Programs for the Youth

About the program	Religious Program
Group Meetings	Medical and Mental Health
Family Friendly	Visitation

Programs

The day begins with wake up and breakfast. Residents are then expected to clean their rooms, complete their daily hygiene and prepare for school. School is in session five days a week, for almost the entire calendar year. School is conducted by teachers from the Lincoln Public School and students may earn credit for their work. There is a G.E.D. program available as well as a continuing education program. Those who choose not to attend school or those removed from school because of non-compliance must remain in their resident bedroom until school is out. After lunch, school resumes followed by free time. The afternoon ends with a quiet time: a brief period that allows staff to complete shift change duties, discuss progress of each youth and prepare behavior reports. It allows youth time alone for reflection, writing letters, doing homework, or to just rest.

The evening shift is less structured while allowing residents time for inside and outside recreational activities, arts and crafts, table games, and television. Movies are shown twice a week and on holidays, accompanied by special meals and activities. The educational process continues on this shift as well. Discussion groups on topics ranging from drug/alcohol education, anger control, self-esteem, to leadership style and teamwork are held twice a week. The Department of Health presents information on a variety of health related topics monthly and various community speakers are scheduled for special presentations throughout the year.

Religious Program

The Religion Program has a full- time Chaplain who is supervised by Good News Jail and Prison Ministry. This ministry exists for the purpose of ministering to the spiritual needs of detained youth. Our goal is to see residents lives transformed, helping them to discover their God- given purpose and to live productive lives. We accomplish this purpose by leading voluntary Bible classes, special events, one-on-one spiritual counseling, and coordinating volunteers to work with the residents and their spiritual needs. It is our desire also to work with the families of the residents realizing that incarceration does not just affect the residents, but also their families. Good News accepts no tax dollars; we are funded through gifts by churches, individuals, and businesses.

Group Meetings

Addressing the various problems and needs of youth is an important aspect of the Juvenile Detention Center. A sampling of group meetings are as follows:

• Drug Education - Child Guidance
• Life Skills
• Conflict Management
• Current Events
• Cultural Diversity and Understanding
• Career Exploration
• Mentoring program
• Self Esteem program conducted by Bryan/Lincoln General Hospital
• Fitness for Fun
• Humane Society
• Bible Study and worship services

While many of the groups are facilitated by Juvenile Detention Center staff members, some are conducted by volunteers from the community.

Medical and Mental Health

Medical Program

The Juvenile Detention Center contracts with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department to provide residents with medical and dental services. LLCHD provides residents with access to on- site medical personnel. Medical personnel attempt to meet with each resident shortly after intake to complete a self-reported medical screening. Medical personnel coordinate continuity of care with residents' personal physicians when possible. Parents and/or legal guardians are encouraged to contact medical personnel with concerns relating to resident health and welfare.

Mental Health Services

In the spring of 1996, the Lancaster County Juvenile Detention Center identified an increase in the number of mental health concerns presented by youth in the facility, as well as an increase in the length of stay for some youth. The Lincoln-Lancaster Child Guidance Center, through funding from Region V, currently provides transitional counseling and crisis intervention for youth in detention. The philosophy behind these services is the early provision of transitional and assessment services to prevent a crisis rather than to respond after a crisis has occurred. The following are descriptions of some of the mental health services offered:

Transitional counseling: services that focus on assisting youth in enhancing their coping and problem solving skills, anger management, and stress de-escalation.

Suicide Assessments/Re-Assessments: referred youth will be assessed by a mental health practitioner as to risk of self- harming behaviors and/or suicidal ideation. Appropriate precautions are developed, in collaboration with staff, to ensure the safety of the youth.

Groups: the Child Guidance Center also provides a variety of group topics as needed at the Detention Center, with an emphasis in Drug/Alcohol Education.

Mental health practitioners provide case management services, administrative consultation, coordination of services among various involved parties, training for staff, development of individualized programs for youth, and contact with families. Counselors and staff work together to create an overall milieu of dignity, value, and respect within the Juvenile Detention Center.

Family Friendly

Family Friendly

Family friendly represents a fundamental philosophy in the way the Youth Services Center interacts with families. We recognize the value family members play in managing the youth in our care. To this end, we have developed a staff curriculum that teaches Staff to be sensitive to family needs. We attempt to establish and maintain an on-going communication with parents from the moment the youth is detained until the day the youth is released. We strive to partner with families, which in turn, empower Staff to do their jobs and ensure the safety and security of the resident. The curriculum is designed to help staff understand personal bias and stereotypes. They learn how these attitudes and opinions color their perceptions and interactions with the families of the youth in our care. The second phase of the curriculum focuses on specific tools and techniques used in various interactions such as building rapport, communicating clearly, dealing with angry people, and greeting people visiting our facility.

The most unique and exciting feature of this curriculum is the training is done with parents of former residents and present staff which provides rare insight into what it is like to be the parent of a detained youth and what it is like to be a staff member. We feel this curriculum is an example of our desire to keep detained youth from returning and to reassure parents that their children are safe and secure within our facility.

Visitation

Unfortunately situations may arise in which the agency needs to curtail, postpone, modify or deny visitations without notice. Such situations include, but are not limited to: tornado watches, safety of residents', staff, visitors, or the security, good order, physical or operational integrity of the facility.

Termination of the visitation session may occur when a resident or visitor behaves in a manner that staff determines to be a safety risk, disruptive to others or the security of facility operations.

Visitation privileges may be suspended or permanently terminated when there is cause or evidence the visit will violate facility security or endanger the safety of juveniles, visitors or staff.

Visitor Rules

To attend visitations, visitors must be in compliance with the following:

1. All visitors must arrive and register 10 to 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visiting time. (Example: to visit at 7:30 p.m., you must arrive between 7:00 and 7:20 p.m..)
2. All visitors are responsible for bringing proper picture identification each time they visit. Proper picture identifications include, but are not limited to, state identification cards, federal identification cards, driver licenses, and school identification cards. Birth certificates may be a source of identification for children.
3. All visitors must be on the approved visitor list in order to visit.
4. All visitors under eighteen (18) years of age must be accompanied by their legal guardian, unless they can provide legal documentation indicating they are considered an adult by law, such as emancipation or marriage.
5. Residents are limited to three visitors at one time, unless prior approval has been obtained by Supervisory personnel.
6. Visitors will not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
7. Food, drinks and contraband is NOT permitted in the visiting room. Contraband includes, but is not limited to gum, candy, smoking materials and weapons. Any person introducing or attempting to introduce contraband into the facility may be prosecuted and/or have their visiting privileges revoked.
8. All visitors are responsible for removing personal belongings and contraband prior to entering the visiting room. Belongings may include, but are not limited to keys, wallets/purses, hats, cell phones and coats. Property may be stored in the lockers provided for one quarter, with the quarter being returned when items are removed from the locker. The Lancaster County Juvenile Detention Center is not responsible for any items lost, stolen, damaged and/or left behind.

   **Visitors bringing in babies are allowed to take one diaper, a bottle, a blanket and a pacifier into the visiting room.

9. Visitors must consent to a metal detector and pat search prior to entering the visiting area. Visitors suspected of possessing contraband may be denied visitation.
10. Visitors must wear appropriate attire. Shirt, shorts/skirt/pants and shoes are required. Inappropriate attire may include, but is not limited to, revealing clothing (such as mid-drift and see through tops), and any bottoms shorter than the middle thigh.
11. Visitors will maintain appropriate conversations and behaviors. Visitors will not be verbally abusive, disruptive, talk in excessively loud voices, use profanity, or participate in behaviors that might disturb others in the visiting room. Limited contact is allowed, a brief hug at the beginning and end of visitation is appropriate.
12. Visitors are responsible for remaining with and monitoring any children they bring into the facility at all times.
13. Visitors will leave the visiting room promptly at the conclusion of the visit. Visitors may leave the visiting room at any time, but they will not be allowed to return until the next scheduled day.

Visitors who violate visitation rules may be asked to leave the premisses. Any visitor refusing to leave will be escorted off the property by local law enforcement.