Juvenile center, library helping troubled kids

<p>Children who are housed at the local juvenile detention center can now gain skills through online classes in topics such as design, college readiness and web development so they see the possibilities for when they are released.</p><p>The partnership between the Johnson County Public Library and the Dickinson Juvenile Justice Center has been ongoing for years with a book club. Now it has expanded to make sure the youth have access to more online learning.</p><p>David Allen, Franklin branch adult services manager, helped make sure the juveniles had online accounts so they could use multiple programs offered through the library. Among the offerings are computer programming, graphic design, math and health care professions, Allen said.</p><p>Along with the resources, however, the interaction they get from people visiting and talking to them as they learn creates an environment of trust and growth, said Jim Higdon, former juvenile center director.</p><p>Library assistant Keeley Waters and library volunteers drop off books and then go back to lead discussions. Past books include Frankenstein, Fahrenheit 451 and Animal Farm, Waters said.</p><p>That reading, along with continued learning in other subjects, sets them up for success once they leave the center, Higdon said.</p><p>“They enjoyed it, anytime someone from outside came in to do things with them, they enjoyed it and were grateful for people coming in and doing those things kinds of things,” Higdon said. “It did help. A lot of the kids were able to keep up with their studies and when they left the center they could go back into the classroom and hopefully continue on with their education.”</p><p>The juvenile center offers a variety of books as well, to serve the youth regardless of their reading abilities.</p><p>“We found that we have a need for some audio books,” said Denise Blue, who works in the education department at the justice center. “We have chapter books and things, but some kids’ reading abilities are low. They can still enjoy a library book or a school book and want to have it read to them. We did some research and found the library offered everything we needed and it was free as well.”</p><p>Although the inmates are often working through serious issues, visitors from the library don’t pry. Doing so may only cause them to close themselves off, Waters said.</p><p>“They are going through difficult times,” Waters said. “My volunteers and I abide by the rules. We don’t ask what they’ve done or how they’ve gotten there. I always start by introducing myself, I always ask them their names and I stress, I say I’m not there as a teacher or an authority figure, I’m there because I want to be there.”</p><p>The reward of connecting with those children and watching them learn pays off when they turn out to be successful adults, Waters said.</p><p>“It’s just been so amazing to have my visits a year or two later,” Waters said. “One of the kids came to the library and said, ‘I bet you don’t remember me’ and it’s incredible to realize they remember me. I had one kid who talked about when he got out he wanted to study to be an EMT and get married and have children someday. Down the road he came into to the library and was studying for exams to be an EMT and he was engaged. It’s so amazing to see him achieve those goals and to be on the other side of that.”</p>