Overview
The Floyd County Youth Services Bureau Open Door Youth Services has been serving our community since 1982. The Floyd County Youth Services Bureau Open Door Youth Services programs add positive influences to the lives of our young people. Sometimes the kids arrive because “home” isn’t such a good place to be. Sometimes they are brought because they’ve missed too much school, or the disagreements at home are out of control. Whatever the reason, the Floyd County Youth Shelter gives them a safe, supportive place to live.
The Youth Shelter provides residential care after a referral from the Department of Child Services or Juvenile Probation. The kids are assured of a safe and comfortable residence where they get personal attention from a full-time teacher and a licensed family therapist. The shelter provides a highly structured environment where children know what to expect as well as what’s expected of them. Relaxation is important, too. The kids have access to a library, TV’s, computers and outdoor recreation. The Floyd County Youth Shelter works hard to help kids succeed!
In 2003 only 4% of children placed stayed for more than 60 days. That number jumped to 55% by 2009.
Resident Programs
Residential Care
Open Door’s residential program is well-suited for oppositional behaviors, attachment, adjustment, anxiety, and depressive disorders, children stepping down from locked, secure placements, and children with an extensive placement history who are approaching adulthood. Children who have experienced placement disruptions, have significant case management needs, and social/emotional development needs are well-suited for this residential program. Children in Collaborative Care needing considerable independent living skills instruction are a very appropriate fit for the Open Door residential program. The treatment at Open Door is intended to improve decision-making, increase a sense of agency through instruction/guidance, practice, and demonstration of social/emotional learning skills. Open Door staff members work with youth with severe emotional and behavioral disorders or disturbances whose needs cannot currently be met in a home environment. Our staff work around the clock in a trauma informed manner to support the youth's therapeutic plan, provide the structure youth need to heal, and help them prepare to succeed in a home environment.
Emergency Shelter Care
Children who will benefit from the Open Door Emergency Shelter Care are those abruptly removed from home because of abuse or neglect, those with excessive trauma, those who have run away from home, those transitioning from more restrictive placement, and those who are not able to be adequately supervised by parents or guardian and have become involved with the juvenile justice system. Open Door offers groups and counseling in a trauma-informed environment.
Both males and females can be served, and referrals can be taken from any Indiana county Department of Child Services or Juvenile Probation office.
Substance Abuse Program
The Seven Challenges is a comprehensive counseling program for adolescents with substance abuse problems and was listed in SAMHSA’s National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). It is well suited for work with youth involved in the juvenile justice system and has been widely used in the community and in secure facilities across the country. The program is developmentally appropriate: Instead of dictating behavior to youth, it presents a decision-making model and helps young people make their own informed decisions about their direction in life and use of drugs.
Weekly Group Therapy
The four concepts: Safety, Emotions, Loss, and Future (S.E.L.F) psycho-educational group therapy is designed to provide our youth – and staff – with an easy-to-use and coherent cognitive framework that can create a change momentum.
- No one gets better or works well without having Safety. Safety means physical safety, emotional safety, social safety and moral safety. Safety is where we always start and end. If you are not safe, you can't get better.
- Managing Emotions is the step that helps us to know what we are feeling and to handle our feelings in a way that doesn't hurt ourselves or others.
- Loss is the step that helps us acknowledge and grieve the painful things that have happened to us in a safe way and move to a healthy future.
- Future is the step where we look at our choices in creating a better personal future and to make the world a better place.
Weekly Art Therapy
Many youth in our care have experienced traumatic events or challenging circumstances. Our art therapy sessions can aid in the healing process by helping them process and make sense of their trauma, reduce anxiety, and develop coping strategies. Creating art can serve as a tool for empowerment and resilience-building. Our art therapy sessions also offer a safe and non-verbal outlet for our youth to express and communicate their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. It allows them to explore and process difficult or complex feelings that they may struggle to express verbally.
Non-Resident Programs
New Directions Program
New Directions is an after-school program in area elementary schools that provides prevention education to children. Children often stay in the program for several years establishing strong connections with each other and staff. The children also get to experience programs, such as Kids in the Kitchen, where they are able to learn about nutrition and cooking. The program continues during the summer, where the children get to participate in social settings throughout the area in order to build strong connections and relationships with the people throughout their community.
Summer Adventure Program
Summer Adventure Program is a free field‐trip program that all New Directions children are enrolled into after the end of the school year. The New Directions staff takes the children to amusement parks, the zoo, an aquatic center and other areas for the children to have fun. The program is often the only way for these children to access such places and learn about the world around them. The Summer Adventure Program is funded by private donors and grants.
Diagnostic and Evaluation Services
With a referral by the Indiana Department of Child Services or Juvenile Probation, children and families can receive various types of psychological testing. This testing can help to determine the right intervention for children as soon as possible, keeping them from being shuffled around between various programs.
- Dr. Tony Sheppard is a Certified Group Psychotherapist and has provided statewide training to direct care staff in youth self-harm and youth suicidality. He can provide:
- Screens for mental health diagnoses and personality traits that might contribute to problems.
- IQ testing that provides insight into the client's cognitive functioning level.
- Administration of clinical and parenting measures to determine parenting abilities.
- Trauma scales that assist in determining the potential impacts of past or suspected trauma.
Think First & Stay Safe
Think First & Stay Safe ® is a presentation offered to students K-5 in area elementary schools. This presentation teaches children response skills and knowledge through non-threatening and age-appropriate lessons that will help them to avoid potentially abusive situations. This interactive presentation is both fun and educational. The goal is for children to learn the following:
- To distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate touch.
- Three basic safety skills: say NO to an inappropriate touch; run away to a safe place; and tell a trusted adult.
- If sexual abuse was to happen or has happened to them, it is not their fault.
- To name private body parts.
Volunteer
Mentoring has been shown to be successful. Some of our longer-term residents are here simply because there is nowhere else for them to go. These children desperately need individual attention and strong role models. Volunteers can determine their own time commitment.
Open Door may fulfill required services hours for your school or work upon request.
Volunteer Opportunities:
- Painting - Help spruce up our facility by painting various walls, trim, and doors that need some TLC.
- Donation Drive - Hold a fundraiser for our facility or help collect donations of personal care items, office supplies, art supplies, etc. (No age requirements)
- Facility Organizing - Help organize one of our dorm closets or spruce up our pantry.
- Professional Services - Know of any professional carpet/floor cleaners or repairmen who are willing to donate their services for free? Contact us on our website or through the link below.
- Volunteer with our Youth
- Arts & Crafts with our youth.
- Baking & Cooking with our youth.
When you volunteer you are welcome to show them a skill or teach them a craft. The kids are always ready to learn something or be involved in a game or group exercise. If this is something you may be interested in, please fill out the contact form below.
Volunteer Requirements:
- Must be 21 years or older (some exceptions for groups).
- Willing to abide by our behavior and confidentiality guidelines.
- Some volunteer opportunities require a background check accompanied by a $43 fee.
Click here for a volunteer application
More Info
Advisory Board
Open Door Youth Services has an advisory board that meets bi-monthly. If you would like to be part of that board, please contact our board president Christy Lee at [email protected]
Grants & Donations
Open Door Youth Services is very appreciative of grants from the Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County, Kosair Foundation, Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Ogle Foundation and all of its public and private donors.
Donations and volunteers are always appreciated. To learn about making a donation or for volunteer opportunities, please contact our Communications Manager, Augie Jones at (812) 948-5481 or visit our webpage at www.opendooryouthservices.com and click on “Volunteer”. You can also find us on Facebook.
The Floyd County Youth Services Bureau was officially established on August 9, 1982. A grant was secured from the Juvenile Justice Institute for renovation and first year operating expenses for a shelter for troubled children and youth. In addition to grant money, thousands of dollars and man hours were contributed by the community. Since that time, numerous programs have been added in response to needs presented within the Southern Indiana community.