Youth Support Program
A youth support program, entitled Night Campus, has been implemented in Winona County through the recommendation of the CJCC. Night Campus is a form of day treatment that is being offered to juveniles five days a week at the Family and Children’s Center. The program uses a strength-based, cognitive behavioral, systems approach to hold youth accountable while at the same time promoting change through counseling, support, education, and collaboration. The program works closely with youth to strengthen relationships, enhance public safety, provide accountability, develop community ties, and improve overall well-being. Juveniles are court-ordered to attend this program as an alternative to out-of-home placement or as a means to readjust after returning from out of home placement. The program has incorporated independent living skills, community service projects, individual/group therapy and transitional services as part of the education curriculum.
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Adolescent Substance Abuse Class
An alcohol education class has been developed as part of the juvenile diversion program in Winona County. The alcohol education class will be an option for all first time alcohol offenders. The first Adolescent Substance Abuse class was held in May 2010 at the Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center.
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Therapeutic Foster Care
The CJCC has recommended to the Winona County Board the implementation of a therapeutic foster care program administered by Family and Children's Center. The therapeutic foster care program provides a therapeutic family environment to children who have emotional, behavioral and/or developmental challenges and who are unable to live with their own families. Foster care parents are provided with specialized training and intensive support so that they have the resources necessary to become powerful change agents for children. Each home is assigned a case manager who coordinates care and resources for each child and family. A clinical supervisor and a psychiatrist on staff provide on-going evaluation and support of the treatment process. The program is designed to stabilize and improve each child’s emotions and behaviors in a manner that leads to well-being and success and promotes permanency planning.
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| Restorative Justice
The Winona County Restorative Justice Program is a community-based program that strives to make a difference in the lives of youth who are currently in the juvenile justice system. Housed with the Minnesota Department of Corrections-Courthouse Unit, Restorative Justice takes a restorative approach crime and juvenile offenders. The program started in 1999 with Community Work Service and the new philosophy of Community Group Conferencing. In 2001, the program expanded its services and now operates a Mentoring Program.
Knowing that early intervention is an important aspect in reducing juvenile recidivism, in September 2008, the CJCC began examining the length of time that elapsed between the commission of the offense and (1) referral to Restorative Justice and (2) conferencing by Restorative Justice. By instituting changes in the procedures of the County Attorney's Office, the Court Administrator's Office and Restorative Justice, the elapsed times were dramatically reduced, as illustrated in the chart below:
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