Rescue 2 Restore

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Rescue 2 Restore Implementing Animal Programs in
DJJ Facilities

• Chrissy Kaczynski, Animal Programs Coordinator

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Mission and Vision

• Mission
• Rescue 2 Restore is a mutually beneficial program
  aiming to improve the quality of life for youth
  housed in juvenile detention centers around the
  state of Georgia while providing a second chance
  for rescue/shelter dogs that would otherwise have
  been euthanized.
• Vision
• OFFER HOPE AND CHANGE, where youth will gain a
  sense of responsibility and companionship, and
  the dogs will become adoptable.

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Program Establishment
Rescue 2 Restore was established in June 2014 as
a component of the Georgia Department of Juvenile
Justice, Division of Volunteer Services. The
department identified animal programming as a
successful method to provide youth with life
skills, while educating the youth on animal care
and compassion. Behaviorally, animal programs
have proven to alleviate depression and encourage
good behavior. Rescue 2 Restore is responsible
for building community partnerships and providing
the youth with positive animal interactions and
lessons.
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Scope of Service

• System Wide Services
• Training Providing structured dog training
  programs in the facilities that house animals.
  The training program will teach the dogs skills
  to make them more adoptable, while teaching the
  youth patience and using positive reinforcement
  to create positive results.
• Education One time and recurrent volunteers will
  educate the youth on a variety of animal issues
  including proper animal care, animal abuse and
  cruelty, pet therapy, working and service dogs,
  careers in the pet industry, and competitive dog
  sports.
• Community Partnerships Through community
  partnerships the youth will be able to give back
  to their community through programs in the
  facilities and community service after release.

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Community Partnerships

• Dog Training Programs In these programs the
  youth give back to the community by providing
  training to dogs that would otherwise be
  euthanized at local shelters. Through these
  partnerships the youth are able to help the dogs,
  rescue groups, and eventually families in their
  community who seek to adopt a well trained dog.
• Dog House Building Youth will be able to build
  dog houses to provide proper shelter for dogs in
  their community. Thus assisting both families who
  cannot afford adequate housing for their pets and
  the animals that benefit from proper shelter.
• Community Service Partnerships Youth will have
  opportunities to volunteer through community
  outreach and animal welfare projects.

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Current Programs

• Elbert Shaw Regional Youth Detention Center
• Community Partner The Humane Society of
  Northwest Georgia
• Current Dogs 2
• Youth in Program varies

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Current Programs

• Muscogee Youth Development Campus
• Community Partner Humane Society of Harris
  County
• Current Dogs 4
• Youth in Program 9
• Training Currently have a 12 week training
  program with a volunteer trainer assisting one
  day a week.

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Future Programs

• Gainesville Regional Youth Detention Center
• Community Partner The Humane Society of
  Northeast Georgia
• Planned of Dogs 4
• Planned of Youth varies
• Atlanta Youth Development Campus
• Community Partner Atlanta Pet Rescue
• Planned of Dogs 4
• Planned of Youth 8

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Community Partners Role

• Provide vet care for the dogs in the program
• Provide all supplies and medications needed for
  the dogs in the program
• Transport dogs who graduate the program to
  adoption events and to meet potential families
• If possible, provide resources for training and
  speakers at their partner facility
• If possible, provide community service or
  employment opportunities for the youth in the
  community

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Animal Program Coordinator's Role

• Provide assistance in locating trainers and
  speakers to supplement the program in the
  facility
• Assist in training DJJ staff and ensuring the
  animals and youth are interacting in a safe
  manner
• Assist in evaluating the temperament of potential
  dogs for the program
• Oversee the implementation of new programs and
  growth of existing programs
• Evaluate program effectiveness
• Advise on best practices and assist with
  identifying and implementing beneficial programs

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Expected Outcomes

• The youth will learn to use positive
  reinforcement to achieve positive results through
  training their canine partners
• Good behavior will increase among the youth who
  want to participate and remain in the dog program
• Depression will decrease among the youth in the
  program.
• The youth will develop a sense of responsibility
  through caring for their canine partner.
• The youth will develop group and interpersonal
  skills through training as a team.

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Expected Outcomes

• The youth will repay their community through
  training homeless pets and assisting in making
  them adoptable.
• The youth will learn about animal care, rescue,
  training, and adoption.
• The youth will see the positive result of their
  contribution when the animals graduate the
  program and are adopted.
• The DJJ will provide a service to the community
  by housing the homeless pets at their facility.

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Community Partnership Programs

• The Humane Society of the United States(HSUS)
  Pets for Life Program
• Youth required to complete community service
  hours will partner with their outreach program.
  They will learn about animal care and the HSUS
  outreach efforts that provide veterinary care in
  low income neighborhoods.
• Lifeline Animal Project Dog House Building
• Youth at YDC locations with wood shops will build
  dog houses to donate to Lifeline Animal Project
  for their outreach efforts.
• Lifeline will explain their efforts in low income
  neighborhoods to the youth and follow up with
  success stories after the houses are delivered.

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Contacts

• Chrissy Kaczynski
• Animal Programs Coordinator
• Christine.Kaczynski_at_djj.state.ga.us
• [phone]
• 3408 Covington Highway
• Decatur, GA 30032
• www.djj.state.ga.us