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State officials outline phased opening of Southeast Youth Development Center
Summary
Juvenile Justice Bureau Director Kevin Cook told the Skippack Board that renovations are nearly complete at a renovated on‑site Southeast Youth Development Center, with a soft opening the week of July 22 for two residents and gradual ramp‑up to an eventual capacity of about 40 focused on family reintegration and vocational training.
Kevin Cook, bureau director for juvenile justice services, told the township board the state is moving forward with renovations of the Southeast Youth Development Center, a renovated facility on the grounds of a local campus that will house male adjudicated youth from the southeastern region of Pennsylvania.
Cook said the center will open in phases. He told the board a soft opening is planned the week of July 22 when two residents will be brought in, with the facility holding about 12 residents while renovations continue and a target capacity of about 40 once all work is finished. "At this time last year we had a wait list of 168 youth; as of today it's at 29," Cook said, describing the continuing need for beds in the juvenile system.
The center will focus on transitional programming for youth who have completed primary treatment and are in a reintegration phase, Cook said, and will emphasize trauma‑informed care, vocational training and family reunification. He said the program is designed so youth enter or leave only pursuant to court order and that any off‑ground or home passes will require judicial approval and close supervision by facility staff.
Education services at the site will be provided under a contract with the local Intermediate Unit while the local school district retains oversight for educational outcomes, officials told the board. Officials said most educational services will occur on‑site; attainment of a home‑district high school diploma will depend on credits already earned, with a commonwealth diploma a more likely outcome for many students.
Board members asked about medical and hospital arrangements, and officials said the juvenile justice agency will arrange medical care (including transfers to regional trauma centers when necessary) and that the township and local entities will coordinate transportation and emergency response. The facility will include perimeter security and a control booth; dormitory spaces will be an open setting rather than single‑cell lock down, officials said.
The board did not take a formal vote on the center but discussed oversight, supervision ratios for off‑site activities, and the planned schedule for phased admissions. Officials said they will continue to meet with county probation, judges and local stakeholders during ramp‑up.
