The Academy
AN OVERVIEW OF THE ACADEMY AS AN ADDENDUM TO
THE HABILITATION HOUSE PROPOSAL
The ACADEMY will embrace all aspects of the facility design, programs, services, vocational training/employment and holistic approach to the habilitation and reintegration of offenders as The HABILITATION HOUSE Proposal will be distinctly and specifically modified to accommodate a target population of 13-15 and 16-18 year old sentenced juvenile offender(s).
The education/work-ethic segment is still paramount but there is a shift of emphasis. The ACADEMY residents attend school full-time and work half-time. The end result is constant: to be accountable and responsible for their actions.
The staff to resident ratio is much different. Child Care licenses in almost all jurisdictions require no less that 1 to 8 per shift. The ACADEMY ratio exceeds that and achieves an over-all staff to resident ratio of 1 to 1.4 with all supervisors and above certified as Child Care Administrators.
The living quarters design has been modified into a quad arrangement. There is living quarters for a supervisory quad couple and a common area for every thirty-two (32) resident beds. This emulates a group home atmosphere and supervision in a high rise setting.
The education department is directed toward high school diplomas rather than G.E.D.’s and will be an integral part of the Independent School District and/or the CAP program. The recreation/athletic program will extend to regional community involvement, competition and participation.
The ACADEMY population criteria will require distinct modifications to THE HABILITATION HOUSE Proposal, but the bottom-line concept does not change. Priority is always the teaching and instilling of moral and social values, not by imposition and indoctrination but by availability, example, and a unique provision of services plan, greatly diminishing recidivism. All of this will be accomplished in the specially designed and constructed secure facility designated by the American Correctional Association as an “Accredited Juvenile Corrections Facility”.
We are convinced that the Bible is still the best textbook on criminal justice and Judea-Christian principles are the most effective guardian of our domestic welfare.
THE MAIN THING IS TO KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING.