MT. JULIET YOUTH ACADEMY
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Mt. Juliet Youth Academy is a 20-bed residential treatment center for girls ages 12 to 17 years old. The center provides a vast array of programs that focus on Mental Health Treatment, Art, Music & Recreation Therapies and Education. The program is based on community reintegration and engagement through service-learning projects that involve direct, indirect, and civil service community activities. Services are provided 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY & GOALS
The program provides intensive mental health treatment services using a trauma-informed approach. Youth participate in individual, family, and group therapy sessions, social and life skills training, victim impact awareness and restorative justice programming. The length of stay is 3-6 months, and depends on the progress the youth has made in the program toward reducing criminogenic needs and risk factors, addressing the youth’s treatment needs, and increasing the youth’s protective factors. The anticipated average length of stay depends on the youth’s pace of success in completing the individualized treatment plan and goals. The program’s goal is to equip youth for successful reintegration into the community to live productive, prosocial, and crime-free lives within a permanent placement.
TYPES OF SERVICES AND TREATMENT
Mt. Juliet Youth Academy provides a vast array of programs that focus on Mental Health Treatment, Art, Music, and Recreation Therapies and Education. Youth receive groups daily, individual therapy weekly and as needed, and family therapy twice a month with birth and foster parents. Treatment modality focuses on trauma-informed care along with anger reduction therapy and other evidence based treatment modalities.
Facility has faith-based services offered through one of the local churches. Youth participate in TOPS (Teen Outreach Program), completing service-learning projects that benefit the program and community. Youth also do volunteer work at Mt. Juliet Rehabilitation Center for assisted living patients. Youth make crafts with patients, assist with duties, and play games.
Upon discharge, youth will continue to receive services for a period of time determined by the continuum contract with Omni Community Health. Medical/health services are provided by on-site nursing as well as a contracted physician and psychiatrist.
Tri Star Summit is used for emergency hospital services. Smile Gallery is used for dental services.
Individuals are provided breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks daily, which are managed by a licensed dietician, with special medical diets and religious diets provided as needed. Youth receive nightly and monthly incentive activities and canteen. Input on incentives is provided by the Youth Advisory Board.
The facility is required by contract to maintain a 1:5 staff to resident ratio during waking hours and a 1:8 staff to resident ratio during sleeping hours.
ACADEMIC/VOCATIONAL TRAINING
The Education Department is staffed by a Principal and two teachers, one of which specializes in special education.
Individuals attend school the same number of hours as regular Wilson County Schools
REFERRAL SOURCES & FEES
Facility serves both dependent/neglect and adjudicated youth who need intensive mental health treatment.
The program is contracted under the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS).