WV.gov
Text size A  A  A
Report: Gov. Justice appoints Mark Sorsaia as Secretary of Dept. of Homeland Security

Juvenile Services Co-Hosting Re-Entry Networking Conference

3/25/2015

West Virginia Division of Juvenile Services

Stephanie Bond, Director

1200 Quarrier St.

Charleston, WV 25301

Media Contact:  Lawrence Messina

W.Va. Dept. of Military Affairs and Public Safety

(304) 558-2930

Lawrence.C.Messina@wv.gov

For Immediate Release

March 25, 2015

 

W.Va. Division of Juvenile Services to co-host March 30 

Juvenile Re-Entry Network Conference with Diocese of

Wheeling-Charleston

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Organizations that help West Virginia youths successfully exit the state’s juvenile justice system will gather on Monday, March 30, 2015 to network and share information regarding the various opportunities available to at-risk youth. 

The W.Va. Division of Juvenile Services and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, through its Office of Prison Ministry, are holding the Juvenile Re-Entry Networking Conference at the Pope John XXIII Pastoral Center in Charleston. Scheduled participants include community mental health and transitional living providers, probation officers and such groups as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Kanawha Institute for Social Research & Action (KISRA).

The W.Va. Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Community and Technical College System and state circuit judges will also take part in the daylong conference. The agenda focuses on efforts to help youths move from the custody of Juvenile Services into community-based settings. 

“This is a very exciting time in West Virginia, as so many agencies are working together to help at-risk youth,” said Division of Juvenile Services Director Stephanie Bond.  “This conference is a great opportunity for DJS and DOE staff to learn about various services available to assist our kids as they transition to the community upon release.”

This learning and networking opportunity also follows passage of juvenile justice reforms proposed by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. The ground-breaking legislation reflects recommendations from the West Virginia Intergovernmental Task Force on Juvenile Justice, formed by Gov. Tomblin and assisted by The Pew Charitable Trusts. The data- and research-driven reforms emphasize keeping at-risk youths in their homes and communities whenever possible while enhancing accountability and improving public safety. 

The Division of Juvenile Services is part of the W.Va. Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety.