The Division of Youth Services provides specialized casework services to families who are experiencing disruptions and strives to improve home, school, and community life. Services offered are designed to strengthen family life, prevent family breakdown, and facilitate the development and social functioning of young people.
Families who are residents of Fayette County with children under 18 years of age are eligible for services. The family may request services or they may be ordered by the court. Families who request services must be willing to participate during all phases of service delivery. There are no fees for services provided.
Lexington Day Treatment Center
1177 Red Mile Place
(859) 246-4370 or (859) 246-4371
Fax: (859) 231-1213
Lexington Day Treatment Center is a treatment center and non-traditional school all in one. Our mission is to provide our clients with the behavior, academic, and social skills needed to successfully transition back to their home schools and graduate, while remaining in the community and without additional court involvement. In order to qualify for participation, youth must be between the ages of 12-17 and residents of Fayette County. In addition, they are required to be court-ordered to Lexington Day Treatment Center, committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice or committed to the Department of Community Based Services.
Lexington Day Treatment Center is a collaborative program between LFUCG, Fayette County Public Schools, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. We provide individual and group counseling, an academic program with credit recovery opportunities, on-going team meetings with parents and collaborative partners, and transition/follow-up services.
A completed application along with a copy of the court order or commitment must be submitted before youth are interviewed and assessed to begin the program. For more information, please call (859) 246-4370.
Link to Lexington Day Treatment Center Application
CASA
1155 Red Mile Place
(859) 246-4334
Fax: (859) 389-6971
www.lexingtoncasa.com
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lexington provides court appointed, trained, volunteer advocates to speak for children who through court action have been deemed abused and/or neglected. CASA volunteers act as another set of eyes and ears for the Judge. CASA works in cooperation with other agencies, monitors compliance with court orders, investigates and submits independent reports to the court with recommendations in the “best interest” of the child. For further information regarding CASA of Lexington or how to become a CASA volunteer please call 246-4334.
Juvenile Probation & Court Services
1155 Red Mile Place
(859) 246-4300
Fax: (859) 246-4346
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) Juvenile Probation & Court Services was created pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statue 605.050 with duties and responsibilities defined in subsequent statues. DYS Juvenile Probation & Court Servcies provides a variety of community based support services to assist the Courts and Juvenile Justice system in delivering the highest quality of supervision for Fayette County youth. DYS Probation officers are sworn peace officers with years of education and experience. Probation conducts investigations and prepares pre-dispositional reports as ordered by the Fayette County District Court. Services include monitoring and supervising youth placed on probation by the Court, development and implementation of individualized treatment plans, drug screening, curfew monitoring and referral to community resources based on youth or family needs.
Juvenile Probation & Court Services also provides a home detention program to monitor youth in the community that the Court determines do not require secure detention. Officers monitor compliance with the home detention contract, school attendance, behavior, and specific Court orders through regular random contacts. This includes collaboration with the LFUCG Police Department to conduct after hours home contacts through our Juvenile Surveillance Program.
Juvenile Probation & Court Services develops and facilitates life skills educational programs and contracts with community resources to provide therapeutic services to address the competency and accountability of our youth.
Additionally, Juvenile Probation & Court Services provides a Suspension Alternative Program (SAP) for Court involved youth that have been suspended from school. This program provides supervision, educational services, life skills, and community service opportunities for youth as an alternative to formal court action or detention. Probation has access to the web-based curriculum, PLATO, and can provide clients an additional opportunity to earn their high school credits or improve their academic performance.
DYS Probation & Court Services monitors youth ordered to perform community service. Probation provides a list of available community organizations and screen the youth to ensure a positive experience for the youth and the community organization. For further information regarding Juvenile Probation and Court Services call 246-4300.
Student Intern Opportunities
Juvenile Probation & Court Services offers unpaid internship and practicum placement opportunities throughout the year. If you are an undergraduate student studying Juvenile Justice, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Sociology or a related human service major, Juvenile Probation & Court Services offers the opportunity for students to gain experience and learn on the job skills.
To apply for an undergraduate student internship or practicum placement, click here for the application. Students must also submit to a criminal background check.
Please send completed applications to Linda Taylor at lindat@lexingtonky.gov or Matthew Crutcher mcrutcher@lexingtonky.gov. If you need additional information or have questions, please contact Linda or Matthew at (859) 246-4300.
Youth and Family Services
1306 Versailles Road, Suite #110
(859) 246-4300
Fax: (859) 246-4355
The Division of Youth Services, Youth & Family Services team of Social Workers, Program Aides and a Eligibility Counselor, offer community outreach and education programs at multiple locations in Fayette County. Services are provided to youth under the age of 18 who are navigating their adolescent years.
Our goal is to assist youth in reaching their highest potential. We do this by providing youth and their families with case management services, youth summer employment, homework assistance, community events, field trips, community resources, education and awareness, as well as offer positive opportunities for youth.
Case Management
These services are offered to Family Court and to parents of youth experiencing difficulties in their adolescent years. Youth do not have to be in the court system to receive services through the Division of Youth Services. Services can assist with crisis or offer longer term support to families and youth.
Every effort will be made to contact families within 24 hours of referral (excluding weekends). All services are provided by appointment. Late arrivals may have to be rescheduled, and failure to show may mean that no other appointments will be scheduled, and/or the care will be terminated or sent back to the court. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Evening and weekend appointments for special circumstances may be considered on a limited basis.
Coleman House Project
An outreach program providing substance abuse treatment and mental health services to adolescents. The program includes: A Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) Assessment; Seven Challenges; individual, group and family counseling; parenting/nurturing groups; life skills workshops and other activities. The Coleman House Project is a collaboration between Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Youth Services, Bluegrass Regional MH/MR Board, The Center for Women, Children and Families and Chrysalis House, Inc.
Summer Youth Employment
This program provides paid employment opportunities to youth between the ages of 14 and 17, for six weeks during the summer. Youth work in various businesses and organizations across the city. The intention of this program is to provide youth with a real and meaningful work experience in which they receive as much training and responsibility as is feasible for the particular business they are assigned to. Job shadowing, mentorship and career guidance are also important features. Youth participate in work readiness and life skills workshops throughout the summer.
For more information on this program and how to apply go to the Summer Youth Employment Program page.
If you represent a business or organisation and are interested in being an employer in the 2013 Summer Youth Employment Program, please complete the Employer Application Form and return it by mail, fax, or email to Mattie Morton, mmorton@lexingtonky.gov
"Path to Success"
"Path to Success" is provided through LFUCG Division of Youth Services. "Path to Success" serves out-of-school youth between the ages 16-18 in the Gainesway, Winburn and Cardinal Valley neighborhood areas of Fayette County. "Path to Success" provides youth with GED preparation or alternative schooling, work readiness and leadership skills, and summer employment. The program aims to prepare each individual participant so that, on leaving the program, they have attained their goals, are ready to enter the workforce, or go on to higher education.
Link to "Path to Success" flyer
Gainesway Community Center
3460 Milano Road
(859) 971-3068
Homework Huddle
Offers after school homework assistance for students 1st through 12th grade. Program meets Monday through Friday, 3 pm - 7 pm and enrolls twice a year in January and August. Other youth services and activities include: a computer lab, summer camp, a community garden, and karate lessons.
Community Outreach
The Division of Youth Services partners with organizations across Lexington to bring services and outreach activities to the community. Services include: providing the elderly with commodities (with God's Food Pantry), Christmas toy drives, Spotlight on Youth events (with Lyric Theatre) and Youth Achievers (through Imani Baptist Church).
Student/Volunteer Opportunities
The Division of Youth and Family Services welcomes applications from students or other interested members of the community. Download the volunteer application here
Please send completed applications to mmorton@lexingtonky.gov