Montgomery County Celebrates New Community Partnerships

On December 4, 2013 two Montgomery County organizations were recognized for their dedication to serving Court-involved youth in their community: K12 Art Gallery (pictured left below) and Union Savings Bank (pictured right below). Judge Nick Kuntz and Judge Anthony Capizzi joined staff from Montgomery County Juvenile Court’s Probation Department, Reclaiming Futures, and Nicholas Residential Treatment Center at the Department of Youth Services Community Recognition Awards Luncheon. Montgomery County was the only County to have two programs recognized in their community.
 
K12 Gallery has provided arts exposure to the young people we serve through the HAALO Program. The HAALO (Helping Adolescents Achieve Long-term Objectives) Program was created by the staff at K12/TEJAS Art Gallery, in partnership with the staff at Montgomery County Juvenile Court, to expose Court-involved youth to different mediums of art while also teaching them life skills that will assist them in being successful members of our community. Arts exposure can be an integral asset building tool for our young people; from critical thinking, problem solving, and communication skills to creativity, motivation, and patience-the therapeutic process of the HAALO Program has endless benefits for the young people involved.
The staff and artists at K12 have the ability to see something special in our young people, even when they are completely shut down. They are persistent in helping these youth realize their full potential. Because of K12’s commitment to our youth, the HAALO program continues to motivate all the youth involved by giving them a chance to follow their dreams and develop their strengths while instilling a sense of responsibility for one’s community. K12 is changing the lives of many youth who would have otherwise gone uninspired.
Union Savings goes above and beyond to support Juvenile Court programming by funding once in a life time opportunities for the boys at Nicholas Residential Treatment Center. In a typical year, Union Savings Bank will easily sponsor over a half dozen events. In just the past year these activities include: hosting a softball tournament (with door prizes for the kids) for the entire Court and surrounding governmental agencies, taking the youth to a Cincinnati Reds game, attending Dayton Dragons baseball games, having a pumpkin carving contest, going to a corn maze, sponsoring 5K runs, touring the Ohio Caverns, Zip Lining, admission to Scene 75, and Kings Island tickets.
On top of all this, they also always feed the large group of hungry boys. What’s more important is that the staff at Union Savings Bank attends all these activities with the boys. This is an excellent opportunity for these young men to build relationships with professional adults who can serve as positive role models as they are making better choices to transition back to their community.

 
Judge Nick Kuntz, Judge Anthony Capizzi and Reclaiming Futures, Montgomery County are proud to celebrate our Community Partners. Their dedication is recognized as we go beyond treatment by engaging the youth we serve in these wonderful community programs.

Mike Garrett began his career with the Court 14 years ago as a Youth Leader in Detention Services. Throughout his tenure with the Court, Mike has served as a Youth Leader, Receiving Specialist, Court Service Officer, and a Traditional Probation Officer. He was promoted to a specialized Probation Officer with the Juvenile Cognitive Alternative Rehabilitation Effort supervising felony offenders and was later promoted to Probation Services Supervisor with the Resource Planning Program. Mike is extremely passionate about working with families, volunteers and the community. Mike received training from the University of Cincinnati on the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 2008. He has over five years experience delivering and implementing CBT strategies into case management. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration from Columbia College and a Master’s Degree of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati. He is happily married to his wife of ten years and has two daughters.