1. Community Development
Gadsden County Model of Program, Part 2

2. A Miracle in Gadsden County?
The Questions…

3. Is it possible?...
For crime in a disadvantaged community to be dramatically reduced?
For rates of dropouts, prison populations, and recidivism to be significantly lowered?
For the police, country government, churches and schools… and the community at large, to collaborate toward the goal of healthy youth, in healthy families, in a healthy community?

4. Here is the Story, Facts & Statistics:
Of how a village did come together for the welfare of children and the next generation.
How collaborative government agencies and faith-based initiatives can change the course of a community.

5. Gadsden County ”The Village Concept” (Open Book/Open Mind)

6. What is the Village Concept?
The Proverb “it takes a village “ has been widely known to be African. A village resides together and depend on each other for existence. The village takes care of everyone who lives there. The bond is strong and you must depend on each other for existence. The word “village” is English in origin. In England, a group of people would live together as a hamlet and would only be able to be called a village after they had built a church. The church became the moral compass for the people as they based their laws and beliefs from the Bible. The church took care of those who could not take care of themselves.

7. Sheriff Morris A. Young
Upon his election in 2004, Sheriff Morris A. Young and his staff began the process of developing a comprehensive strategy to reverse the trajectory of crime in Gadsden County. It became clear early on, that a “get tough on crime approach” would not be enough to have a significant impact on the overall level of crime. In order to
generate the desired outcome, the team determined the plan must incorporate measures to provide long-term solutions by bridging the longstanding divide within the county, regenerating trust with various segments of the community, and providing hope through a renewed “sense of community.”

8. Board of County Commissioners
Commissioners Eric Hinson, Brenda Holt, Dr. Viegbesie, Gene Morgan, Sherry Taylor. The Board of County Commissioners make a commitment:
To secure safety and positive reentry
To improve the jail
To start Summer Work Programs for children
To develop the option of Work Squads instead of jail

9. Gadsden County School Board
Courage to stand by some strong decisions
Accepted the short coming of the system
Were willing to go outside the box when asked
Superintendent Reginald James
Board Members: Steve Scott, Charlie Frost,
Audrey Lewis, Isaac Simmons Jr., Roger Milton

10. Gadsden County School System
“No Excuses” Motto
Superintendent Reginald James
Alternative schools were established to help with children who struggle with traditional settings.
Drop back in programs were established
Afterschool programs (21st Century)
A very close relationship with Law Enforcement
In School Suspension was promoted as better option

11. Juvenile Court Judge Kathy Garner Gadsden County Judge
County Judge takes over Juvenile Court
Took a personal interest in her community
Holds everyone accountable

12. Circuit Judges
Chief Judge Jonathan Sjostrom (top), Judge Kathleen Dekker (bottom left) Judge Barbara Hobbs (right)
Circuit Judges take a special interest in our issues
Make sure that the system doesn’t break down
And that everyone gets a fair shake

13. Gadsden County Historical Facts
Demographics
Incarceration facts
Status of Children
Mom and Child
Education

14. Gadsden County Economics and Demographics
516 square miles
66% minority
16 Affordable Housing Complexes “Government Supplement”
55.6% of houses are by female householder with children less than 18

15. Gadsden County Incarceration facts
326 people were sent to prison in one year, as
less than 200 graduate from high school each year, and
juvenile arrests averaged 265 per year from 1999 to 2003 (FDLE Crime Stats)

16. Gadsden County status of children
Over 47% of our children live in poverty today, more than double the FL and US rate (North West Florida Early Childhood Consortium)
55.6% of houses are by female householder with children less than 18 (North West Florida Early Childhood Consortium)
13,077 people get food stamps and there are many who live off those stamps not counted
Gadsden spends $7,096 per pupil, but the state spends $19,275 per inmate. We spend twice as much for prisoners as we do for our children
81.7% of our children get free/reduced lunches; almost twice the national average

17. Gadsden County facts about mom and child
Almost 1/3 of children are born to a mother with less than a high school education
Only 12% of women enter postsecondary educational programs
Babies born in Gadsden are 70% more likely to have a teen mother than other counties in the state
Over 2/3 of children are born to an unwed mother
12.7% of people with no vehicle/ twice state average. (The % of cars that don’t work would send that number up.)
As many as 725 children homeless in ‘07 according to DOE

18. Gadsden County Education in the past
Over 19% of children in Junior and High School were truant for more than 21 days in 2001
23.9 % to 26.7% of our children received out of school suspension in 2001
43% of our children did not graduate on time as they entered high school in 2003
85% of our students tested below average in 2001 in reading
When state testing started in 1998 one school passed. It was a “C”.

19. Winning with the Village Concept
Persistent Enforcement
Point of Contact begins Re-Entry
Re-Entry
Prevention

20. Persistent Enforcement
Serve notice / Resolve
Relentless pursuit of violent offenders
Always visible, “not just during enforcement times”
Allow the community to enforce themselves / Buy in

21. Point of Contact Building bridges Prevention before incarceration
DAP theory
Changing stereotypes
Doing more than just locking people up

22. Why Re-Entry?
Recidivism Reduction: Overall decrease in inmate population
Fewer inmates returning: Revolving Door
Below Capacity for first time in 3 ½ decades

23. What is Re-Entry GED Anger Management Substance Abuse
Employable Skills
Horticultural and Landscaping
Judicial Readiness
Trustee Program

24. Re-Entry Chaplin Program
Church: Inside/Outside
Bible Study
Counseling
Outreach
Reunification
Baptism
Re-Entry started with Jesus

25. “Cops and Kids” SRO “Top Officers” Teen Court AMI Jail Tour
Gadsden Leadership Academy / Criminal Justice in Class

26. What Gadsden County has accomplished
by State of Florida numbers

27. Changing the Future School Growth
Gadsden Elementary Magnet School ranks top 10 in State of Florida
Gadsden 1# in math in the big bend in 2011
From Failing and a “C” school to “A” schools
From 43.1% graduation in 2003 to over 65% this year

28. Changing the Future Juveniles Arrested (FDLE)

29. Changing the Future 1999 to 2008 there were 2,279 children arrested
Over the last three years we have averaged 87 Children a year.
With an average of 87 Children over the next 10 years = 870 children
That means that using these methods 1,409 children will not be arrested in the next decade.

30. Changing the Future

31. Arrest/Delinquent

32. Changing the Future
1998 to 2007 there were 5,178 children considered Delinquent/Arrested in Gadsden County
The last three years average total of 177 Delinquent/Arrested
4200 less children will fall in to the system in the next decade

33. Changing the Future People sent to prison

34. 179 per year fewer go to prison
Breaking the Cycle
there was an average of 265 people sent to prison
In 2015 there were 86 people sent to prison
179 per year fewer go to prison
208% reduction

35. Our Children The Future
They are being victimized and incarcerated at an alarming rate. If we are unable to change our thought processes, our children will pay the price for our failures.

36. Pastors/Churches Answering the call (night or day)
Changing the mindset of our people
In the streets (crime, drug abuse/intervention, and education)
Days of Prayer
Hallelujah Night instead of Halloween
Watch Night on New Year’s Eve

37. Law Enforcement Major Shawn Wood Law Enforcement Bureau Chief
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office
339 East Jefferson Street
Quincy, FL 32351
(850)

38. Corrections Major Robert Barkley Corrections Bureau Chief
Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office
2135 Pat Thomas Pkwy
Quincy, FL 32351
(850)

39. How do you respond to this awesome community story?
Do you want to know more?
With whom can you discuss the effective collaboration seen here?
Is your community demonstrating collaboration between municipal and faith-based institutions and leaders?