Secure Residential
Our secure programs are designed to hold juvenile offenders ages 10 - 19 (up to 21 on Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ)). All placements in the secure residential program are accompanied by a Court order. Psychological evaluations may also be administered upon request or referral to either program. We will assist area counties with transportation whenever possible.
Secure Residential Program
The focus of this program is to provide a positive and worthwhile experience for youth, where progress and success can be measured and tangible goals can be met.
Admission
Initial acceptance of any resident shall be determined by administrative staff. A court order must accompany a new resident entering our program.
Guidelines
- New residents may be of either gender and between the ages of 10-19 years old. Youth on EJJ may also be accepted into and participate in the program until their 21st birthday.
- There will have been an adjudication of delinquency or a signed court order.
- Court order should specify desired programming components.
- We have an initial 10 day acceptance period. We also reserve the right to terminate a stay if a resident's behavior gets completely out of hand or there are specific psychological problems over and above what this agency can accommodate.
- We will obtain information regarding social history and background materials. We must also immediately receive educational and medical history information.
Program Objectives
The program is designed to focus on areas of concern that are identified by the family/legal guardian, referring agency, and the resident. The youth will be assigned a special counselor who will facilitate in addressing those issues. A contract will be drawn up that will be based on the specified areas of concern. The contract will be used as an outline to determine measurable progress and success. It will also include individual responsibilities, such as work details and journaling, as well as expected behavior. The youth's progress and privileges are determined by their ability to meet the objectives of their contract and their behavior.
Programming Component Options
Substance Use Disorder Program
The West Central Regional Juvenile Center (WCRJC) offers substance use disorder programming through Lutheran Social Services. The Residential Treatment Corrections program offers 3-4 month, 4-6 month, and 6-9 month programs. This treatment is classified as dual diagnosis and is provided onsite. Midterm and discharge recommendations are made at the conclusion of a client's stay.
The adolescent dual diagnosis group programming focuses on taking an innovative, person-centered, harm-reduction approach to comorbidity involving mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders in adjudicated youth. Each youth referred to programming through the court systems will receive the following services to support addressing mental health and substance use concerns concurrently:
- A diagnostic assessment
- Group cognitive behavioral therapy
- Individual cognitive behavioral therapy (females and males not appropriate for group setting)
- Referrals to additional mental health trauma services as needed
- Referrals to more intensive substance use disorder treatment if appropriate
- A comprehensive assessment prior to discharge if required (formerly Rule 29)
Youth participate in dual diagnosis programming for an average of 10 weeks, meeting twice weekly to process and work toward recovery. Each group is led by a dually credentialed LGSW/LADC. Length of programming is flexible and can be shortened or elongated based on the individual’s needs.
Lutheran Social Service also provides a counselor for weekly family counseling sessions for those families who wish to participate. After the initial face to face counseling session, weekly meetings can be held via the telephone/Skype. The family sessions are provided with no cost being assessed to the family or county.
Trauma Services/Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The facility partners with Lutheran Social Services to provide trauma therapy onsite with our residents. An initial trauma assessment is conducted to determine the level of care needed and if standard trauma services or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy is more appropriate. Mental health professionals provide individual therapy to youth based on the level of care that they require. Therapists are also able to provide family therapy to families that would benefit from the service.
Sexual Therapy
Pathways is a community-based program tailored for youth who have engaged in sexual misconduct or problematic sexual behaviors. Our program aims to help youth and their families identify individual strengths and resolve concerns that may have contributed to abusive behavior. The Pathways treatment model is designed to support youth in learning about themselves, their behaviors, their attitudes, and to explore and understand how their behaviors have affected others.
Programming is delivered by Master and Doctorate level mental health professionals who possess advanced training in this area. Each youth’s individual risks, strengths, and needs are assessed prior to beginning the Pathways program through a completed comprehensive psychosexual evaluation completed by another professional. Ongoing assessment of needs is completed throughout the duration of treatment. The Pathways program adheres to ethical treatment guidelines established by the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), an international, multidisciplinary organization dedicated to preventing sexual abuse.
The average length of programming is contingent upon the achievement of each youth’s intervention objectives. This treatment approach is based on the idea that successful treatment requires that youth not only learn effective adaptive skills, but also develop and demonstrate healthy thinking and behaviors to prevent sexually abusive or problematic behaviors. The program consists of a primary phase, followed by aftercare. Pathways provides up to four hours of individual and group therapy per week to each youth.
Polygraph examinations are not included as a standard component of the Pathways program; however, they can be scheduled at the placing authority’s request. If a polygraph examination is requested, Pathways will work with the youth to prepare for the polygraph. In addition, we can assist the placing authority in securing a polygraph examiner and providing office space for the polygraph to be conducted. Payment for the polygraph will be the responsibility of the placing authority.
Medication Management
The program provides three hours per week of medication management services in conjunction with Lakeland Mental Health Center. Residents in the program have the opportunity to meet with the prescribing doctor multiple times during their stay in the program.