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The House That DJJ Built…
For more information, please see our promotional flyer for this program.
Dear Friends:
Katrina Shealy, chair, Friends of Juvenile Justice, and I have some exciting news to share! Under a pending partnership with Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity, our youth will begin soon to build frames for Habitat houses behind the fence for the project: “The House That DJJ Built.” This is another approach to preparing our youth to invest in themselves and their future. According to current plans, the house will move to its permanent location after Christmas for finishing work and be completed by spring. This is an unprecedented journey we will be taking; however, we are certain that the end results will be heralded as a juvenile justice model. As we begin this journey, we are engaging community partners who are supporting us with financial donations, giving in-kind donations of equipment and supplies, or providing much needed professional advice.
This partnership accomplishes some important goals for the agency and our youth including:
· Enabling DJJ youth to become job ready by developing construction skills
· Learning the value of teamwork
· Continuing to reform juvenile justice in South Carolina
· Strengthening our practices of a balance and restorative justice philosophy.
With that said, here are the specifics of what we hope to accomplish over the next few months. On October 18, DJJ and Habitat for Humanity will sign a Memorandum of Agreement. You are all invited to attend this momentous occasion at 10 a.m. at the Bill Rogers Community Connections Center. Soon after that date, you will begin to see youth behind the fence building the vast majority of the first house for a waiting Midlands family. Our hope is that we will be able to build at least one house per year. Unless we have to change location, the worksite will be the grassy area off of Youth Services Drive at the yield sign. Once the work is completed behind the fence, the house will be moved to a community site for completion. While the build continues in the community, youth under DJJ’s community supervision will assist in providing the labor.
Let’s keep the momentum and excitement going as we work together to encourage brighter futures for our youth!
I appreciate your support.
Warmest
regards,
Margaret H.Barber
Katrina
Shealy
South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
4900 Broad River Road
Columbia SC, 29212-3552
Telephone: 803-896-9749
The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age. THE FOLLOWING OFFICES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED TO HANDLE INQUIRIES REGARDING THE NONDISCRIMINATON POLICIES: Title IX -- Inspector General's Office -- 803-896-9595 Title II & 504 -- Special Education Office -- 803-896-8484.