Located 22 miles from Kansas City in Olathe, KS, the Johnson County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) has a long commitment to using the time a young person is detained to prepare them for returning to the community. The detention center is located across the street from the Children Service Center, which operates the facility for the county Department of Corrections. Inside the facility, an average of about 22 adolescents ages 14 – 18 go to school and treatment groups, enjoy structured leisure time – especially competitive games in the gym or classrooms – and visit with their families and caregivers.
Agency leaders believe in evidence-based programs and data. They joined the Center for Improving Youth Justice (CIYJ) Performance-based Standards program during COVID. Knowing the pandemic’s limitations placed on family visitation, they focused on family and caregivers’ responses to the CIYJ Family Climate Survey about visiting. Visitation had been reduced to 30 minutes by video twice a week, which was not enough, the parents and caregivers said. JDC leaders listened. Working with staff and the young people in their care, they created a new strategy for families and their children to be together called Community Connection Days.
In addition to regular visiting time, once a quarter, families and caregivers are invited to one of two two-hour events held on Saturdays at the facility. JDC staff provide an abundance of good food, welcome families and caregivers warmly to a brightly lit room decorated with balloons where they can play games, laugh and just be with their child. Staff join in and everyone gets to know each other better. Different from regular visitation that tends to focus on immediate issues such as court cases, the Community Connection Days offer the families, caregivers and their children time to talk about other things, catch up on what’s going on at home and in the community and what’s happening at the facility. By all accounts, the extra time is relaxed, appreciated and very much looked forward to.
Moreover, the events have fostered better understandings and relationships between family members, caregivers and facility staff. As one parent shared, she initially anticipated the JDC to be a cold, uncaring and frightening place for her son and herself. However, after attending the Community Connection events, she witnessed the staff treating her child with care, being attentive to his needs and desiring her involvement in her child’s treatment at the facility. The unexpected care, kindness and generosity moved her and her family members to tears. They had never experienced such respect, kindness and appreciation from ‘the system’ before.
JDC’s performance-based standards data reflected the families’ appreciation of the additional time with their children and inspired the JDC team to continue building on the events. Time with families and caregivers gives the facility residents something to look forward to, one resident said. He said it also helps them think twice before doing something that could prevent them from participating in the event.
“Everyone wins,” said CIYJ Executive Director Kim Godfrey Lovett after a recent visit. “The benefits last well beyond the time the young person is in detention.” Strong, healthy family relationships are the foundation for healthy adolescent development and a young person’s successful return to the community from placement. The success and appreciation of the events inspire JDC leaders to do more and keep them going on the difficult days.
Congratulations to: Jodi, Ellen, Robert, and the entire team for their dedication and hard work. Special thanks to Jacobi and Yolanda.
Watch the video to learn more about this year’s Barbara Allen-Hagen Award detentions category winner.