Troubled youth may see more programs

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Juvenile delinquents in Lee and Whiteside counties may get more creative options for rehabilitation, possibly as soon as this fall. That possibility hinges on whether the counties apply for an Illinois Redeploy grant. Stipulations for the grant, which are part of an initiative meant to reduce the number of juvenile delinquency cases, put a special emphasis on partnering with community groups. John E. Payne is the statewide coordinator for Redeploy and a former Lee County juvenile judge. "One of the most discouraging things when I was on the bench was with regard to youth that would be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice," Payne said. "[They would] come out, and there'd be a lack of follow-up services. ... As a result of that, the recidivism rate for minors committed to DJJ is extremely high." That trend prompted an alternative to standard forms of counseling and probation, he said. Illinois spends about $70,000 a year to house one juvenile, Payne said. "It's cheaper to work with programs within the community. ... So not only does it save the state money, but more importantly from my perspective, I think it does a better job." Under the Redeploy program, services the county probation departments provide through groups like Sinnissippi Centers or Nachusa Lutheran Home still would be offered. New programs would be added, however, that could range from full-scale psychological evaluations to activities such as martial arts, dance or equestrian therapy. The program is being tested in four other counties, including St. Clair. Lynn Jarman, a program manager at St. Clair Children's Home and Aid Society, said many delinquent youth have difficulty communicating with adults and even peers. They in particular need alternative forms of treatment. "The court very much is about 'this' is what you've done and 'this' is what the outcome of that behavior is going to be," Jarman said. "[Some youth] need something totally different in order to interact, and sometimes animals are what they need." Lee, Whiteside and 14 other counties already have accepted $10,000 planning grants of as part of the consideration process. Redeploy organizers are requesting $3 million in addition to the amount they received last year to pay for the new counties that may join the program. One of the contingencies for receiving further Redeployment grant money is reducing the number of minors committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice by 25 percent. If that decrease is not met, recipients stand to lose up to a quarter of the funding they were promised. Kim Becker of the Lee County Probation Department said that although that can be a daunting prospect for potential applicants, Redeploy's oversight board offers some flexibility. "There are going to be unusual circumstances that occur," Becker said, such as the murder trial of three youths in Ogle County. "It's those kinds of things the board would say 'no, you've got an unusual set of circumstances' and they would override it." Ben Moore is the site director of Dixon's Reynoldswood Christian Camp and Retreat Center, which Lee County is considering partnering with for the grant. Although he's confident Reynoldswood can help struggling youth, Moore said he hopes specialized training will be offered for groups taking part in the program. "This is a population that we're not all that familiar with," Moore said. "On the one hand, kids are kids. But on the other hand, there are some special challenges." Still, Moore said he's optimistic about the potential for a partnership. "I agree with them that community-based programs have a greater possibility of success," Moore said. "Institutions are our last resort. If we can figure out a way to help heal the hurt on a local basis, that's always more effective." Lee and Whiteside counties must submit their application proposals before the end of the month.