PBIS at DJJ: Sumter YDC

Story information provided by Statewide PBIS Administrator Janette Nihles

Recently, the Sumter Youth Development Campus (Sumter YDC) held several events for youth and employees alike as part of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Known as the Tiger's Den, the Sumter YDC allowed youth with high level behavioral scores in facility and school settings to participate in three events: the Mother and Son Dance, the Red and White Brunch and the Summer Splash.

The Mother and Son Dance was held in late July and 12 of the Sumter YDC youths participated in the event. In addition to the actual dancing, food and conversation were the part of the festivities with many of the youths' mothers, sisters and grandmothers in attendance. While being on the Sumter campus was a treat in and of itself, each visitor was also surprised with a unique gift bag as a way of saying "thank you" for attending this year's Mother and Son Dance. 

 

 







 

The Red and White Brunch brought together Sumter YDC youths with their mothers, sisters, aunts and, in one case, Officer Brown serving as a "family friend" for two of the participants. As part of the Red and White Brunch, youths had the opportunity to paint a picture for their family attendees and present their work during the meals. A highlight of the brunch included each youth handing out a rose to their special guests.







 



 



 

 

 





The Summer Splash is a staple of PBIS programming and this year's event at the Sumter YDC was cool reminder of its popularity. Seventy-three youths participated in waterslides, games and an overall fun time. No one, including staff, was spared from being doused with water during the Summer Splash, a cool way to reward good behavior at DJJ. 

 

 

 



 



 

PBIS is an evidence-based, data-driven framework proven to reduce disciplinary incidents, increase a school’s sense of safety and support improved academic outcomes. More than 23,000 U.S. schools are implementing PBIS and saving countless instructional hours otherwise lost to discipline. The premise of PBIS is that continual teaching, combined with acknowledgement or feedback of positive student over the counter behavior, will reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning. PBIS schools apply a multi-tiered approach to prevention, using disciplinary data and principles of behavior analysis to develop school-wide, targeted and individualized interventions and supports to improve the school climate for all students.