CJIS

The CJIS Division is pleased to honor Mr. Matt Rudder, executive director of Genesis Youth Crisis Center (GYCC), an organization that provides shelter for homeless youth.

Created as a cooperative effort between the city of Clarksburg and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Services, GYCC has become the first step to a new beginning for hundreds of at-risk youth. GYCC operates two programs to serve youth in crisis: The Genesis Youth Center, a 12-bed facility serving children from ages 10 to 17; and the Alta Vista Children’s Shelter, an eight-bed facility designed for children ages 6 to 14. Both shelters provide a therapeutic environment comprised of supportive counseling, group interaction, life skills training, and behavior management. FBI employees engage in special activities with children at the center, discuss careers in law enforcement, and encourage kids to become productive citizens. In 2010, the CJIS Division hosted a holiday party for the children and has also given tours of FBI facilities.

During Mr. Rudder’s tenure as executive director, GYCC has been recognized by the state of West Virginia as a leader in providing exceptional care to at-risk children. In addition, Mr. Rudder has formed collaborative partnerships with the West Virginia Emergency Shelter Provider Network and the Alliance for Children to keep GYCC on the cutting edge of new developments.

Currently, Mr. Rudder serves as the incoming president for the Alliance for Children, an innovative partnership among leading West Virginia private child welfare organizations that aims to advance practice standards at the local, state, and national levels. He also works with other private sector providers to develop a strategic plan to streamline services and provide a higher quality of care for children throughout West Virginia.

High resolution image