Two programs within the local youth court are making successful strides in the fields of rehabilitation and career preparedness.
Youth Court Judge Betsy Cotton shared the success stories behind those two programs recently with the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors.
For over two decades, the local juvenile drug court’s presence within the local community has aimed its mission to address and reform addiction and drug activity among the youth. Cotton said since its inception in 2000, the program has seen 26 graduates, with one on the verge of graduation as well. The program is funded through the Supreme Court and the Department of Public Safety.
“It’s going pretty well,” Cotton said. “When I spoke to the Supreme Court last year, we are one of the top four in regard with the number of kids and success rate.”
Cotton said one silver lining found within the program is the lack of high-end drug addiction among the local youth. However, she said the main addictions include THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.
“With most of the kids, it is THC,” Cotton said. “When you are looking at the brighter side of things, what we don’t have with the kids that I see is the higher-end drugs. Once and awhile, we will get an amphetamine issue, and it is usually related to a kid’s medicine.”
Cotton said another successful program is the Youth Empowerment to Succeed program, better known as the YES program, offered through the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District. The educational and career readiness program is completely funded through the CMPDD at no cost to the county or its participants.
“If I have a child who is 16 or 17 years old and they are struggling in school or for any other reason, I can place them in the program, and they are taught and prepared to take the GED,” Cotton said. “They are provided with lunch at no cost. And in the afternoon, they are taught life skills, such as budgeting, resume building, job applications and how to interview.”
The afternoon life skills also allow the participant to receive a Smart Start Credit, Cotton said.
“They are also taught and prepared to take the National Readiness and Credential Program, which is a credential required by Amazon and Nissan to become full-time employees,” Cotton said. “Since the program began, the facility is now independently certified for all GED testing, both practice and full-time. They can also take the National Readiness Credential exam in-house. They are unable to take the ACT, but they can go to a high school to take that.”
Since its creation, Cotton said the program has seen nine participants graduate.
“The students work at their own pace, and we have had a fantastic success rate since the first year,” Cotton said. “It’s a good thing. And the partnership with the CMPDD has been very helpful. There are internships available for our students at no cost to the county.”
Cotton said the participants are also placed within the WIN database.
“We have one child doing HVAC at Holmes Community College at no dime out of his pocket,” she said. “They can do these trades through the collaboration with CMPDD and HCC, and they are able to move into these trades if that is what they want to do.”
The only requirement needed from the participants is transportation on their own.
“But we have a team with the kids in their heart,” Cotton said. “They know we are there to support them.”
