Family Independence Agency (FIA) Director Marianne Udow today announced that as a result of a review of the department's Juvenile Justice program, the Adrian Training School in Adrian will ultimately become the premier juvenile justice treatment program for girls in Michigan.

Udow's announcement ends speculation about the future of the Adrian facility and is based upon current trends and demographics in juvenile justice. FIA projects that the need for girls' programming and bed space will continue to grow and that the Adrian Training School is the state facility best suited to this increase in population.

"Emerging best practices note that single-gender programming is critical for girls; therefore, it is our intention to establish an all-female campus at Adrian," Udow said. "In demonstrating our commitment to this goal, we plan to implement a comprehensive and extensive transition program with more beds that will address the needs of young women who are re-entering the community."

To reach this goal, FIA is restricting new placements at Adrian to only girls. The majority of the boys currently in treatment at Adrian will have an opportunity to complete their programs at that facility.

The boys' caseworkers and Adrian treatment staff will continue to review the progress of each boy and determine the appropriate placement based upon the best interest of the youth. Both public and private placements will be considered in the event it is determined a resident needs to be transferred to another program.

National Juvenile Justice leaders agree with Udow and offer full support for the FIA's plan for the Adrian Training School.

"The Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice supports FIA's decision to restructure the Adrian Training School into a female only treatment facility," Jeriel Heard, Chairperson of the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice, said. "It is in the best interest of the female juveniles placed in Adrian. This decision will facilitate the strengthening and expansion of evidence-based, gender-specific services. Best practices and current research disseminated by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on female juvenile delinquency treatment programming supports the transitioning of Adrian to a female only treatment facility."

Heard's sentiments were echoed by Beth Arnovits, Executive Director for the Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD) and Chair of the FIA Advisory Committee on Services to Delinquent Youth.

"I speak for both MCCD and the Advisory Committee in support of the FIA plan for the Adrian Training School," Arnovits said. "Research shows that young women learn and grow best in an all-female environment. This is particularly true of girls who are committed to FIA. For too long we have ignored the needs of girls. The FIA plan that maintains ATS exclusively for girls is long overdue."

FIA has also decided not to close the Sequoyah Center on the Maxey Training School campus due to the recent growth in the boys population entering the juvenile justice system. To meet the department’s projected budget shortfall, savings will be achieved through a combination of administrative actions including hiring freezes and limitations in building renovations.

"We believe this proposal is a strong statement of our commitment to Adrian and it recognizes the strength of the community and the staff," Udow said. "Most importantly, we believe this proposal will substantially further the treatment and successful re-entry into a productive life of the children in our care."