Education

The Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) Education Department currently offers three types of educational programming to meet the needs of a diverse population.  First, The DCYC provides the PASS (Portable Assisted Study Sequence) program, which is funded by Title I and provided through the Omaha Public Schools.  The PASS program is North Central Accredited; Secondly, the Education Department will work with the students’ home school to provide the student with textbooks and homework used by the student prior to arriving at the Youth Center; and Third, the GED (General Equivalency Diploma) program is offered to those students 16 years of age or older.

Each student is required to attend classes and follow a schedule while detained at the Youth Center.  Students are required to participate and complete work assignments in each of the classes they attend.  By completing the required work the student will earn points and/or (high) school credits.  In addition, the education program participates in the Youth Center’s behavior modification program which allows each youth to earn additional privileges.

Within ten (10) calendar days, staff will administer an educational assessment test to each new detainee, to determine their educational needs and place them in their appropriate grade level.  It is at this time a transcript will be requested from their most recent home school.  Combining this information will allow a teacher to adjust the students’ individual schoolwork, as appropriate.

Homework from the student’s home school will be solicited and provided to the student.  The goal is that the student may return to their home school in good standing.  Homework and other materials from outside schools or institutions shall be delivered to the Lead Teacher.  The person delivering the materials shall leave their name and phone number in addition to the name of the school or institution providing the material.

The Youth Center recognizes that as a person’s education level increases their recidivism rate decreases.  Every effort will be made to increase a young person’s educational level while at the Youth Center.

Certification by the State Department of Education is a requirement to teach at the Douglas County Youth Center.

If you need more information, please contact the School Liaison.

To compliment the PASS curriculum the Youth Center offers a Life-Skills class that incorporates Family Values, Goal Stetting, Job Search and Placement skills, Behavior Modification and Conflict Resolution.  To enhance this program, guest speakers have been solicited and their participation has been extremely valuable.  For example, Job Training of Greater of Omaha provides important information about conducting a job search, interview skills, and a variety of other information relative to finding and maintaining employment.  The University of Nebraska Medical Center provides interns to speak about healthy lifestyles and the risks involved with certain behavior; Drug/alcohol education program, and others.

Components of the PASS curriculum are as follows:

• Mathematics
  • General Math A and B
  • Pre-Algebra
  • Algebra 1
  • Consumer Math
• Life Skills
  • Basic Study Skills
  • Life Learning Skills
• English
  • English 1A and 1B
  • English 2A and 2B
  • English 3A and 3B
  • Themes in Literature A
  • Themes in Literature B
• Social Studies
  • Concepts of Geography A
  • U.S. History A and B
  • World History
  • U.S. Government
• Sciences
  • General Science A and B
  • Biology A and B
• Reading
  • 6^th Grade Reading
  • 7^th Grade Reading
  • 8^th Grade Reading

Recreation Program

Overview:  The Douglas County Youth Center incorporates both structured and leisure activities to provide a comprehensive recreational program for all youth detained.  The DCYC will provide one (1) hour of structured physical activity and one (1) hour of leisure programming each day.  The youth learn to communicate in a positive and effective manner while increasing their self-esteem.  This program is successful in reducing frustration and the stress level of the youth.  The results spread throughout the facility, in the way of a population that is easier to manage, which reduces the job related stress for the staff working directly with the detainees.

All units are given the opportunity to participate in structured activities five (5) days each week.  The Recreation Coordinator will assist and direct the youth in a variety of physical activities.

Leisure time programming is provided on each individual living unit throughout the evening hours.  These events will be under the supervision of the Unit Juvenile Detention Specialist.

Types of Activities:  Structured recreation programming includes but is not limited to: aerobics, basic exercises, team sports (flag football, Capture the Flag, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and hockey), intra-facility tournaments, etc.

Leisure activities include, but are not limited to: cards (UNO, Skip-Bo, etc.), board games (Battleship, Guesstures, Pictionary, etc.) and value movies on Fridays.

Needs Met:  With the structured and leisure programming being incorporated into the daily routine of the Youth Center, many of their needs are met.  By working as an active/positive team member, a youth’s social and communication skills improve, physical fitness increases, and many youths self-worth will blossom.  The Recreation Department’s goal is to provide the detainees with some of the tools necessary to successfully transition back into the free community.

Library Services:  Library services are available daily to all detainees at the Youth Center.  Educational and leisure reading materials (fiction, non-fiction, instructional, informational and recreational reading materials) are available to provide an interest in reading while increasing the detainee’s reading level.  Current newspapers and magazines are also provided for the youth.

TRO-PLATO Learning System

The PLATO computer based instruction is utilized in the Douglas County Youth Center to provide our youth individualized instruction in all curriculum areas.  This program will enhance and improve literacy and basic educational skills.  PLATO also provides GED studies and preparation for college.  PLATO is a very comprehensive program addressing a variety of individual needs.  PLATO can and will be used for each youths’ academic performance levels.  The PLATO system allows the learner to progress at his or her own rate of speed, which provides the student with a comfort level and builds self-esteem.

Program Outline

The Class:

In addition to the Computer Lab, PLATO will eventually be provided in all classrooms to compliment the educational program offered in each of the curriculum areas.

The Lab:

The majority of our computers are located in the Computer Lab.  Within the computer lab the PLATO system can be utilized to follow-up and further the educational programming from each classroom.  On a day-to-day basis students will be given activities to further enhance their individual skills and abilities.

The Unit:

Each unit has a PLATO computer available to provide educational opportunities on the living unit.  The student will continue to work with the individualized educational program as directed by the education department.