Enhanced Pre-Kindergarten Education (Pre-K)
According the Center for Public Education: A large and growing body of research show that investing in high-quality pre-kindergarten education yields benefits for children, schools and communities.

The National Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort shows that in addition to Pre-K attendees scoring higher on reading and math tests than children receiving parental care, they also:

• Were less likely to be arrested for violent or drug crimes
• Had significantly fewer arrests than the comparison group
• In their 27th year, were less likely to drink and smoke
• At age 40, 76% were employed vs 62% of non-participants
• At age 40, averaged $5,000 more in income than non-participants
• More likely to own their own homes
• More likely to have savings accounts

This year, Giles added 36 additional Pre-K slots.

Summer Youth Work Program (SYWP)
The SYWP is a youth focused “world of work” training program. Youth aged 16 through graduation are eligible to apply. SYWP youth fill out an application form, are interviewed and then placed in a real business that best compliments their interests and aptitudes. Youth not only benefit from their improved transition into adulthood and economic self-sufficiency, they also apply academic and occupation-specific skills. Additionally, they learn broader employment skills such as teamwork, time management and problem-solving.

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• Teen employment is associated with improved employment and earnings outcomes later in life.
• They are paid a minimum wage incentive: ½ is contributed by the training site and ½ by Giles County.
• SYWP is administered by county staff. Goodwill Industries handles payroll.

Giles County Day Report Center (DRC)
Six year ago, Giles County established a DRC for non-violent and non-sexual offenders. They may be first-time or repeat offenders, but the intervention and treatment programming they receive, assists in breaking the cycle of recidivism.

DRC participants voluntarily agree to participate when and if the courts offer them this alternative sentencing option. They begin their DRC program with a comprehensive needs assessment evaluation. This consists of a Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory, a Level of Service/Case Management Inventory and the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire.

These are scored by a counselor who prepares recommendations outlining the level and type of treatment that will lead to the clients best opportunity for success. They then serve the amount of court-ordered time in these prescribed programs at the DRC.

Six years of data has documented a very low recidivism rate of 18% for DRC graduates.

DRC is funded by the county and administered by county staff.

Giles County Community Service Program (CSP)
The CSP was established in August of 2014. It allowed another viable option to the courts for alternative sentencing. It, in turn, reduces the number of bed-day per diems at the regional jail, it provides a significant, supplemental labor pool to the county and, extremely important to the client, it provides them with a way to pay off their court costs.

CSP helps ex-offenders gain self-confidence and enhance their good work habits. It provides a positive working experience, improves their skills and establishes a job reference. Additionally, it has enhanced the management and supervisory skills of the Giles staff who work directly with these individuals.

CSP participants average in excess of 200 hours of work performed per week. A number of these participants have gone on to full-time employment within the private and public sectors.

CSP is funded by the county and administered by county staff.

Access to Community College Education (ACCE)
ACCE is a partnership between Giles County and New River Community College (NRCC). The program enables a Giles high school graduate to obtain an Associate Degree or Certificate at no-cost to them. The student is required to complete their FAFSA, maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA (grade point average), take an NRCC placement test, submit SAT or ACT documentation and participate in 80 hours of community service per year.

This is the first program year and we had 68 high school graduates apply, 21 received full scholarships and 33 accepted ACCE funding.

The benefits of a more educated population are extensive.

• The increased earning power of a college education was worth about $450,000 in 2007 dollars.
• Educated individuals are more likely to volunteer, vote and raise healthier, better educated children.
• College graduates are two times more likely to be in better health than high school degree holders.
• ACCE is supported ½ by Giles County and ½ half through contributions from local business and individuals. Giles staff and NRCC staff administer ACCE.

Public/Private Sector Collaboration
Giles County is fortunate to be the home of a highly supportive business community.  These include, but are hardly limited to Celanese, Chemical Lime, AEP, Carilion Clinics and NanoSonic.  It is NanoSonic that I will focus on here.

NanoSonic is recognized as a world leader in the nanotechnology industry.  Their clients include NASA, US DOD and US DOT.  These are also committed to exciting Giles students on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) topics.

In collaboration with the Giles County School System, NanoSonic and Leidos Corporation, a US Department of Transportation Grant was applied for and awarded.

The Phase I award was intended to develop lesson plans (STEM) related to transportation engineering issues-Intelligent Transportation.  Ten lessons were developed for middle schoolers and ten for high schoolers.  In Phase II, these are now about to be taught to the students.

This project is funded through US DOT.

Staffing is provided by the Giles School System Teachers and NanoSonic and Leidos Corporation Engineers.

Department of Social Services/Temporary Aid for Needy Families Program (TANF) Collaboration
TANF is administered through DSS.  Individuals receiving public benefit through TANF, who are physically able to work are referred to our Giles Community Service Program.  Each referral is interviewed to learn what their interests, aptitudes and aspirations may be.  We in turn, provide the tools and guidance to help them achieve their goals; should they chose to use them.  At the same time, we place them in a public work setting where they can satisfy their, up to  (state mandated) 35 hours/week participation requirement.  In return for the public assistance that they receive, they provide direct benefit to the public.  If a participant demonstrates a willingness to work, the next step is to attempt to place them in a paid position.  Additionally, if an individual has expressed an interest in furthering their education, they are referred to a battery of Interest Inventory and Aptitude Assessment Tests (at the Workforce Office) and then placed on a complimentary educational path.   The CoMPETE Program (through Virginia Tech) has been able to provide temporary pay for several participants during an employment trial period.

No additional support is required beyond staff time of the collaborating organizations.

Community Mapping Project

This project is the overriding component to our entire philosophy!
The Health of Giles County: A Systemic Approach. 

This project has just been completed whereby GIS Overlays were designed to geographically show where 23 different types of reactive services were utilized throughout the county.  These reactive services included domestic calls, truancy, incarcerant locations, ems calls,  etc..  This mapping demonstrated that 5% of county locations utilized 55% of all our reactive services.  This data is currently being discussed with all our collective service provider network to better help them direct their efforts within these high impact areas.  This will be done in a centrally coordinated, cross-agency, system wide and accountable fashion.  Therefore, these at-risk/high-risk citizens will have their access to all applicable support services maximized.

Parenting Inside Out

This upcoming single component will be offered in the coming year to incarcerants at our regional jail.  They will receive 90 hours of parenting skills instruction.  This has been demonstrated to not only benefit the children of incarcerants, but to also reduce the recidivism rates of the parents.