“Don’t count the days; make the days count.” This quote by Muhammad Ali resonates deeply with Dalton, a young man whose life has been transformed through his determination, the dedicated staff at the Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS) and support from the Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ).
Before entering DYS, Dalton dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, but life’s circumstances made that dream seem distant. He is a soft-spoken, polite young man who insists on saying “yes, ma’am” even in text messages. “I didn’t have a positive childhood,” he recalls, “though I wanted to.” His journey through DYS was a turning point. His teachers began to see something in him that he had not yet recognized. They encouraged him to pursue his education, sparking the first glimmers of hope for a future he once thought impossible.
Dalton graduated from L.B. Wallace School in 2021 and his mentors didn’t let him stop there. They connected him with resources and opportunities that allowed him to enroll at the local community college, where he excelled. Dalton earned his associate degree in general studies with a 3.7 GPA and no less than an A in any degree-related courses. In 2023, Dalton applied for the CIYJ J. Russell “Russ” Jennings Scholarship to continue his studies and was selected to receive the $15,000 scholarship and mentoring support to complete college. He was accepted to start in the fall of 2024 and is looking forward to living in a dorm to experience college life.
But there was a four-month gap between his release from DYS and the beginning of college. Dalton’s commitment to DYS ended in April, just after his 21st birthday. Although he had secured housing for college, he needed a place to live, work and transition after living in a facility. Dalton’s mentor, Stephen Kaplan from CIYJ, helped him fill that gap – the most difficult time for a young person who has been incarcerated. Stephen worked with CIYJ’s Education and Employment Foundation to cover temporary housing costs. DYS offered Dalton a job and all supported him as he got his driver’s license and a car, figured out what food to buy that doesn’t spoil quickly and how to live alone.
Dalton’s success, however, extends beyond him. His determination to improve his life, combined with the support from CIYJ and DYS, led to groundbreaking changes in how reentry services are viewed and implemented for justice-involved young people in Alabama. Previously, DYS left reentry services to local probation and aftercare agencies, and DYS’s responsibility is solely for young people in facilities. But Dalton’s perseverance and the leadership of DYS Director Stephen LaFreniere and his team reshaped how they looked at their role reentry.
Dalton’s experience highlighted a gap in the transition from secure placement to independent living. Working with Dalton, DYS created an honors dorm within the DYS facility that focuses on life skills and gives more decision-making freedom—a transitional group home in the community to transition with support. Dalton helped draft the plan for the group home, which will open in October.
Reflecting on his journey, Dalton credits his success to his hard work and the people who believed in him, especially the staff at DYS’ Mt. Meigs facility. “Every child needs to hear they can do good,” he says. Dalton never heard those words growing up but is determined to ensure others do. His goal now is to give back by working with young people in the foster care and youth justice systems, showing them that no matter their situation, they can still find their purpose.