Center in SW expands new approach to Court-supervised youth  
 
WHAT: Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting: Southwest BARJ Drop-In Center     WHERE: South Capitol Street at N Street, SW 
 
WHEN: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 11am 
 
WHO:  Chief Judge Lee F. Satterfield Deputy Mayor Paul Quander Deputy Mayor Beatriz “BB” Otero Councilmember Tommy Wells (Ward 6)  Councilmember Jim Graham (Chair, Human Services Committee) Family Court Presiding Judge Zoe Bush Terri Odom, Director, Family Court Social Services Division   
 
The Southwest Balanced and Restorative Justice Drop-In Center (BARJ) is multi-faceted facility,  encompassing a probation office, learning lab, vocation training center (focusing on food preparation, web design and silk-screening), and offering a host of strength-based services and activities.  Participating youth will take part in a number of pro-social activities including:  tutoring, learning labs, mentoring, education and prevention groups, life-skills, vocational training, community service, restorative justice, indoor recreation, and field trips.  Refreshments, as well as family-style dinners, will be provided and youth will take part in the ‘Real Men and Women Cook’ program, which focuses on meal preparation skills.  The Center is an alternative to detention for youth living in the Southwest quadrant of the city who are awaiting trial and in need of a higher level of supervision, and youth on probation who are at risk of having their probation revoked because they are not complying with court-ordered conditions.  The Southwest BARJ Drop-In Center will be open Monday through Saturday and will serve court-involved youth and their families. It will also be accessible to the community when it is not operating services and programs for court-involved youth.