General Services

Social Services

Each resident at the Youth Center is assigned a caseworker. The caseworker serves as liaison between the child, the Juvenile Probation Department, Children and Youth Services, the parents, and his or her attorney. The caseworker meets regularly with each resident to discuss their issues and concerns, the child’s adjustment to the program, any behavioral difficulties the child may be exhibiting, and to keep him or her abreast of the juvenile court process. A mental health caseworker is available for those residents manifesting serious emotional concerns. Individual and group programming is also made available to all residents here at the Youth Center.

The caseworker maintains contact with all significant parties involved and is responsible for writing an evaluation report concerning the child’s behavior and making a recommendation to the Juvenile Court regarding disposition.

Pennsylvania Department of Education - Division of Food and Nutrition

School Breakfast Program and Summer Food Service Program Statement

The Montgomery County Youth Center provides free meals to all residents through participation in the School Nutrition Programs (SNP). Funding provided by Federal/State/Local Nutritional Programs.

All schools participating in a federal school meal program (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Special Milk Program, and Afterschool Snack Program) are required to make reasonable accommodations for children who are unable to eat the school meals because of a disability that restricts the diet.
The following outlines Montgomery County Youth Center process for accommodating students with disabilities and special dietary needs.

1. It is the parent/guardians/caseworker/parole officers or residents responsibility to communicate all food allergies to the Youth Centers Medical department.  The nurse provides this confidential information to the Food Service Department who records the allergens and creates an alert in the Point of Sale system, so that an alert is indicated during each transaction. 
2. Food substitutions will be made as required by the child’s physician for allergies covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (severe/life-threatening). Foods containing allergens will be avoided and will be replaced with acceptable alternatives either from the planned menu or with acceptable substituted items and planned in conjunction with the parent/physician/registered dietician. 
3. Allergies not covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (not severe/life- threatening) will be accommodated within the framework of the planned menu. 
4. Menu accommodations will be made upon request and in conjunction with an IEP or related intervention.

M.C.Y.C., Food Services will provide modifications for children on a case-by-case basis when requests are supported by a written statement from a state licensed medical authority or our Medical department. 

The Medical Plan of Care for School Food Service may be used to obtain the required information from the licensed medical authority.  For this purpose, a state licensed medical authority in Pennsylvania includes a:

* Physician, 
* Physician assistant,
* Certified registered nurse practitioner, or 
* Dentist.
 
The written medical statement must include:

* An explanation of how the child’s physical or mental impairment restricts the child’s diet;
* An explanation of what must be done to accommodate the child; and* The food or foods to be omitted and recommended alternatives, if appropriate.

Other Special Dietary Needs

School food service staff may make food substitutions for individual children who do not have a medical statement on file.  Such determinations are made on a case-by-case basis and all accommodations must be made according to USDA’s meal pattern requirements.  Schools are encouraged, but not required, to have documentation on file when making menu modifications within the meal pattern. 

Special dietary needs and requests, including those related to general health concerns, personal preferences, and moral or religious convictions, are not disabilities and are optional for school food authorities to accommodate. Meal modifications for non-disability reasons are reimbursable provided that these meals adhere to Program regulations.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act 

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 Information on the availability of the USDA’s SUMMER FOOD SERVICES Program is available at the following web link to all households. http://whyhunger.org  or by using the information below. 

 United States Department of Agriculture at https://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/raise-awareness Schools or families may use any of the following methods to locate sites that serve free meals to children during the summer:

 •Call 211 
 •Call 1.866.3Hungry or 1.877.8Hambre
 •Text “FOOD” or “COMIDA” to 877877 during the summer months
 •Text “SUMMER MEALS” or “VERANO” to 97779. 
•Use the website: www.fns.usda.gov/sufoodrocks
•Use the site locator for smartphones - Rangeapp.org

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM FLYER

The Montgomery Youth Center operates under the rules and regulations of the School Nutrition Program (SNP).

Montgomery County School Wellness Policy on Physical Activity and Nutrition

Youth Center Wellness Committee Meeting Notice September 21 2023  10:00 AM

Montgomery County Youth Center BMI Report 2021-2022

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, 

color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: 

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or 

(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Educational Program

Children detained in secure detention or shelter are required to attend and participate in our educational program. Certified teachers from the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit provide classes in both the detention and shelter programs. In addition, the Youth Center employs a full time Art Teacher. Instruction is provided in reading, math, english, science, social studies and art.

Residents are also given the opportunity to attend tutoring. The teachers generally choose residents to attend who are in need of more individual attention than can be provided in the regular classroom setting. Students expressing interest in the program may also participate.

Medical Services

All residents admitted to the Youth Center are examined by our medical care provider and given a physical exam by a licensed physician. The doctor visits the Center at least twice a week and the nurses are available every day during waking hours. If residents feel sick, they simply need to file a sick call to the nurse, who will meet with the child or doctor if necessary. The nurse distributes all prescription medication at regular time intervals. Residents are not permitted to have any medication, prescription or non-prescription, in their rooms or on their person. If emergency medical care becomes necessary, immediate arrangements are made to transport the child to the emergency room at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery. Parents would immediately be notified regarding any emergency that might occur.

All youth in care receive a health screening, vision and hearing exam.  In addition if a child remains beyond thirty days in either Shelter or Detention they receive  a dental exam and cleaning.  Emergency dental care is provided for those residents in need.

Mail

Residents may send or receive mail and stationery is provided to them.  Employees do not read incoming or outgoing mail.  All mail is given to the resident’s assigned caseworker and distributed up front in the Administrative office area so that the possibility of contraband does not go back to the detention living units.  Eligibility to send or receive mail is not used as a disciplinary tool.  There is no limit to the amount of correspondence.

Telephone

Residents in both programs are permitted to call home. However, parents must first set up an account with the phone vendor before they can receive calls. Upon intake, a caseworker will explain how the phone system works and how an account can be set up. Residents are permitted to call home two times a week, and the calls are limited to fifteen minutes. Incoming phone calls are not permitted unless approved by a Caseworker or an Administrator on duty. To set up billing for resident phone calls Call 1-866-230-7761. 

Religion

Religious groups visit the Youth Center regularly on Sunday evenings. Residents may attend services if they wish. A special visit can also be arranged with clergy. They may visit during the regular scheduled visiting hours, or they can call a child’s caseworker to set up a special visiting time.

ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan for the Montgomery County Youth Center

Section 2001(i)(1) of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act requires each local education agency (LEA) that receives funding under the ARP Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund to develop and make publicly available on the LEA’s website a Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan, hereinafter referred to as a Health and Safety Plan. 
ESSER Health and Safety Plan Reviewed 8/25/2023 – No Changes Needed.

ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan for the Montgomery County Youth Center Document

PREA

The Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 proposed standards for protection, detection, and response to sexual assault and sexual harassment. The Montgomery County Youth Center will follow the PREA standards to provide a safe and secure environment for both residents and staff.

The Montgomery County Youth Center has adopted a ZERO-TOLERANCE policy on sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment. Any form of sexual activity between youth or between youth staff/volunteers/contract employees, regardless of consensual status, is strictly prohibited.

The Montgomery County Youth Center underwent an onsite PREA Audit on June 9th and 10th, 2014. This audit (finalized and signed on June 30, 2014) resulted in the Youth Center becoming one of the first facilities in the State of Pennsylvania to become PREA compliant. Additionally, the Youth Center met all the Federal standards of the audit resulting in zero corrective actions. The Youth Center is amongst very few who have achieved this status nationwide. The PREA Audit is completed every three years per Federal Regulations. The last Youth Center PREA Audit was June 22-24, 2020.

Please review the PREA Auditor’s Final Report and the U.S. Department of Justice Survey by clicking the links below.

MCYC Final PREA Report

U.S. Department of Justice Survey

2022 PREA Website Incident Yearly Letter