up on them. ► Tishomingo County High School – for providing the youth with work and being a Champion for them as they attempt to give back. ► Families First – providing the lunches for the youth ► Region IV Mental Health Services/ Mississippi Department of Mental Health – for providing the NFusion project with the chance to try this program. ► YOU – for taking the time to watch this presentation and see what the work program is doing for youth in Tishomingo County, MS.

10. CONTACT: Brad Vuncannon Project Director NFusion 4 brad.vuncannon@regionivmhs.com 662-286-2152 www.nfusionmsiv.com