PbS measures and monitors facility practices by collecting and reporting data from administrative records and survey responses from youths, staff and families to provide a holistic picture of the conditions and quality of life in residential facilities, highlights the practices that are effective in promoting youths’ healthy maturation and identifies those that are not. PbS data is reported every April and October. PbS trains staff to use the information to change practices and support reforms implementing the adolescent development approach.
Green Hill School Named Finalist for the 2019 Barbara Allen-Hagen Award
Performance-based Standards (PbS) is very pleased to announce Green Hill School (GHS) in Chehalis, WA as one of the finalists for the 2019 PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award in the correction category. GHS was selected for their strategic approach to reducing the use of room confinement and the eventual closure of the facility’s segregation unit.
As described by facility staff at GHS, the segregation unit typically served as a revolving door for youth misconduct of a wide range, often returning youth to open campus with few replacement skills to prevent future behavior. Staff also noted that GHS has relied heavily on room confinement to address misconduct, often applying long-term confinements to a variety of behaviors, not necessarily for immediate safety concerns.
Through technical assistance grants related to reducing room confinement, the development of a local work group occurred. This group helped identify alternatives to confinement, address staff training needs to do work with youth differently and provide insight to unit leadership about how to direct this work in a way that validates staff experiences with this type of culture change.
In mid-2018, GHS eliminated its segregation unit. A new program was developed with increased incentives, programming, treatment and education. Physical changes to the program created a warmer environment. It is no longer a “closed” program, with several youth now able to participate in recreation and other programs on open-campus.
Historically well above the PbS national average, with all of these changes, GHS is now below the national average in room confinement/isolation and segregation use.
The PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award was established in 2007 to honor Barbara Allen-Hagen and her retirement from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Her dedication to improving the quality of life in facilities for young offenders has helped drive PbS to its current success. The award is given to a correction, detention/assessment and community program who best exemplify PbS’ commitment to treating all youths in custody as one of our own by developing and implementing strategic plans to change practices that results in positive outcomes for youths, staff and families.
Winners of the award will be announced the night of the ceremony on Aug. 2, 2019. Stay tuned for more blogs about the 2019 finalists.
Green Hill School pathway
Reducing Room Confinement Team
About the author
PbS has been a partner in assisting this facility to become a dynamic work environment that is not satisfied with maintaining the status quo.