Julie Jackson coordinates the center's gardening program that has been part of the overall program since CAS began in 1832. In the beginning, the garden provided the center's kitchen with food. Today, the garden is a therapeutic activity for the children. CAS psychologists provide individualized instruction tailored to each child. The main goal is to provide each youth with experiences at which he will be successful.
Success builds self-esteem, bolsters confidence and encourages more learning and growth.
Juvenile Court supports gardening as a way for juvenile offenders to serve their community service time. But here they can see results, something growing and beautiful. The garden teaches youths how plants grow. You start with a seed and nurture it and have something positive to show for it. As we develop our new detention center, I want to build in a garden site, maybe on a rooftop, but I want to formalize it as a project.