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.
Congratulations to the 2021 PbS Kids Got Talent Contest Finalists!
Launched in 2015, the annual Performance-based Standards (PbS) Kids Got Talent Contest celebrates and showcases the many and varied talents of young people in juvenile justice facilities. Despite the many challenges and obstacles the year brought, PbS received many outstanding entries as talented young people weren’t going to let the pandemic stop them from sharing their impressive skills.
After careful consideration, the internal PbS judging team selected 12 awesome performances as finalists for the Kids Got Talent Contest Judge Panel. PbS will not publish the youths’ names to respect and protect their privacy but they include:
• An original vocal performance from Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center - Durango, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department
• A cover of "All of My Love" by Led Zeppelin on the keyboard from Maricopa County Juvenile Detention Center - Durango, Maricopa County Juvenile Probation Department
• A duo performing an original song called "Dear Mama" from Ferris School, Delaware Youth Rehabilitative Services Division
• An original song from Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Ohio Department of Youth Services
• A duo hip hop dance to the theme of “Max and Ruby” from Indian River Juvenile Correctional Facility, Ohio Department of Youth Services
• Original artwork from Broad River Road Complex, South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
• A cover of "Better Together" by Luke Combs from South Carolina Juvenile Detention Center, South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
• A solo artist performs an original song “Explicame” from Green Hill School, Washington Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration
• A group perform an original song called “Last Minute” from Green Hill School, Washington Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration
• A solo artist performs an original song “Hardaway” from Green Hill School, Washington Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration
• A spoken word poem from Green Hill School, Washington Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Administration
• An original artist performs from Lincoln Hills School, Wisconsin Division of Juvenile Corrections
Congratulations to the finalists and all performers. Stay tuned for spotlights on each of the performances over the coming weeks.
Thank you to all the facility staff and agency directors who supported the youths throughout this process. We appreciate your encouragement and dedication.
A big thank you also to our judges:
• Andrea Coleman, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• Camille Germinal, Summer Intern, Justice Policy Institute
• Patrick Griffin, Senior Program Officer, Criminal Justice, MacArthur Foundation
• Ridha Kapoor, Policy and Field Relations Associate, Coalition for Juvenile Justice
• Samantha Millar, Communications Intern, Justice Policy Institute
• Gail D. Mumford, Senior Associate, Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Maggie Peake, Musician
• Marc Schindler, Executive Director, Justice Policy Institute
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.