In 2022, LSI received a grant from the Pauline Barrett Charitable Foundation to support the expansion of LSI’s Trauma Informed Services at the North Iowa Juvenile Detention Center. This program provides individual and group therapy for Iowa youth at the center. LSI also provides these trauma informed services at Polk County Detention Center, Central Iowa Juvenile Detention Center, North West Iowa Detention Center and/or North Iowa Detention Center.

For the adolescents, the center is a bridge between court and finding out where their next placement will be – whether that is a residential treatment facility, the Iowa State Training School, a foster home or someplace else.

“The benefit of the Trauma Informed Care Program is that kids can start getting treatment before they go to their next placement,” said Shelly Blanchard, an LSI therapist at the Juvenile Detention Center in Waterloo. “The therapist acts as an advocate while they are in the detention center, and the kids receive emotional support while going through the court process.”

Therapists also provide the youth with additional resources to set them up for success in their next placement.

“We do trauma assessments on each kid and provide a summary to their Juvenile Court Officers,” said Shelly. “These reports include recommendations such as continued therapy, the need for a psychological evaluation, need for an appointment with a psychiatrist, substance abuse treatment, residential treatment for mental health and more,” she said.

Many of the youth have had tough beginnings, which makes the work LSI staff do especially crucial in setting them on a positive path.

“I wish people knew that these kids have been through extensive trauma – they are not bad kids,” said Shelly. “The kids are stuck in a cycle, and they are desperate for positive adults to help them create a better life for themselves.”

Shelly is just one of the individuals that continues to provide hope and healing to Iowa youth. Jeremy Holmes, a therapist for LSI Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS) in Waterloo, works at the detention center and sees youth individually and as a group, serving as a positive role model.

Jose Saavedra, an LSI Program Supervisor in the BHIS Department in Waterloo, supports adolescents who are mostly Spanish speaking. LSI staff work tirelessly to give each youth individualized care and guidance to help them succeed.

“Being here and doing therapy provides kids with the opportunity to have a positive adult to support and help them through the process with the Juvenile Court System,” said Shelly. “It also provides them therapy for mental health that they might not get otherwise.”