Rehabilitation Programs Division

Champions Youth Program (CYP)

The mission of the Champions Youth Program is to provide a vehicle of positive change for youthful inmates through targeted programs, supervision, and management in a safe, restorative environment

Program Overview:

The Champions Youth Program utilizes interventions such as education, life skills, creative expression, and positive communication skills to focus on the problem behaviors and developmental aspects of the youthful population. The program serves both male (Ellis Unit and Travis County State Jail) and female (Hilltop Unit) inmates between 14 and 17 years of age and includes a minimum of 10 hours of structured treatment services per week.

Youthful inmates are assigned to this program until their eighteenth birthday. The length of time in the program varies and is determined by age rather than completion of prescribed goals, and the issues presented in the population are complex and varied. There are multiple levels in the program, and each has its own set of responsibilities and privileges. To progress from one level to the next, a youthful inmate must complete a minimum number of weeks, mastering tasks at that level while demonstrating positive behavior. Once these requirements are met, the youthful inmate may make a request for advancement to the next level. As the youthful inmate advances, the level of responsibilities and privileges increase.

The Champions Youth Program is structured according to a two-track programming system. This system has a focus on basic skills and values by building and incorporating an individual strategy for each youthful inmate. Assignment to one of the two tracks is determined by the transition needs of the participant (i.e., release to TDCJ general population or from TDCJ custody) and track placement influences the focus of treatment planning. Comprehensive, interdisciplinary programming is established on a weekly schedule, which includes education, social skills training, anger management, values development, goal setting, cognitive restructuring, substance abuse education, conflict resolution, aggression replacement and life skills.

Youthful inmates identified with special needs will be assigned to an appropriate facility designed to meet their needs, to include inpatient psychiatric care and any special physical needs.

In addition to structured programming, inmates may attend religious services, volunteer facilitated activities such as substance abuse awareness groups, and Epiphany meetings.

Contacts:

For females:

Audrey Trout, Manager II – Female Programs
TDCJ - Rehabilitation Programs Division
PO Box 99
Huntsville, Texas 77342
Phone: (936) 437-7277
Fax: (936) 437-7326

For males:

Ruby Davis, Deputy Director – Programs Coordination & Development
TDCJ - Rehabilitation Programs Division
PO Box 99
Huntsville, Texas 77342
Phone: (936) 437-2839
Fax: (936) 437-7077