Youth Healing & Treatment Home(s)
Ramsey County is developing new, home-like facility(ies) to provide healing and treatment services for youth referred by juvenile courts. This program, licensed by the Department of Human Services, will offer culturally specific and community-based support as an alternative to juvenile detention.
Goals
- Increase placement options: Provide more alternatives to detention for young people in the juvenile justice system.
- Reduce repeat offenses: Lower the rate of re-offending by focusing on healing and support.
- Community-based care: Offer a placement option that keeps youth connected to their families and trusted community.
- Build a replicable model: Create a program that can serve as an example for holistic youth support.
Guiding values
- Positive future focus: Prioritize growth and well-being over the disciplinary approach used in the past.
- Individualized care: Provide support to meet the unique needs of each young person.
- Community connection: Ensure accessibility for families and trusted community members.
Why this initiative is important
Ramsey County's 2024-2025 strategic plan emphasizes well-being and transforming the justice system. This initiative responds to the need for better placement options for youth and their families.
Local data highlights significant racial disparities within the justice system. In 2023, Black and American Indian youths and adults in Ramsey County experienced higher rates of arrests, detention, out-of-home placements, and probation compared to their representation in the population.
While previous efforts like the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative and Youth Justice Transformation have successfully reduced the number of youths in correctional placements, this new program provides the next level of support.
State legislation and funding
Ramsey County's commitment to well-being and justice system transformation led to the inclusion of key priorities in the 2023 Legislative Platform:
- Culturally appropriate out-of-home placement options: Added legislation to create intensely therapeutic, community-based placements for youth in the justice system.
- Family support resources: Funding for family support groups and resources during out-of-home placement and re-entry.
Thanks to the support of city and county officials, business, and community leaders, Ramsey County received direct funding to achieve these goals with the support of government officials, business and community leaders.
Procurement process and status
On November 13, 2024, Ramsey County released a solicitation to partner with community-based organizations to develop home(s) for up to six youth at a time. The goal is to open the healing and treatment home(s) by the end of 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the program start?
A: The home(s) are expected to open by the end of 2025.
Q: What is the purpose of the program?
A: To provide home-like, residential placement facilities offering culturally responsive, community-based therapeutic services for youth with high treatment needs in a secure and supportive setting.
Q: How many beds are expected to be available?
A: The program is currently seeking providers to house and provide therapeutic services for up to six youth at a time.
Q: Which individuals or groups are eligible to benefit from these services?
A: Youth with a judicial order for placement and services, as determined by the juvenile court. Current data indicates that the majority of youth benefiting from these services are expected to identify as Black males.
Q: What type of services could be provided?
A: Potential treatments include:
- Individual therapy.
- Anger management.
- Family therapy.
- Substance use disorder counseling.
- Medication management.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Dialectical behavior therapy.
- Group therapy.
- Art and recreational therapy.
- Grief-specific therapy.
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).
- Other trauma-informed therapy methods.
- Healing circles.
- Family engagement.
- Education and extracurricular activities.
- Mentorship.
- Life skills.