Residential Services
Dale Kaminski, Director

Introduction

The Juvenile Facilities Complex provides locked and unlocked residential placement and shelter care for male and female juveniles. The complex consists of two detention centers and four juvenile program facilities in a campus-style setting.

Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home
Boy's Detention Home 9967 S. Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria 44035
Girl's Detention Home 9911 S. Murray Ridge Rd., Elyria 44035

The purpose of the detention homes is to provide secure confinement of appropriate juveniles under age 18. Judges and Magistrates determine if detention is appropriate as indicated by statute or the Ohio Supreme Court Rules. Unruly or ungovernable youth may not be placed in detention beyond twenty-four hours. Delinquent youth may be confined to detention by an order of the Court up to a period of 90 days.

The Lorain County Detention Homes are licensed and monitored by the Ohio Department of Youth Services. The facilities are designed to house 44 males and 12 females. The staff ratio during daylight hours is 12:1, with a ratio increasing to 25:1 during the 10 - 6 am shift.

During the admission process, each youth is screened for mental health issues. Applewood Centers, a public mental health agency conducts an assessment if issues are highlighted. The medical staff is available, at any time, for consultation and have regularly scheduled hours. Within seven days of admission, the detention home nurse or doctor physically examines every juvenile and administers a tuberculosis screening.

While in detention, education continues year-round through the Educational Service Center of Lorain County. Upgrades now provide for twenty-five individual computer stations with emphasis placed on the state proficiency exams.

Pathways Group Home / Stepping Stone Residential Center
1076 Infirmary Rd., Elyria 44035
1064 Infirmary Rd., Elyria 44035

Pathways Group home and Stepping Stone Residential Center are non-secure court-operated programs for male and female offenders, ages 13-17. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services licenses and monitors the facilities, which are limited to 10 female and 20 males at any time.

Pathways and Stepping Stone prepare residents for successful reintegration into the community. The program assists juveniles in learning how to better manage personal problems and family issues, as well as develop an increased ability to access community resources, identify career opportunities, and develop pre-vocational job skills.

Referrals to Pathways and Stepping Stone are made through the Investigation and Referral Team, Magistrates, Lorain County Children Services, school counselors, and mental health workers. The Judge places appropriate juveniles into the program at the disposition hearing.

The formats at Pathways and Stepping Stone parallel each other. Each are one-year programs divided into three phases, with Phase I and II lasting 90 days and Phase III the remaining six months. In Phase I the juvenile resides on-site with some limited home visits. Phase II is a transition period with the juvenile residing in the home during the week and at the facility during the weekend. In Aftercare, Phase III, the juvenile resides in his home and is supervised by the CCO, referred to as an Outreach Worker. The Educational Service Center of Lorain County provides the educational services with two certified teachers and one part-time tutor.

Case plans are developed for each juvenile using a drug/alcohol and mental health assessment along with a psychological evaluation. Areas addressed through service providers include anger management, parenting, health, living skills, individual and family counseling and drug and alcohol awareness. Boy and Girl Scout troops provide opportunities through training, projects, and camping trips.

Turning Point

Turning Point is a non-secure residential facility providing short-term care (maximum 14 days) for 5 males and 5 females ages 12-17. The juveniles are involved in domestic dispute situations or selected status offenses. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services licenses Turning Point. Turning Point provides 24-hour supervision and guidance by trained child-care staff. In addition, a full time social worker provides services to the juveniles and their families with appropriate community service referrals.

Admissions to the shelter are approved by the Intake Department and judicial orders. Turning Point does not function as a sentencing or dispositional alternative. The Shelter provides a program for youth in crisis or emergency situations.

The goal of Turning Point is to return the youth to their home after a brief respite without further intervention by the court.