JJAB Executive Director Lisa Zuhn
By CHARMIAN SCHALLER
Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos
Lisa Zuhn, executive director of the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, spoke at Kiwanis (via Zoom) Oct. 20, describing JJAB’s successful adjustment to a major societal problem—the coronavirus pandemic.
Zuhn Joined a Vital Organization
Zuhn became executive director of JJAB about 18 months ago after serving as the organization’s “court administrator.” She is a native New Mexican (“born in Albuquerque and raised in the Jemez Mountains”), with a degree in hospitality and tourism services from New Mexico State University, and a master’s degree in business administration from Houston Baptist University. She spent 18 years in Texas before she and her husband relocated to Los Alamos in 2009.
JJAB, she said, is a non-profit, started in 2004, that was originally created to help young people who were “already in the justice system”. At that time, young Los Alamos County residents in trouble with the law had to go off the Hill for services, she said.
JJAB made it possible for them to get the necessary care and counseling in Los Alamos.
Over time, JJAB widened its reach to provide services that might help families solve their problems without encountering the courts.
JJAB’s website says that today, “The Los Alamos JJAB strives to help youth, and their families in our community feel connected, valued, and recognized. By partnering with other community organizations, JJAB assists with concerns regarding youth and family issues by providing individualized case management, parenting workshops, youth activities, and free classes and training.”
A JJAB flyer on the “Resource Specialist Program,” explains, for example, “Our community offers a number of resources for youth and their families, but it can be difficult to know where to start.”
Zuhn said that the Research Specialist Program, JJAB’s largest program, has six caseworkers who “determine the needs of the family” and connect family members “with what’s available”.
The flyer says, “JJAB resource specialists can help navigate the maze of public and private supports to find just what each youth needs.
Resource specialists are available year-round to connect youth and their families to:
- Local and regional therapists;
- Social activities and summer supports;
- Basic life needs (such as) housing, food, clothing, and the Internet;
- Childcare options;
- Legal resources;
- Substance abuse supports;
- Health Services; and
- Financial resources.
The flyer concludes, “The Resource Specialist Program is available to youth, and their families, who live or attend school in Los Alamos County. Services are free (and) confidential. And bilingual services are available.”
When the coronavirus pandemic struck, JJAB employees found that in many cases, their work and their existing programs positioned them perfectly to help those struggling to survive difficult times.
For example, Zuhn commented, “Our specialists were already set for remote work before COVID. We were able to pivot.”
In addition, JJAB has a board “made up of community members including parents, youth, government leaders, judges, and representatives from numerous community organizations” that can help them understand what is needed and decide how to respond.
The organization now has 18 programs, Zuhn said, some of which it administers, and some of which it helps to fund. (For a complete list of its programs and services, go to losalamosjjab.com and click on Programs and Services.)
COVID Brought New Problems
There have been major changes since the coronavirus struck. For example, before the pandemic, 55 percent of JJABs referrals “came from the schools,” Zuhn said. But the schools have shut down.
“Now,” she said, “referrals can come from anyone, anywhere.”
JJAB stayed in touch with its pre-coronavirus clients while trying to help many new people.
And now that the schools have started up in new ways and places, Zuhn said, “We are seeing more (school) referrals.” She added, “We are seeing more need for mental health help” also, because of stress and the new approach to academics.
JJAB Is Trying New Approaches
JJAB has tried some creative approaches to local problems—the “Community Gift Card
Program,” for example. Five businesses offered cards for such things as dinners and store items. So far, Zuhn said, “We have distributed 98 cards” totaling $5,540, and reached out to 257 residents.
JJAB also responded to a “call to action from the schools”.
“We started a volunteer tutoring program,” she said.
Eventually, the volunteer staff included 12 members of Key Club and 13 adults. They have tutored “all subjects”, for kindergarten through 12th grade.
“(Kiwanis member) Betsy Hemphill did a tutor orientation that was a great help,” Zuhn said.
JJAB volunteers have provided “meals for teachers” and helped put classrooms together.
JJAB’s “One Circle” program for girls and boys provides structured support groups with trained facilitators. Each group meets for eight weeks, helping with such issues as how to build self-esteem and how to handle bullying.
JJAB is trying to find ways to engage young people in crafts.
And the Restorative Justice program is back. If a young person has committed an offence, JJAB may put together a conference involving the youthful offender, the victim, and representatives of the public. For example, a young person charged with painting graffiti on building walls might meet with the building owner, parents, and artists who could discuss better means of expression.
These conferences are “really impactful”, Zuhn said.
JJAB has a support group called “Dads of Teen-agers”. Participants talk about their struggles and successes. They will be meeting at Ashley Pond through November.
JJAB is helping to fund Natural Helpers, a peer-to-peer helping organization that is in place at Aspen and Barranca Mesa Elementary Schools.
JJAB also helps to fund Youth Mobilizers at the Teen Center, which has monthly meetings and provides such things as cooking classes.
JJAB Lists Some Conclusions
Through contacts with many local people, Zuhn said JJAB has reached several conclusions:
- “The youth are really wanting and needing to socialize.”
- Parents are “just trying to balance it all”—childcare, working, teaching, etc. JJAB is using its knowledge and experience to help. (For example, it has referred families to the YMCA’s childcare program.)
- Mental health services are full and are having to refer potential new patients to out of town sources.
- And some families find it very hard to do everything online.
With these findings in mind, JJAB is doing its best to help—drawing on its hard-won experience to counsel, teach, and reassure local people, and, when necessary, guiding them to other agencies that can give them the assistance that they need today.
