It Is the Mission of the South Carolina

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the South Carolina

Department of Juvenile Justice to protect the public and reclaim juveniles through prevention, community services, education, and rehabilitative services in the least restrictive environment.

About Teen After-School Centers

The hours between the end of the school day and when parents return from work is a risky time for young people, and research has demonstrated that serious and violent crime committed by youth increases between these times. Teen After-School Centers (TASC) are daily after-school programs based in local churches, community centers, and other public buildings across the state, and are staffed by employees and volunteers with a heart for youth.

Often supplementing the normal supervision that DJJ provides, TASC are also designed to reduce the likelihood that program participants will be incarcerated. TASC provide supervision, structured daily activities, service coordination, and resource development for youth and their families. Individual educational enhancements are also developed for youth that have had academic or social difficulties in mainstream educational settings. They help enhance coping skills, increasing academic, vocational & employability skills, and building on competencies of youth & their families.

Among the most important outcomes of youth involvement in TASC, is that the program has been shown to reduce recidivism (i.e. not receiving additional criminal charges), lessen absences and out of school suspensions, increase school attendance, performance, and grade point averages.

Youth Participation in TASC

Serving a record 4,279 students in 2014-15, thirty-eight TASC sites are currently in operation across the state of South Carolina. The TASC program is designed to serve non-violent male and female youth ages12-17, who are at-risk of incarceration.

Youth can be referred to a TASC program by different sources including the Family Court, law enforcement, local school resource officers and school staff, DJJ staff or their parents. Local DJJ offices help each TASC program screen applicants to verify that they meet the criteria for admission to the program, and special emphasis is placed on youth currently involved with DJJ.

Program Activities/Components

TASC provide youth with many opportunities including:

• Attending sporting events and visiting state parks, libraries, and colleges;
• Educational support and after-school tutoring;
• Development of employability skills and job placement;
• Contact between youth and positive adult role models;
• Spiritual development and recreation;
• Community service and victim restoration;
• Parenting groups and youth life skills development;
• Conflict resolution and anger management;
• Gang prevention and intervention;
• Computer Labs and instruction.

Funding & Support

Each TASC site is awarded $12,000 to provide services to approximately 15-30 youth per year. It costs about a dollar a day to serve a TASC youth, compared to $426 a day to incarcerate him/her. Additionally, DJJ’s Office of Community Justice provides to each TASC at no cost guidance, training, and other resources, and volunteers and paid staff are screened by SLED, the SC Department of Social Services and the National Crime Information Center.

Awards

The 2012 South Carolina Rural Summit Partnership Award was presented to City of Laurens, City of Walterboro, and South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, in recognition of the combined efforts to enrich the lives of teens through the successful implementation of the Teen After-School Centers.

About Job Readiness Training

Job Readiness Training (JRT) is an employability training program of the Department of Juvenile Justice designed for at-risk high school students. JRT’s mission is to improve the overall functioning of at-risk high school students at home, in school, and in the community. The program provides job skills training, career exposure and community internship/work experience for participants from eight sites located throughout South Carolina.

JRT programs are a supplement to DJJ’s Teen After-School Centers (TASC), which are operated statewide. Annually, each JRT site provides up to 60 high school students, ages14-17, with comprehensive job readiness skills training, career exposure, and paid community internships at local businesses for a “real life” work experience. The goals and objectives of the JRT are to:

• Increase the employability of at-risk high school students;
• Improve school attendance and academic performance, decrease school dropout rates, and increase the likelihood of high school completion and enrollment in secondary education, or the military;
• Reduce the recidivism rate for students served by the program that are involved with DJJ by preventing further delinquency and/or violence.

How the JRT Program Operates

Each JRT provider site operates the 10-week program after school hours in spring, fall, and summer cycles, with up to 20 students attending in each cycle. In the fall and spring cycles students attend three days per week for the first four weeks, and then once per week for the final six weeks of the program. Students receive 15 hours of job readiness skills training (20 hours in the summer cycle) using the Tackling the Tough Skills curriculum, earning a stipend of $7.25 for each hour of successful participation. After successfully completing the first four weeks (one week in the summer) students begin working their 40 hour community internships (80 hours in the summer cycle), where they also earn $7.25 for each hour worked. Students typically work at their internships two days each week for about three to four hours each day over a six week period.

Referral and Acceptance into the Program

Students can be referred to the JRT program by a variety of sources including the Family Court, law enforcement, a local TASC site, school resource officers, school staff, DJJ staff, the student themselves, or their parents. All applications are screened to verify that students meet the criteria for admission to the program. Once it’s determined that the student meets the eligibility criteria, the JRT site coordinator will then provide the following services:

• An orientation on the program for the student and their family, parent or guardian will sign all required consent forms;
• Transportation arrangements with the student and family to ensure the student can safely get to and from the program;
• Schedule student to attend the next phase of the program.

Funding & Support

Each selected JRT site receives up to $60,000 per year (contingent on available funding in future years) to provide job readiness skills training for 60 students completing the program, along with other contractual responsibilities and program requirements. Additionally, each contract JRT site coordinator receives initial training provided by DJJ before beginning work at their respective locations. Additional training for JRT coordinators will be required as identified by DJJ’s regional Prevention Specialists.

TASC and JRT Site Program Information

Over the next several pages is information about the current TASC sites. While partnering with DJJ, each location operates independently and questions regarding specific programs should be directed to the individual TASC sites.

General questions about TASC and DJJ’s role should be directed to Deborah Lakin, Prevention and Intervention Coordinator by phone at (803) 896-4082, or by email to .

Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Aiken (TASC)

TASC Site Contact: Shawn Risher, Chief Professional Officer

Phone Number: (803) 270-6824

Email:

Physical Address:640 Laurens Street, NW Aiken, SC 29801

Website:None

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:2:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Closings:Closed for major holidays

Directions:I-20 West to Hwy 19 runs into 640 Laurens Street in Aiken

Youth Served: Ages 6-18

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Academics, Character and Leadership Development, Health & Nutrition, Sports and Recreation, Arts

Meals and/or Snacks Provided: Snacks (Summer Session meals)

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:School Bus

Amy Loftus,DJJ Aiken County Director

(803) 641-7735,

Second Baptist Christian Prep (SBC)

Teen After-School Center (TASC)

TASC Site Contact: Mr. Wyman Pope, Director

Phone Number: 803-292-1426

Email:

Physical Address:343 Laurens Street, NW Aiken, SC 29801

Website: N/A

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:3 pm - 6 pm

Closings: Follow school schedule for holidays and closings

Directions:1 block north of Aiken Public Safety station

Youth Served: Ages 11- 17yrs

Special Programs/Activities:Tutoring, Homework, Mentoring, Computer Training

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Snacks

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:None

Amy Loftus,DJJ Aiken County Director

(803) 641-7735,

Renewed Faith International Ministries (TASC)

TASC Site Contact: Patricia Jenkins

Phone Number: (803) 686-0853

Email:

Physical Address:626 Water Street, Allendale, SC 29810

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:3:00 pm – 5:30 pm

Closings:All School Holidays

Directions:Best to use Google Map

Youth Served:

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Mentoring, Exercise, Healthy Eating

Meals and/or Snacks Provided: Yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No

Wayne Bennett, DJJ Allendale County Director

(803) 584-4751,

Boys & Girls Club of Southern Carolina

(Serving Allendale and BarnwellCounties)

(TASC and JRT)

TASC Site Contact: Cindy Ball-Bernard, Director

Phone Number: (803) 541-7201

Email:

Physical Address (s):a)1750 Jackson St. Suite 122, Barnwell, SC 29812 b) Allendale Fairfax Learning Center: 172 Lee Street, Fairfax, SC 29810 c) Guinyard-Butler Middle School: 779 Allen Street, Barnwell, SC 29812 d) Blackville-Hilda Jr. High School: 446 Country Club Road Blackville, SC 29817

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:2:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Closings:

Directions:In the Town of Barnwell SC off of Hwy 70

Youth Served: Kindergarten to Age 18

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Academics, Character and Leadership Development, Healthy Life Skills, Tutoring, Sports and Recreation, Creative Art.

Meals and/or Snacks Provided: Yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No

Edward Golden, DJJ Barnwell County Director

(803) 259-7114,

Awendaw Regional Outreach Center

(TASC)

TASC Site Contact: Bettye J. Simmons, Ellamae Washington

Phone Number: (843) 928-3228, (843) 437-7040

Email: or

Physical Address: 5103 North Hwy 17, Awendaw, SC 29429

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation: 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Closings: Follow school holidays

Directions:Please use google maps and enter location address provided above.

Youth Served:

Special Programs/Activities:Arts and crafts, talk time, monthly workshops, annual community service projects, field experiences, student generated newsletter.

Meals and/or SnacksProvided:Yes meals provided by Café Mecaela

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:Currently we do not have transportation, however we are working on transportation.

Tashia Greene, DJJ CharlestonCounty Director

(843) 740-1649,

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate Cherokee County (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:Vance Hammond

Phone Number:(864) 489-3472 x 100

Email:

Physical Address: 100 Pecan Street, Gaffney, SC 29340

Website : bgcusc.org

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation: 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Closings: Follow school schedule

Directions:Take a right at Cherokee Avenue Baptist Church go over railroad tracks take a left, take the second right on pecan street. Club on the left.

Youth Served:Ages 12 to 18, grades 6th to 12th Gaffney Middle, Ewing Middle, Garnard Middle and Gaffney High School

Special Programs/Activities:Homework help, smart moves, winter league basketball, 3on3 basketball, junior staff, boxing program, cooking club, and computer lab

Meals and/or SnacksProvided:Snacks

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:None

Brandi Bright, DJJ Cherokee County Director

(864) 487-2564,

Pathfinders United (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:John K. Melton, Director

Phone Number:(843) 337-5475

Email:

Physical Address:316 Front St, Cheraw, SC 29520

Website:None

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:3 pm - 5 pm

Closings:Follow school schedule

Directions:Hwy 9 in cheraw, we are located 200 yrds. from the intersection of Hwy 9 and Front street.

Youth Served:All School levels

Special Programs/Activities:Tutoring, mentoring, field trips, recreational sporting activities, job training, choir, JROTC

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Both

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:None

Lisa Bailey, DJJ Chesterfield County Director

(843) 623-2477,

Hartsville Boys & Girls Club (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:Dianne Montgomery/Club Director

Phone Number:(843) 332-1400

Email:

Physical Address:1103 S. 6th St., Hartsville, SC 29550

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:Open immediately afterschool until 6 pm including early dismissal days. Non school days (teacher workdays, parent/teacher conference and spring break) open from 7:30 am - 7:00 pm.

Closings:Closed in 2014 January 20, May 26, July 4, September 1, November 27-28, December 23-30

Directions:From Highway 151, turn on 5th Street/US-15, continue on 5th Street heading towards downtown Hartsville. After going through the stop light passing the Newsome Dealership turn left onto 6th Street in front of store (Circle B's), Hartsville's Club is first buidling on right.

Youth Served:Ages 6-18 from elementary, middle and high schools.

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Participants participate in educational and recreational activites. Club programs address academic enrichment, character building as well as promoting healthy lifestyles.

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Snacks

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:Some elementary, middle and high school buses drop students off at the Hartsville Boys & Girls Club.

Lynn Gehrke, DJJ Darlington County Director

(843) 393-5641,

Carolina Teen Center (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:Lisa Hart

Phone Number:(843) 364-1363

Email:

Physical Address:933 West 1st North Street, Summerville, SC

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:3-6 pm

Closings:Holidays

Directions:Located in the town hall building in the center of Ridgeville on Hwy 2

Youth Served:Ages 12-18

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Yes

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:Transportation provided for DD4 School from school to the Teen Center on the school bus

Holly Bender, DJJ DorchesterCounty Director

(843) 832-4265,

Edgefield County Youth Empowerment Center

(TASC and JRT)

TASC Site Contact:Marcella Edwards, CEO

Phone Number:(803) 215-9758

Email:

Physical Address:117 Cardinal Drive, Johnston, SC 29832

Website:N/A

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:2:00pm - 6:00pm

Closings:Follow school schedule

Directions:Behind Johnston Center on Cardinal Drive.

Youth Served:Ages 5-17, grades 5k-12

Special Programs/Activities Provided:Life/soft skill classes, college tours, turoring, counseleing, spiritual development, family nights, community service projects, field trips, On the Courts vs. In the Courts Spring Basketball League, a Day with Professinal Foorbal Players Program, Professional Sports Program (attendance to professioal football, basketball, and baseball games), mentorship, parenting classes, family group conference, summer enrichment program, School Connectin Program, and Partnership with Sheriff's Office.

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Snacks will be provided to participants daily.

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:The Club is a approved stop, through the school district, for students from the elementary, middle and high schools.

Sandra Collier, DJJ Tri-Counties County Director

(Edgefield, McCormick, Saluda)

(864) 445-8138,

Florence Boys & Girls Club of the Pee Dee Area

(TASC and JRT)

TASC Site Contact:Michael Woods or Timothy Lucas

Phone Number:(843) 662-1142

Email: or

Physical Address:310 W. Roughfork Street, Florence, SC 29506

Website: None

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:Open immediately after school until 6 pm including early dismissal days. Non school days (teacher workdays, parent/teacher conference and spring break) open from 7:30 am - 5:30 pm.

Closings:

Directions:From the Florence City-County Complex go north on Irby Street, continue north on Irby Street crossing over Highway 52 (Lucas Street),after crossing Highway 52 (Lucas Street), the fourth right will be Roughfork Street, turn right on Roughfork Club one block on the right.

Youth Served:Ages 6-18 from elementary, middle and high schools.

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Participants participate in educational and recreational activites. Club programs address academic enrichment, character building as well as promoting healthy lifestyles.

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:

Reginald “Reggie” Cooper, DJJ Florence County Director

(843) 665-3080,

Lake City Boys and Girls Club (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:Jordan Washington, Club Director

Phone Number:843-374-3750

Email:

Physical Address:131 Calhoun Street, Lake City, SC 29560

Website: None

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:Immediately after school until 6:00pm. Non School days (teacher workdays, parent/teacher conference and spring break) open from 7:30am – 5:30pm.

Closings:

Directions:Mapquest

Youth Served:Ages 6-18

Special Programs/Activities Provided:students participate in educational and recreational activities. Club programs address academic enrichment, character building as well as promoting healthy lifestyles.

Meals and/or Snacks Provided:Yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:

Reginald “Reggie” Cooper, DJJ Florence County Director

(843) 665-3080,

Mamas Kids, Inc.

(TASC and JRT)

TASC Site Contact: Dr. Mary Rice-Crenshaw, Ms. Ella Moultrie

Phone Number: (803) 334-8578, (843) 325-3130

Email: or

Physical Address:8189 Choppee Road, Georgetown, SC 29440

Website:mamakidsinc.com

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:3:30 pm - 6:00 pm

Closings:All school holidays

Directions:Please use google maps.

Youth Served:

Special Programs/Activities Provided: Arts and Crafts, Talk Time, Monthly Workshops, Annual Community Service Project, Field Experiences, Student Generated Newsletter

Meals and/or Snacks Provided: Yes (provided by Mt. Olive Kids Café)

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:None

Melissa Bell Guinn, DJJ Georgetown County Director

(843) 546-8723,

Empowerment Zone (TASC)

TASC Site Contact:Karl Daniel

Phone Number:(864) 254-0090

Email:

Physical Address: 775 Woodruff Rd., Greenville, SC 29607 #D

Website:

Days of Operation:

M T W Th F Sa Su

Hours of Operation:9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Closings:Christmas Holiday, 4th of July

Directions:

Youth Served:need kids ages 3-18 years old

Special Programs/Activities Provided:Youth Entrepreneurial Program, Golf Academy

Meals and/or Snacks Provided: yes

Transportation Provided? Yes No Comments:None

Crystal Noble, DJJ Greenville County Director

(864) 467-5886,

GEARS Youth Services (TASC)

TASC Site Contact: Rona Neely

Phone Number: 864-509-6180

Email:

Physical Address:1070 E. Butler Road, Greenville, SC 29607