The D.Y.S. Mount Meigs Campus Wins National Award
Award Recognition
The Mt. Meigs Campus in Montgomery County, Alabama, earned the 2022 PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen National Award in the corrections category. Covering 780 acres, the campus serves an average of 112 male youth ages 13 to 18.Over time, staff transformed the older facility into one that now emphasizes positive youth development. As a result, it provides meaningful opportunities for young people to grow and succeed.
Identifying Areas for Improvement
To begin improvements, the Mt. Meigs PbS team first verified that their data was accurate and complete. Once confirmed, they quickly targeted several serious issues. Their 2019 PbS data revealed overuse of confinement, high rates of assaults and fights, and frequent reliance on restraints. Because these problems were interconnected, the team then developed a comprehensive Facility Improvement Plan (FIP).
Addressing Confinement Concerns
When the team examined confinement use more closely, they found that most incidents occurred during school hours and involved youth in the G.E.D. program. At the time, G.E.D. students shared classrooms with K–12 students. To address this, the team moved G.E.D. students to a separate learning area where they could focus on job skills and preparing for release. Finally, they introduced a tiered behavior management plan that outlined clear consequences for negative behavior and incentives for positive behavior.
Creating Positive Incentives and Support Systems
One key highlight of the incentive program was the “Snack Shack,” a tropical themed game room that students created and managed. There, youth relaxed and used “reward bucks” earned for positive behavior to buy snacks and small accessories. To further support them, the team also formed a staff focus group that steps in before situations escalate. Staff meet with youth, walk with them around the grounds, or talk with them in the nautical themed “focus room,” which features the message: “Be Calm. Stay Anchored.”
Supporting Staff and Improving Safety
In addition to these improvements, staff completed training in de-escalation techniques and alternatives to confinement. Leadership also created an employee recognition program that rewards strong performance each month, quarter, and year.Furthermore, Employee Council representatives collected staff feedback about safety concerns. Leadership then used this information to adjust staffing schedules and reduce potential incidents.
Elevating Youth Voice
Likewise, the campus formed a youth council with two representatives from each dorm. The council gives youth a role in decision-making. Additionally, its goals include improving relationships between youth and staff, reducing fear, encouraging positive behavior, and identifying concerns that need attention.
Results and Impact
As a result of all these efforts, the 2022 data showed a major reduction in confinement and related incidents at the Mt. Meigs Campus. More specifically, the facility significantly reduced the number of confinement events, the duration of confinement, and the use of physical and mechanical restraints. Furthermore, Performance‑based Standards (PbS) recognizes and congratulates the Mt. Meigs team for its progress and continued commitment to treating every young person with care and dignity.
About the PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award
The PbS Barbara Allen-Hagen Award was established in 2007 to honor Barbara Allen-Hagen and her retirement from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (O.J.J.D.P). Her dedication to improving the quality of life in facilities has helped drive PbS to its current success. The award is given to a correction, detention, or community program that shows PbS’ commitment to treating every young person with care. In addition, it honors programs that create and carry out plans that lead to positive results for young people, staff, and families.
- Provided by Kim Godfrey Lovett, Executive Director of Performance-based Standards (PbS) on 19 Jul 2022