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Juvenile Center Programs Available Through
Okanogan Detention Center

• Twenty-four Hour Counseling - Experienced corrections counselors, trained to deal with emotions and behaviors of 8-18 year old youth, provide individual daily life counseling as needed on a 24 hour basis. Correction counselors are certified with the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission after completion of a two week intensive training and passing a comprehensive exam at the Justice Commission Center in Seattle. New and part-time staff are further supervised and trained by experienced employees. All correction staff have first level supervision certification. Some senior staff have received career level certification for supervision. Specialized training in other areas include verbal and physical de-escalation of aggressive and violent behaviors, assessment, screening, and appropriate interaction with youth who have mental health issues. A pilot behavior management program, using a situational leadership model, was integrated into the detention center’s behavior management, or level program. Developed by a team of juvenile administrators, managers, and correction line staff, the program has proven to be very successful in supporting and encouraging cooperative behaviors.
   

• Emergency Health Care - Corrections staff are Red Cross First Aid Certified. They are trained to identify medical emergencies, arrange for emergency transport, facilitate medical insurance for emergencies, and stabilize youth waiting for transport. Staff are also trained in HIV/AIDS and how to deal with intoxicated youth.
   

• Suicide Risk Assessment - This screening tool is used routinely when booking youth into detention. Staff are trained on how to deal with suicidal youth.
   

• Behavior Modification - A level system is used to correct behavior problems and to reward appropriate behavior. Daily behavior sheets, incentive systems, and occupational training for self esteem building are built into the level system.
   

• Personal Hygiene - Youth are provided with individualized personal hygiene training for self care as well as room cleaning. Rooms are inspected daily.
   

• Monitoring Safety and Security - Keeping the youth safe and secure is of the highest priority. Strip searches are performed according to applicable RCWs. Extensive daily logging and incident reports are kept. Positive peer relationships are encouraged and monitored.
   

• Intake and Discharge - Information is gathered upon entering and release of detention by corrections counselors, with particular emphasis on identifying special needs of detained youth. Referrals and information sharing are a coordinated effort between corrections staff, Court Services Officers, and other local agencies, such as State and Tribal DCFS. Record keeping for credited days is maintained and available for youth for their morale.
   

• Personal Property - Personal property, including money, are logged and stored for incoming youth.
   

• Twenty-four Seven Public Information - Corrections staff answer a 24 hour incoming phone line and give information to all members of the community, including parents and staff from other agencies.
   

• Outgoing Phone Calls - Arrangements are made with youth and Court Services Officers for outgoing phone calls as needed.
   

• School Notification - School districts are notified when students are detained, to address attendance requirements. Contact with attendance offices is made as requested in regards to youth being discharged.
   

• Tutoring - Corrections staff provide assistance to youth who request help with homework for school and for purge conditions.
   

• Medical Appointments - Corrections staff transport youth to medical appointments at local clinics and provide emotional support at medical appointments.
   

• Mental Health Appointments - Corrections staff transport youth to mental health appointments outside the detention facility.
   

• Preparation and Security Escort to Court - is provided by Corrections Staff.
   

• Recreational Activities - Corrections staff schedule and coordinate recreational activities, such as basketball, board games, bingo, card games, exercise, and tournaments. Movie night is a reward for eligible youth on the highest level.
   

• Personal Letter Writing - Corrections staff provide assistance to youth who need help with writing letters home.
   

• Designated Family Visits - Regular visitation hours are scheduled for family visits.
   

• Bail Bonds - Forms are available for bail bonds upon request.
   

• Attorney Interview Rooms - Onsite attorney client contact is available. Contacts are facilitated by corrections counselors.
   

• Social Worker Onsite Visits - State and Tribal social workers visit their clients in detention for moral support, placement and transitional planning. Contacts are facilitated by corrections counselors.
   

• Positive Adult Role Models In The Community - Positive role modeling continues from the detention center to extend within the community as youth previously detained see corrections counselors as interested and caring adults who they can connect with on an informal basis outside the facility.
   

• Mentor Program - Incarcerated youth, if their behavior allows it, are matched with members of the community, who have completed background checks, to take youth to attend outside 12 step meetings twice a week. This provides a positive adult relationship, someone outside the agency to talk to that they can trust.
   

• NA Panel - A group of people from Narcotics Anonymous come to the detention center weekly to give inmates information on how they can stay clean and sober through NA.
   

• Spiritual Group - A spiritual advisor and assistant come to the detention center weekly to offer spiritual guidance to any youth who may want to seek another way to live.
   

• Substance Abuse Evaluations - An assessment is completed by certified Chemical Dependency Counselors on site to determine a diagnostic level of substance use and recommend services.
   

• ADEC - Alcohol Drug Education Class, a four hour class, is offered monthly, serving both detention and outpatient youth who have not been identified with a substance abuse problem but have experimented enough to warrant the need for information. They can hopefully change the direction they are headed with the information the class provides.
   

• Outpatient Substance Abuse Services - Recommendations and referrals for an individualized treatment plan are completed by on site certified chemical dependency counselors. Treatment recommendations may include individual appointments, group therapy, family therapy, and/or 12 step meetings. Outpatient youth in the community are referred to community based treatment programs. Referrals may also be made and families assisted in locating placement and funding for outside intensive residential treatment programs.
   

• Inpatient Substance Abuse Services - If a youth is incarcerated and has been diagnosed with a drug/alcohol problem, they are seen by juvenile department staff, who are certified chemical dependency counselors, for one to one sessions and/or weekly groups while they are detained and unable to see their primary counselors.
   

• CDDA Evaluations - Youth are assessed while in detention to determine if a Chemical Dependency Disposition Alternative should be given instead of regular detention.
   

• On-Site Urinalysis Testing - UA tests are given to youth on site for one substance or multiple substances for immediate results and immediate consequences, including immediate detention, if appropriate. We can test for THC (marijuana), Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, opiates, and cocaine.
   

• DNA Testing - On site testing is completed on all eligible youth by corrections counselors.
   

• Diagnostics - This is a comprehensive assessment package required for youth entering state institutions. This is done on-site, in our detention facility interview rooms. It includes mental health screening, substance abuse assessment (PEI or PESQ), face to face interviews with youth and parents, risk assessment, and collateral contacts.
   

• Risk Assessments - Okanogan County Juvenile, along with the other Juvenile Courts in Washington State, has committed to a case management model, based on research by the University of Washington. We are at a partial implementation stage, but well along the way. This includes a full risk assessment which identifies risk and protective factors that affect recidivism. Our court services officers identify the risk domains for each youth and work with them to facilitate appropriate services and to support risk reduction behavior. While our youth are in detention, our court services officers meet with them intensely. With our large county, travel time is dear and the opportunity to work with the youth in an efficient manner increases the likelihood of progress in their change behavior.
   

• Personal Experience Inventory (PEI or PESQ) – Assessments are given by on staff Chemical Dependency Counselors to give JRA committable youth in–depth evaluations to help provide the most effective services during their commitment stay.
   

• Detention School - This is a self contained, individualized curriculum through Okanogan School district. One on one instruction, interactive group discussions, and educational planning are provided in a secure facility. The curriculum is adjusted to meet each student’s needs and is coordinated with the site schools, which may include public, private, and alternative or outreach schools. Coordination of services includes working with the Colville Confederated Tribes and other juvenile courts. Particular care is given to support transition from school to school and to maintain consistency in education. Academic assessments are completed on each new student for placement, special needs, and goal setting. Some students have been identified as having needs not previously identified. Flexibility is offered with coordination of educational programming between detention school and site schools, which may include continuing existing curriculum or providing alternative school performance-based credits. High school credits are given. Individual Educational Plans for special education students are maintained, as state mandated. All transcripts are gathered and compiled to assess graduation requirements and to use for vocational and educational planning. Alternative educational planning is explored with the student. Students may prepare for GED tests, explore options such as Job Corps, Work Source, or military training. Guest speakers are invited to speak to youth about vocational offerings. Students may study for Driver’s Education. A complete curriculum is offered with materials ranging from first grade to college level. The school district contracts out for mandated HIV/AIDS education for these youth. Health issues are identified and referrals are made for free health insurance under DSHS’s Healthy Kids Now Program for eligible youth under age 19.
   

• Purge Assignments - Youth detained for truancy contempt are given the opportunity to complete homework or write essays to “purge out” of detention, as mandated in civil cases. Corrections counselors assist when students need help. Purge reviews are held in court the following day.
   

• Aggression Replacement Training - This is a research based program which has been found to reduce recidivism in moderate to high risk youth. Referrals derive from risk assessments done in house. Youth attending this curriculum who are detained are escorted to class, so continuity and consistency in this program is maintained. This 10 week curriculum gives practical experience in a group setting with life streaming, anger control training, and moral reasoning training. Court services officers have been trained as transfer coaches and help youth to continue to practice skills while back in the community.
   

• Individual Counseling From Colville Tribal Mental Health and Okanogan Behavioral Health - is available on a weekly basis or as needed in an emergency.
   

• Sex Education/Family Planning - Educators from Family Planning come to the detention center to teach detention youth sex education including information about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and birth control issues, and information about healthy relationships.
   

• Facility Tours - Detention tours are an annual event for elementary through high school students from all nine community school districts, for educational purposes. Individual tours are given to first time truancy youth or upon request.

Site developed by Okanogan County Staff. Information on this site is provided "as is."
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Last updated on 04/18/07