> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Terri Thomas Girls Program aims to help
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Terri Thomas Girls Program aims to help
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Ja'Net Smith, clinical director of the Terri Thomas Girls Program in Springfield, counsels one of the girls in the program. Reminder Publications photo by Lori Szepelak
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By Lori Szepelak
Correspondent
SPRINGFIELD A beautiful quilt sprinkled with affirmations greets girls who are trying to turn their young lives around at the Terri Thomas Girls Program on Tinkham Road.
For one 16-year-old named "Laniece" who resides in the city, the program has not only been "challenging" and "worthwhile," but has given her a "second chance" at righting the wrongs she has committed.
The Terri Thomas Girls Program is a detention and revocation (parole-violation) program that works with 12 adolescent female offenders in Western Massachusetts, according to Ja'Net Smith, clinical director. The program is named after a slain Department of Youth Services (DYS) worker, Terri Yvonne-Cherie Thomas, and ascribes to the belief that all young women can accomplish positive change. The local program is a service of the Center for Human Development (CHD), a provider for the Massachusetts DYS.
"The girls have become involved in the juvenile justice system due to a crime committed in the community, but statistics show that most of the girls are actually detained or committed to the DYS as a result of committing status offenses such as running away from home or failing to obey their curfew," said Smith during an interview with Reminder Publications.
"Our clients are referred to us by the local courts if the client is new to the court system, and by DYS if the client is DYS-committed," added Smith. "We do not determine who is sent to the program, but we are often at our capacity due to the limited number of beds for girls in the Western Mass. area."
Smith explained that status offenses are offenses that if committed by an adult would not result in incarceration.
"The girls reside in the program and receive educational, medical, recreational and clinical services within the facility," said Smith. "Some are awaiting their court dates and the outcome of their cases, others have been committed to DYS, have received treatment, returned to the community and have fallen short of the expectations of the department thus leading to a revocation of their freedom."
Smith noted that those girls are helped to determine the reasons for their breakdowns in the community, and staff members provide treatment of a short-term nature to assist in the girls' return to the community and prevent future breakdowns.
"I believe this program is important to this area because we provide treatment and services to a population that many dismiss or stigmatize," said Smith. "These girls have become involved in some type of criminal activity, but as you get to know their stories, you realize that there is usually so much that has led them to this place."
Smith emphasized that many girls have survived chronic neglect and abuse, many are extremely intelligent, but have fallen through the cracks in traditional school settings, many are from highly disadvantaged areas and low socio-economic situations, and most want something better for themselves and their families.
"They are resilient and appropriate intervention and treatment at this age can be life altering," said Smith. "The hope is that involvement in our program will deter future involvement in criminal activity and prevent graduation into the adult criminal system while giving a young girl a chance to change her life."
For Laniece, her background in the juvenile justice system is being committed on an assault and battery charge.
"I received treatment and went back into the community, but had difficulty and was recommitted on receiving a stolen motor vehicle and driving without a license," she said.
Laniece was placed at the Terri Thomas Girls Program to serve out her time for the list of her charges.
"My impression of this program was not ever wanting to come back or ever get locked up due to the fact that I lost my freedom, but at the same time, the program has helped my attitude and self-control," she added.
Laniece is a pretty young woman who feels strongly this time that this intervention will help her reach her potential. She was also quick to point out that she recently received word she had passed the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test. She also lights up when she adds that on her 17th birthday, she plans to sign up with the United States Air Force.
Clinicians like Smith have been a godsend for Laniece who explains that "I don't like what she says all the time, but she's straight with me."
Laniece also noted that she considers Smith a "mother figure to her" and trusts her something that is very important to girls like Laniece.
Smith jumped in and noted that her staff members approach the girls in a way that values their voice, empowers them, gives them a sense of mutual respect, and a space in which they can be authentic.
"We have seen that as we do this the girls tend to flourish," said Smith. "They are able to self-reflect and often find hope for themselves."
"This program is good for girls like myself who have low self-control and are always finding the easy way out," said Laniece. "Also, the staff members are very helpful and very understanding with dealing with the situations that occurred in our lives."
Perhaps Laniece summed up the program best when she added, "The program is helping me transform my life by showing me and letting me understand that outside of these walls there is another and better life that I should be looking forward to and that being in a detention program is not where I want to be."
With that determination and drive, the skies will be the limit for Laniece.
For more information on the program, visit the CHD's website at www.chd.org. Smith added that CHD is always looking for people in the community to collaborate with, whether it is professionals coming into the program to speak to the girls about their professions and career possibilities, or religious organizations who offer services to them, or citizens who would like to come in and lead reading groups or volunteer in any way to enrich the learning and growth of the girls. The girls are typically between the ages of 13 and 18, however, clients have ranged from ages 10 to 21.
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> Features > Pg 2 Feature Stories > Terri Thomas Girls Program aims to help
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