Montgomery County Juvenile Court

Congrats to Director Bruce Graham and the team from the Juvenile Court Detention Center who received an official recertification this month from the Ohio Department of Youth Services. The annual Ohio Administrative Code process involves a site visit and inspection of the facility, policies and procedures, as well as random interviews with staff and youth. The center was compliant in all categories, which also included visitation & communication, food service, hygiene, and health care services. The youth who were interviewed during the inspection reported that they felt safe and were treated fairly by staff.

A reminder for tomorrow:

Juvenile Court is thankful to have relationships with several local mental health professionals who provide services to Court affiliated youth. On World Mental Health Day, we want to recognize their efforts to provide individual and group therapy, as well as drug, alcohol and mental health counseling. Pictured below are the staff members who work at the Center for Adolescent Services, including: Chandler Mills and Katya Kirillova from Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology; Lorraine Muntwyler with ABC Therapy; and Rae Weir with South Community Behavioral Health. Also featured is Elizabeth Liapas (center) and Anita Koerner and Asya Pitts (bottom) from South Community, who work with youth at Nicholas Residential Treatment Center. We missed a few others, but all of the care that they provide is truly appreciated!?

It’s always a pleasure to welcome University of Dayton students from the Youth, Justice & Law sociology class. They visited the Court today to learn more about the juvenile justice system. Court Administrator Eric Shafer (left) and Race, Equity & Inclusion Coordinator Eemonne’y Popoola (right) took UD professor Dr. Art Jipson (second from right) and his students on a tour of the Juvenile Justice Center.?

Surprise! Deputy Court Administrator Tiffany Dulin said she was genuinely caught off guard when her name was called during last night’s Dayton Mediation Center Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. She received the center’s Ambassador Award which was established “to honor volunteers and supporters who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our mission,” said Michelle Zaremba, the Mediation Center’s director. Dulin has served for more than ten years on the center’s Mediation Advisory Board. “She has consistently made herself available to provide valuable insights on cases and processes, particularly during challenging times,” Zaremba said. Following the pandemic, when referrals to the Mediation Center doubled, Dulin helped to secure funding and grants to help manage the influx of cases. Congrats, Ms. Dulin, and thanks for consistently looking out for the needs of Montgomery County’s youth!

Judge Helen Wallace and members of the Montgomery County Court Appointed Special Advocates team are joining approximately 700 others in Columbus this week for the 29th Annual Celebrate Kids! Conference sponsored by Ohio CASA. #CKC24 The staff members, volunteers, attorneys and judges are gathering information on a variety of child welfare topics ranging from building authentic relationships, to responding to victims of human trafficking, to understanding substance use and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a CASA volunteer, please call (937) 225-4031 or email [email protected].

Richard Doran Jr., who has 14 years of experience working in the Court's Intervention Center, was recently promoted to assessment unit manager. “I hope to continue to build an environment that encourages excellent service to the public,” he said about his new role. Doran’s first experience with Juvenile Court came during college in the 1990’s when he interned with the Building Bridges Program. He has college degrees in both applied psychology and secondary education. He also has previous experience working at the Dayton Metro Library. Doran lives in New Carlisle, with his wife, Amy, his father-in-law, and his parents. He said he prefers “hiking high in the Rockies, to relaxing on a beach in Florida.”

The Probation Department is hiring for a Diversion Officer to reinforce evidence-based programming at the Court’s Evening Reporting Center for at-risk youth in need of additional skills. Qualified applicants should have a degree in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, social work or related field. For more information about this role, and descriptions of the 23 other jobs available at the Court, see the link in the comments.?

The sounds of toddler squeals and proud applause were loud in Courtroom 1 today during the Family Treatment Court graduation. Four graduates were recognized for their long-term sobriety, and adherence to their treatment plans that were set in place to help them regain custody of their children. Several community partners including local attorneys, and representatives from Montgomery County Children Services, Brigid’s Path, and Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County, were on hand for the celebration. “Vulnerability is not a weakness, but a sign of great strength,” said Magistrate Hope Smalls. “Some people when faced with adversity either become better or bitter. You decided to become better.” Each graduate, along with their family members, had the opportunity to talk about their journey in the program. The Family Treatment Court was created in 2016 during the peak of the opioid epidemic, as collaboration between Juvenile Court and Montgomery County’s Job & Family Services Children Services division. The focus is to reduce the amount of days that children spend out of home, and to provide oversight that helps remove barriers to providing a safe and stable home for children.?

Just a reminder that the Juvenile Court offices will be closed tomorrow, Sept. 2. Please have a safe Labor Day holiday.