Mt. Meigs Campus
The Mt. Meigs campus is located adjacent to Interstate 85 approximately 15 miles east of downtown Montgomery. The facility sits directly adjacent to the Department’s Central Office and serves adjudicated male youth up to the age of 21 with most youth between the ages of 16 and 19. Programming includes Substance Use treatment, Educational Services, Vocational/Career Technical services, Workforce Skill Development, and specialized services such as the Accountability Based Sex Offense Prevention Program (ABSOPP), and the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU). Youth are provided opportunities for pro-social interaction, skill development, individual and group counseling, and other services important to positive youth development.
Each Youth is assigned a case manager who works with the youth to address factors related to their committing offense(s) and work toward developing skills needed in preparation for transitioning out of DYS custody. The development of an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) is a key component of the case management work with youth. Developed using a multidisciplinary team approach, youth and families are important members of the team contributing to the ISP. Youth are provided opportunities for pro-social interaction that support youth meeting their educational, residential, and rehabilitative goals to successfully transition back to their families and communities. The overarching goal is to meet the Department’s vision to change a youth’s trajectory.
Programs
ACCOUNTABILITY BASED SEX OFFENSE PREVENTION PROGRAM (ABSOPP)
The Mt. Meigs Accountability Based Sex Offense Prevention Program (ABSOPP) is a DYS funded treatment program provided through contractual agreement with Auburn University and administered through the Department of Psychology. ABSOPP provides assessment, evaluation, and treatment services to adolescents with illegal sexual behaviors (AISB). The age range is typically 12 to 21, with most between the ages of 13 and 18. Individual and group therapy occurs on a weekly basis. The youth in the ABSOPP program reside in dorms designated for ABSOPP and receive treatment and educational services separate from the Mt. Meigs general population.
SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAM
The Mt. Meigs Substance Use Treatment program provides treatment and support for youth who assessed or are ordered for substance use treatment. Program components include screening and assessment, individual and group sessions, follow up support, and family education (when available). The program utilizes interactive journaling and didactic interventions along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions and strategies.
Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU)
The Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) functions as an alternative program for youth experiencing a number of behavioral health issues resulting in their inability to successfully complete their program placement. Program participation includes educational services, behavioral management targeting the behaviors that resulted in ITU placement, and behavioral remediation. Serving a diverse population, ITU also serves youth who have absconded from DYS contracted private provider facilities and youth in release transition. The program seeks to re-integrate youth back to a regular campus or contract private provider program or in some situations release from DYS.
Educational Services
Youth placed at the Mt. Meigs Campus attend the L.B. Wallace School which is located on-site. School is year round and youth are given the opportunity to receive educational, career, and technical services in a variety of trade areas including welding, brick masonry, business management, and building construction. General Education Development (GED) studies and distance learning also are available through the academic program. The mission of L. B. Wallace School is to meet the unique educational needs of individual youth in order for them to make the educational gains necessary to successfully transition from DYS to school or employment in the community.
POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Hope Inspired Ministries (HIM) provides workforce development and job readiness preparation for youth who participate in the program. A faith-based initiative, HIM provides youth the opportunity to learn soft-skills and complete an internship that culminates with a graduation ceremony celebrating program completion.
In2Work is a ServSafe certificate program available to youth through Aramark, the food service provider for the Department. Youth participating in the program have the opportunity to learn basic food service preparation and food service skills. Youth completing the program and passing the requisite test, obtain a ServSafe Certificate that creates a pathway for entry to the food service industry. Youth participating in and completing the program are eligible for a scholarship to be used to further their education.
VISITATION
Family engagement is encouraged and welcome at the Mt. Meigs Campus.
Visits are scheduled through each youth’s assigned case manager.