Treatment Program
Allen County Juvenile Court’s secured residential treatment program is committed to a philosophy of providing a comprehensive approach to individualized holistic treatment through a series of evidenced based assessments and interventions which identify and target the criminogenic needs of program participants. Research has amply demonstrated that programming which targets the offender’s behavior, values, and/or attitudes (criminogenic needs) that led to their involvement with the justice system can and does affect positive change and thus decreases recidivism.
A youth may enter the Treatment Program only by dispositional order of the Court after having been adjudicated to be a delinquent child for having committed felony level crimes. Residents entering the Treatment Program undergo multiple physical, mental, and emotional health screens as well as risk/needs assessments to determine appropriate levels of service and interventions and to aid with the development and management of an individual case plan. Individual and family counseling services are provided by a Licensed Psychologist who also provides clinical supervision, oversight, and quality assurance of group counseling services provided by the Center’s treatment team. Interventions and programming are based on the cognitive-behavior model with a focus on modeling and reinforcing pro-social behaviors & interactions within an interpersonal framework. Highly qualified mental health counselors, case managers, teachers and academic specialists serve as members of the treatment team providing counseling, mental health, emotional, and educational support for both Detention and Treatment residents. Additionally, tutoring services are made available to assist those students with special academic needs through Title I funding provided by the Elida Local School District.
Working in conjunction with the services and assessment units of the Community Control Department, Schools, and various network and/or community agencies, in addition to the resident’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s), a “treatment team” is assembled for each resident entering the program. The Treatment Team, which includes the resident, is ultimately responsible for developing an individualized treatment plan and for providing the therapeutic and academic interventions offered by the program. Individual, family, and group counseling coupled with the internalization of pro-social behavior and activities are the primary focus of the rehabilitative process. Residents must complete a portfolio designed around their needs in conjunction with a variety of assignments related to empathy building and gaining an understanding of their offenses and the many effects of their decisions. Understanding that a positive change in a youth’s behavior cannot be maintained without the support of the parent(s) or guardian(s), participation in a weekly parent support group is mandatory. Taking into consideration that true success in the program cannot be measured until the resident is reintegrated back into the community and their home environment, residents go through a series of earned passes of increasing length during which they complete empathy building or other restorative justice based assignments culminating in an extended pass, or “reentry phase,” whereby they remain home until either successful completion of the program or the need to return to the secured center arises as the result of non-compliant behavior. Ensuring case-plan fidelity during the reentry phase of the program is the responsibility of the Prevention Specialists who serves as a pseudo Probation Officer/Counselor. Acting as liaison between the schools, family members and court officials, the Prevention Specialist is the primary provider of supervision and support for program participants during the reentry phase.
Residents of the Treatment Program are afforded all of the same basic medical, emotional, mental health, academic, recreational, and spiritual services as those afforded to residents of the Detention Program. In addition to those activities offered to detention residents, treatment residents may earn the ability to leave the secured facility for the purpose of attending educational field trips, vocational training, academic passes, counseling sessions with private providers, and completion of community service assignments or projects.