FORBES JUVENILE ATTENTION CENTER

The Forbes Juvenile Attention Center began accepting juvenile admissions in August 1995. Located in a former Air Force barracks, this facility immediately proved useful for both regional Detention Centers and for various Counties, which were feeling the strain of overcrowding in their own facilities. Today, the Center houses up to 64 adolescents in various stages of the adjudicatory process and employs approximately 80 staff members. These employees are assigned to one of four function areas: detention, programs, operations (maintenance and custodial) and administration.

JUVENILE DETENTION

The philosophy at Forbes is "Detention With a Purpose." Forbes emphasizes a program structure which allows for a variety of rehabilitation services for detained youth. This ensures that their time at Forbes, currently averaging 4-5 weeks, is not "dead" time. These programs also help staff in managing residents' behavior during their period of confinement. Five full-time teachers and four part-time paraprofessionals provide mandatory secondary education to the residents. Recreational, educational and creative outlets serve to distract the residents, thereby reducing the number and severity of incidents while in detention.

INTENSIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM

Forbes Juvenile Attention Center has pioneered a program in Kansas known as IBIP - Intensive Behavioral Intervention Program.  Since April 1998, IBIP has been an innovative approach to assist in solving juvenile delinquent behavior.  The program provides a secure environment with intensive behavioral intervention programming that addresses inappropriate offending behavior, provides diversion from Juvenile Justice custody, and reduces offender recidivism.

QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Using Quality Management principles to serve the "customers" of detention services, the administration at Forbes has developed Performance Measures for each major function area as well as for the youth "customers". This procedure ensures that our mission to provide "excellent detention services" is being met.