Performance-based Standards (PbS) is very pleased to announce Juvenile Corrections Center- St. Anthony (JCCSA) in St. Anthony, ID as one of the finalists for the 2019 PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award in the correction category. JCCSA was selected as a finalist for improving mental health programming to reduce restraint use, injuries and youth fear for safety.nThe PbS team at JCCSA decided to focus on mental health programming due to an increased need within their youth population. More than two out of three youths at JCCSA take psychotropic medication for a mental health diagnosis. The team decided they needed to build more individualized programming in order to address the impact of mental health issues with youth. Rather than make the youth “fit” their behavioral management program, they adapted their programming to “fit” the youth.nBy sharing behavioral health information with the staff at the beginning of a youth’s stay at the program, staff were better able to adapt treatment interventions based on the individual needs of the youths. This resulted in a positive impact and better utilization of time spent in programming. Staff and peer groups were better able to focus on the root of the behavioral issues rather than figuring out how to intervene with the youth. As this was a paradigm shift for staff, treatment staff were educated and trained on individual needs of youths. Rather than imposing program components on the youths, staff were able to match the youths to offered program components.nThe PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award was established in 2007 to honor Barbara Allen-Hagen and her retirement from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Her dedication to improving the quality of life in facilities for young offenders has helped drive PbS to its current success. The award is given to a correction, detention/assessment and community program who best exemplify PbS’ commitment to treating all youths in custody as one of our own by developing and implementing strategic plans to change practices that results in positive outcomes for youths, staff and families.nWinners of the award will be announced the night of the ceremony on Aug. 2, 2019. Stay tuned for more blogs about the 2019 finalists.nnChallenge course on the campusnnJuvenile Corrections Center- St. Anthony facility leadership team
