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Juvenile Detention School Forms PTSA

Rio Contiguo PTSA, which serves the alternative high school at a juvenile correctional facility in the City of Orange, was chartered in August 2008.

Teachers and probation officers are serving as PTSA officers, while other teachers, administrators, staff members, probation staff and Fourth District PTA parents have signed up as members. Students are represented by a Student Council member.

“We have a three-pronged approach in working with this PTSA,” said Fourth District PTA President Patty Christiansen.

1) Provide parent education for the parents and for the students, many of whom have children.
2) Promote the Reflections program as a way to give these young people a voice in their community.
3) Focus on teacher appreciation, “because these educators – who have a real love for what they are doing – don’t get enough thanks for their work.”

The new PTSA plans to reach out to parents during visiting hours and has set up a display in the school office to provide brochures and information. The group will also be encouraging parent participation by scheduling speakers on topics of interest.

Newly elected PTSA President Maria Straith, a special education teacher at the school, said the focus at Rio Contiguo is bringing families together so the students will have good support when they leave.

About 25 Fourth District PTA members have joined the Rio Contiguo unit and plan to provide art materials, classroom supplies, sports equipment, and fill other needs for the school. Fourth District PTA has waived its portion of membership dues from the new unit.

“We are very excited about the PTSA,” said Rio Contiguo Principal LaDay Smith. “Everyone on our staff is ecstatic. Maintaining parental involvement is the key, and this will provide important new resources. The need was there, and now it’s being filled.”

The correctional facility houses about 125 youth, ages 15 to 17, most incarcerated for substance abuse violations. The students generally stay for about six months.

“The young people at this school come from difficult backgrounds, and what they find at Rio Contiguo is hope for a better future,” said Patty Christiansen. “We want to empower their parents by teaching them successful parenting skills, so that when the students return to their homes, that hope doesn’t disappear.”