The Youth Village program is designed to meet the total needs of the individual. Our mission is to assist each resident by providing the instruction and experiences to equip them to build and nurture personal relationships, acquire life skills, grow intellectually, and develop vocational skills so they can re-enter their community and become a positive contributing member of the larger society. The program components concentrate on areas related to the resident’s educational, emotional, physical, social, psychological, and spiritual needs. The Youth Village program places emphasis on creating and maintaining a safe environment, role modeling, positive reinforcement, daily assessment of the resident’s behavior, adherence to the daily schedule, group counseling and community reintegration. The residents attend academic classes with a fully accredited curriculum at Quentin D. Corley Academy. Teachers instruct residents on English, Math, History, Reading, Science, Special Education, and Physical Education. All eligible residents have an opportunity to receive their GED. Drug Counseling and Independent Living Skills are provided by contract services. The drug counseling program provides education and individual and group counseling for a 12-week period. The independent living program provides vocational skills and life skills during a 12-week period. Medical Services are provided by the University of Texas Medical Branch, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital. The Level Incentive Program allows each resident an opportunity to work through the program at his own rate. If a resident works the program diligently, he may successfully discharge from the program within 6 months. When a resident enters the Youth Village, he is placed on Level 1 and begins working his way thru Levels 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. When a resident is promoted one Level, he earns more privileges. Also, with every promotion there is an increase in responsibility for the resident’s behavior, choices, relationship with peers and staff, knowledge of the level material, participation in any assigned individual, group or family therapy and his overall attitude. The progress through the levels is determined in the following steps. First, a point sheet measures the resident’s adherence to and understanding of social skills, thinking errors, progress on treatment plan, level material, and overall attitude and behavior in the dorm, in school, and on and off campus. Secondly, an initial evaluation of the resident’s progress is done within four weeks of entering the program. Thereafter, the Treatment Team evaluates a resident’s progress every three to four weeks. Discipline at the Youth Village is a corrective tool, not a form of punishment, used to shape and reinforce positive behaviors and help residents learn self-discipline. By accomplishing these goals, residents become able to make better choices. Discipline at the Youth Village is progressive. Some of the progressive measures are counseling, loss of privileges, restriction, and corrective instruction which places a resident in isolation until he gains control of his inappropriate behavior. The Youth Village provides residents with on and off campus activities, residents engage in many recreational activities. Some of these are athletic, cultural, arts and crafts, entertainment, and educational. The residents are also involved in special events programs throughout the year. Volunteers and the private sector play a pivotal role in the Youth Village program, with volunteers, interns and private individuals giving of their time and talents to contribute to the success of our residents. Our volunteers enhance the program with mentors, tutoring, arts and crafts, religious services, newsletters, drama classes, choir, counseling, vocational skills, photography, and much more. They also help with the beautification of our campus by adopting buildings and areas to refurbish. Lastly, our volunteers and private corporations donate goods ranging from clothing to computers.

CASEWORK/PROBATION SERVICES

All Youth Village residents have been placed on probation and ordered to the Youth Village by a juvenile judge. A probation officer/caseworker is assigned to each resident the day the child enters. Initially, the caseworker orients each child to the general program and provides him with a framework of the rules and expected behavior of each resident. The caseworker initiates an individual treatment plan for each child in all areas of the institution within the first ten days of placement. The treatment plan is then discussed and modified in the initial treatment staffing, which includes, the child, the Youth Village Treatment Team, and any other concerned parties. In addition, the caseworker coordinates the child’s educational needs, meeting with involved individuals and groups who are assisting in the child’s treatment, (psychologist, counselors, volunteers), and with workers in other involved agencies. Casework staff is responsible for providing continuous counseling both individually and in groups in an effort to help the child resolve their individual maladjustments or to gain an understanding and acceptance of their social difficulties and behavioral problems. They also handle the majority of all crisis counseling. Casework staff is available to discuss the child’s progress with the parents as necessary. A conference with each child’s parent to discuss the home visit procedures and to assess the amount of supervision the parent will provide, must take place before a resident can be approved for a home visit. The caseworker is responsible for the timely processing of the release of the child through the Treatment Team, the Superintendent, and Juvenile Courts. Before the child is released, the caseworker provides a comprehensive aftercare plan for the child and family to follow. This plan addresses the continuing needs of the child and his family and refers them to the appropriate agencies for follow-up.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

The Psychological Services at the Dallas County Youth Village was established to provide professional therapeutic counseling services to the residents and their families and 2) consultative services to the Youth Village staff. The mission of the unit is to 1) assist the residents in successfully integrating into their families and communities and 2) eliminate future involvement with the juvenile and adult justice systems. This mission is accomplished by providing quality therapeutic services which help the residents to enhance life skills, modify negative behavior and develop positive interpersonal relationships. Therapeutic services include individual counseling, family counseling, family training, sex offender counseling, anger management group, fathering group, and crisis counseling. Milieu services include consultation with staff, facilitation of treatment planning and level evaluation meetings, emergency assessments, 24 hours “on call” services, training and program development. The following staff provide psychological services:

• Full Time Coordinator of Psychological ServicesFull Time Master’s Degree Counselor
• Part-time Interns

Psychiatric services are provided as needed by a psychiatrist from UT-Southwestern Medical Center, and psychiatric medication is administered by the nurses at the Youth Village.

BUSINESS SERVICES

The Fiscal and Support Services Unit is responsible for all financial and purchasing activities required to keep the Youth Village staffed and operating smoothly. Food service provides three cafeteria-style meals per day, and food for special activities such as cookouts and holidays. The 56 acre campus is maintained by Youth Village staff and residents, and provides areas for recreation, including a football /soccer field, softball field, and open and covered picnic areas. The gym and pool facility provides swimming, basketball, volleyball, racquetball, and other indoor activities. A fleet of vans transports residents to medical and dental appointments, and to off-campus field trips.