Polk County Community, Family & Youth Services

Youth Shelter

Mission Statement

The mission of the Polk County Youth Shelter team is to provide youth in transition with a safe, nurturing, educational environment.

Orientation

When you are admitted to the shelter the following will happen:

You will be interviews by the shelter social worker or another staff member to obtain necessary information and to determine any special needs you may have.
The basic rules and expectations will be explained to you and you will have an opportunity to ask questions.
Your clothing and personal property will be listed. You will wear your own clothing and will be able to keep up to 7 outfits in your room. Additional belongings will be kept in a locked storage area that you can access as needed.
Your money will be listed and placed in a locked area. You may check out money at specified times.
You may shower and put on clean clothing. If needed, the shelter will provide you with clothing until arrangements can be made to obtain your clothing.
You will be seen by our nurse and physician at the earliest time possible to receive a physical and an assessment of your medical needs.
You will be assigned a room. You may have a roommate depending upon your personal situation and our available space.
You will join the group for regular activities.

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Your Rights

The following are your rights:

To be protected against physical, emotional, or psychological abuse and/or harassment.
To reside in a clean, orderly environment.
To practice your religious beliefs.
To receive a nutritious and well-balanced diet.
To not be discriminated against because of race/ethnicity, religion, sex, or personal beliefs.
To participate in daily recreation.
To attend school in an appropriate educational setting.
To have visitation with family members.
To send and receive mail that will not be read by staff. (Mail may be opened in your presence if contraband is suspected)
To access appropriate medical services
To have a shower daily and have clean clothing and linen on a regular basis.
To have reasonable provisions made for privacy.
To not be subjected to any unreasonable or unfair treatment.
To be able to grieve any perceived violation of these rights.
To be advised of your rights.

Information regarding you and your family shall be kept confidential and released only with proper written authorization.

Any restriction of the above rights will be for good cause which will be specified in writing and communicated to you, your guardian, Juvenile Court Officers, placing worker, and attorney.

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Visitation

Visitation hours are from 5:30 -6:00 PM Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon on Saturdays and Sundays. If your parents cannot visit during these times, they can make arrangements for special visitation. Visits may last up to 30 minutes.

Parents, grandparents, and siblings may visit with a Photo ID. All other visitors must be approved by your worker. Children 12 and older must provide a photo ID in order to visit.

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Passes

You may have passes with family members and/or other approved adults. Your worker must approve all individuals for passes.
You must be in the shelter for 3 days before you are eligible for passes.
Youth on level one are not eligible for passes.

Day passes:	Saturdays 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
	Sundays 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

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Telephone Calls

You will be able to make and receive telephone calls from your family members and other approved individuals.
The number of calls you can have will be based upon the level you are on.
Telephone calls to your Juvenile Court Officer, placing worker, and attorney are not restricted.

Telephone calls are monitored only to the extent necessary to assure your well-being and facility security. Rationale for monitoring will be documented in your case file.

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School

You are expected to attend school either in public school or in the shelter school program.

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Medical Services

If you have a medical or dental problem, tell any staff member or request to see the nurse. There is a nurse on duty from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. During hours when medical staff is not on duty, medical services will be assessed in the community as needed.

If you have a personal physician and/or dentist, you may continue to see them as needed.

Polk County Youth Services are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.

If you have a question, ask. The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.

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Level System

Your effort to follow the rules, respect others, and respond appropriately to feedback will be charted each day. You will also be expected to work on some personal goals that you will determine with your advocate.

You will earn privileges based upon your effort. Level system privileges are posted in your wings.

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Bedtimes

Level 1:	8:30 PM	Weekdays
	8:30 PM	Fridays
	8:30 PM	Saturdays
Level 2:	9:00 PM	Weekdays
	10:00 PM	Fridays
	10:30 PM	Saturdays
Level 3:	9:30 PM	Weekdays
	10:30 PM	Fridays
	11:00 PM	Saturdays
Level 4:	10:00 PM	Weekdays
	11:00 PM	Fridays
	12:00 AM	Saturdays

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Group Meetings

You will be expected to participate in group meetings while you are at the shelter. Some groups will be educational and others will be meetings to discuss life at the shelter.

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Rules/Sanctions/Disciplinary Steps

We expect that you will exhibit good behavior while you are here, but you should know what kind of disciplinary steps we use so that you will recognize and understand them. The steps are as follows:

Step 1: Verbal Prompt
Step 2: Warning
Step 3: Separation from group
Step 4: Room Time
Step 5: Activity Restriction
Step 6: Privilege Suspension
Step 7: Level Suspension
Step 8: Level Loss
Step 9: Criminal Charges

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Safety and Security

In order to be certain that we are all safe, searches of your room and person may be conducted. These will be done with every attempt to respect your privacy.

Although as a last resort, physical restraint may occur if you are a danger to yourself or others, or destroying property.

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Weekday Schedule

6:30 - 7:30 AM	Wake up times vary based on your school schedule
7:45 AM	Breakfast
9:00 AM	PCYS School Begins
12:00 Noon	Lunch
1:00 PM	School Resumes
3:30 PM	PCYS School Ends - Groups/Activities/Recreation
4:45 PM	Dinner
5:30 - 6:00 PM	Family Visits - up to 30 minutes
6:30 PM	Groups/Activities/Recreation

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Discharge

Your length of stay at PCYS will be determined by your Juvenile Court Officer of DHS social worker and your judge. In some cases, however, an emergency discharge may be requested by the shelter staff when the health or safety of you, other youth, or staff is endangered by your continued placement at the shelter.

Youth Shelter

Mission Statement

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