LARNED — The Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility Advisory Council held its quarterly meeting Tuesday.
Attending were Montagga Wright, Member-at-Large; Courtland Holman, Larned Chamber of Commerce Exec. Director;  Rita Kurtz, Broker, Member-at-Large;  Doug Waddington, LCMHF Warden; Tom Seltmann, Member-at-Large; Vicki Gillett, Member-at-Large; Jim Misunas, Great Bend Tribune; Mira Vucicevic, LJCF Superintendent; Julie Snodgrass, LJCF Training Director; Rob Manry, LJCF Business Manager; Gerald Jenisch, LJCF Juvenile Corrections Director; David Hales, LJCF Clinical Chaplain; Anita Ellison, LJCF Program Director; Cindy Stejskal, LJCF Human Resources Manager; Nicole Tice, Human Services Administrator; Kim Teegerstrom, Administrative Specialist; Cheryl Moore, PbS Coordinator.
LJCF Guests — Samuel Sullivan, JCOI; C.T. Taylor, PSII; Kathy Schneider, RN Senior; Destiny Hayward, JCOI; Briana Straub, JCOI; Mason Smith, JCOI; David McFadden, GMRT.
Topic Discussion
LJCF Superintendent Mira Vucicevic opened with introductions. Vucicevic reviewed the Juvenile Justice Authority Values and Mission and Vision Statements. A 15-member juvenile correctional group met in Topeka in December.
The group composed the agency mission statement which is “The Juvenile Justice Authority assists youths in being very successful and productive citizens by:
• Implementing the use of evidence-based practices.
• Operating safe and secure facilities.
• Engaging families and stakeholders.
• Evaluating processes and results.
“As we strive to meet our mission, Kansans will enjoy safer communities through prevention, intervention and rehabilitation and reintegration services provided to children and their families.”
The Juvenile Justice vision statement is, “Better lives, stronger families, safer Kansas.”
The Juvenile Justice values are, “Integrity, trustworthiness, innovation and support.”
The Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority is a cabinet level criminal justice agency that began operating on July 1, 1997. Individuals as young as ten years of age and as old as 17 years of age may be adjudicated as juvenile offenders and ordered into the custody of the Commissioner of Juvenile Justice. The JJA may retain custody of a juvenile offender in a juvenile correctional facility to the age of 22 1/2 and in the community to the age of 23.
Employees of the Fourth Quarter, 2012 — Ann Schreiber, Westside Secretary, Non Uniform Employee-of-the-Quarter; Amanda Davis, JCO I, Uniform Employee-of-the-Quarter
Employees of the First Quarter, 2013 — David McFadden, General Maintenance Repair Technician, Non Uniform Employee-of-the- Quarter; Samuel Sullivan, JCOI, Uniform Employee-of-the-Quarter
Employees of the Year — C.T. Taylor, PSII, Non Uniform Employee-of-the-Year; Miguel Ibarra, JCOI, Uniform Employee-of-the-Year
New Employees — Recognition was given to new employees hired — Kathy Schneider, RN; JCO I’s — Autumn Preston, Mason Smith, Timothy Stiers, Curtis Werner, Matthew Thoren, Chris Curtright, Destiny Hayward, Briana Straub

LJCF Events  
The Employee Activity Fund (EAC) sponsored a turkey give away for Thanksgiving and a ham give away for Christmas. There were daily drawings for a week prior to each holiday.
EAC sponsored the Employee Christmas Party Dec. 1 at the Knights of Columbus. Festivities included a catered meal, games and the Employee-of-the-Year presentation.
The Tri-Agency Bowling Tournament was held Jan. 12. There were 15 teams. LCMHF took first and second place; LSH took third place.
The Christmas Swing Band from Barton County Community College performed for the youth Nov. 27.
The Youth Special Events Committee sponsored “Christmas Around the World,” Dec. 20. There were eight different stations set up with Christmas related activities for youth to participate in. At one station, “The Gift of Giving,” youth could voluntarily make a donation to the Kansas Food Bank. Youth donations totaled $444.66.
 Over the Christmas break, many youth took part in the Varsity and Junior Varsity Basketball Tournaments. Some also entered their drawings in an Art Contest.
Chaplain David Hales has seen an increase in chapel services and has several youth events planned for the upcoming year.

Death of Employee
 Steve Crockett, LJCF Discipline Hearing Officer, and a 40-year state employee, passed away Jan. 20 due to complications following surgery.

Human Resources
Cindy Stejskal reports Time and Labor is a statewide process in the final implementation stages. Employees will record their own time on the Employee Self Service website and supervisors will approve entries through the same system. This will help to decrease paper and storage costs as well as provide a more efficient process for time keeping.

Juvenile Corrections Director
Gerald Jenisch, LJCF Juvenile Corrections Director, reports Scott Unit was open in December. This required the movement of some youth to other units as 15 incoming youth were admitted over a three week period. Overall, the transition went very well. Staff did a great job.
“Congratulations to Sam Sullivan for being voted Employee of the Quarter,” Jenisch said. “Sam demonstrates the best traits of a good JCO which include listening and talking to the youth.”

Health Services
Administrator
Nicole Tice, Human Services Administrator, said LJCF is working with staff at KJCC and Central Office to provide the most up to date services for Sexual Offender/Substance Abuse programming.  UKPI is seeking applicants for a dentist and physician for contract services. LJCF has an opening for an unclassified psychologist for sexual offender programming.

Business Manager
Rob Manry, LJCF Business Manager, said items on the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan include: new fire panel system, parking lot resurfacing, shower upgrade, electric fence and new dishwasher.

Program Director
Anita Ellison, LJCF Program Director, said the Corrections Counselor IIs will be meeting at Ellsworth DOC on the 20th for Offender Workforce Development/Release Planning Training.
Training Director
Julie Snodgrass, LJCF Training Director, said annual Training begins next week with Back to Basics Training. The focus will be on reviewing current processes and improving where necessary.

PBS Coordinator
Cheryl Moore, PBS coordinator, gave an overview of the PbS (performance based standards) process. LJCF is working on several outcome measures to reach a score of ‘3’ in April which is the next review period.

Community Committee Members
 Rita Kurtz and Courtland Holnan reported that ground had recently been purchased for a 20 unit housing addition. This will be rental property and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
The next meeting is set for May 7.