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As the nation's eleventh largest school district, Dallas Independent School District serves more than 160,000 students who come from homes where 58 different languages are spoken.  Operating with a $1 billion dollar budget, DISD employs 18,613 employees including 10,000 teachers in 220 schools.

ELIMINATING BARRIERS TO LEARNING

3 Aug 2001

Eliminating Barriers to Learning

DISD's Youth & Family Centers Receive Commendation for Outstanding Programs and Services

The Dallas Independent School District's Youth and Family Centers received a commendation for exemplary program and practices in the Texas School Performance Review report issued recently by Carole Keeton Rylander, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. The report cited the Youth and Family Centers for providing mental and physical health services that contribute to improve attendance, a reduction in dropouts and fewer discipline referrals.

With nine centers, DISD has the largest and oldest school based-health program in the United States, said Jenni Jennings, DISD Executive Director–Youth and Family Centers. Started in 1969, the school-based health initiative has received state and national awards for its programs. Last year the center served more than 14,800 students.

Jennings said the success of the centers is because of one unique characteristic: "the involvement of the family in their child's education and health."

"The centers provide a safe place for children and family to talk about troubling issues whether depression, illness, school failure or peer relationships," she said.

The family of centers operates under two guiding principles that focus on the student's home and school. With such a targeted focus, the centers foster student success and reduce school failure, Jennings said.

"We believe that every child is a precious gift and deserves a family member who loves him and a teacher who cares." she added. "For every child that we serve, we facilitate connecting that child to a family member and teacher."

In 1995, DISD's Youth and Family Centers joined with Parkland Health and Hospital System to provide cost effective, accessible and quality physical and mental health care services. Some of the health services offered by the Youth and Family Centers include immunizations, sports physicals and screening of various health threats to help prevent and control diseases. Other services available to students and their families are parent training, group counseling, individual counseling, psychiatric consultation, drug education and after school programs.

Throughout the year, the centers sponsor several activities and programs from youth development to health education. All nine centers are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours two days a week until 8 p.m.

The DISD's Youth and Family Centers are:

•Kiosco Youth and Family Center

(at Cary/Thomas Jefferson) 10034 Hedgeway Drive (214) 357-9150 (214) 357-6212 FAX

•Nolan Estes Youth and Family Center

(Nolan Estes Plaza) 3434 S. R.L. Thornton, Suite 308 (214) 932-5351 fax: (214) 932-5360

•North Oak Cliff Youth and Family Center

(at Greiner Middle School) 501 S. Edgefield Avenue (972) 925-7160 fax: (972) 925-7155

•Redbird Youth and Family Center

(at T.W. Browne) 3803 Boulder Drive (214) 467-2202 fax: (214) 331-4148

•Seagoville Youth and Family Cente

(at Seagoville High School) 15920 Seagoville Road (972) 892-5960 fax: (972) 892-5361

•Spruce Youth and Family Center

(at Spruce High School) 9716 Grady Lane (972) 286-0043 fax: (972) 557-7663

•West Dallas Youth and Family Center

(at Pinkston High School) 3131 North Hampton Road (214) 630-2071 fax: (214) 630-3281

•White Rock Youth and Family Center

(at Bryan Adams High School) 9941 Lingo Lane (214) 327-4266 fax: (214) 327-9280

•Woodrow/Long Youth and Family Center

6006 Reiger Street (214) 841-5295 fax: (214) 841-5299

b>•Youth and Family Centers Administration Office:

1140 Empire Central Place, #106 (972) 502-1200 fax: (972) 502-1201/

For more information about the services and program of the Youth and Family Centers, contact Jenni Jennings at (972) 502-1200.