Youth Center

Center Overview

The Montgomery County Youth Center is a 48-bed coed residential facility where 10- to 18-year-old juveniles reside while they are awaiting juvenile court hearings. The Youth Center operates two separate and independent programs:

• 12-bed shelter that houses juveniles for minor delinquent offenses and dependency issues, such as runaway, truant, or ungovernable behavior
• 36-bed secure detention unit that houses juveniles alleged to have committed a delinquent act

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Montgomery County Youth Center is to provide a safe and secure environment for the residents in our care while ensuring the protection of the community.  The needs of the residents are met by an array of individualized services in a climate of respect and dignity.

The primary objective of the Montgomery County Youth Center is to provide for the physical and emotional well-being of youth in a safe and secure environment as they navigate through the courts process.  During their stay, children learn new skills to effect positive change while they are provided with direct supervision by the staff.  Another objective is for the Youth Center to provide the courts with a service plan outlining behavior, educational reports and court ordered evaluations such as psychological, psychiatric and or drug & alcohol testing if deemed necessary.  These reports serve the Juvenile Court Judge and various stakeholders the necessary tools in finding the most appropriate disposition for each child.

The Youth Center is enriched with a therapeutic environment providing for year-around structured programs and activities including, but not limited to, education, art, recreation and health programs.  Our hope is to provide every juvenile with a positive and helpful experience designed to enable the child to return safely to the community or prepare them for the possibility of placement away from home so that they may receive the appropriate treatment.