Department of Children's Services
Kathryn “Kate” O’Day, Commissioner
Youth Development Centers
Mountain View Youth Development Center is located in Dandridge, about 30 miles east of Knoxville. The facility serves up to 144 male juvenile offenders, ages 13 through 18, who are primarily from East Tennessee.
The youth at Mountain View benefit from a full range of services. It operates an accredited on-site school that offers course work leading to a high school diploma, vocational programming, special education services, GED preparation and testing, ACT testing and career counseling. Our treatment program offers case management and individual and group therapy.
As students work their way throughthe program they participate in various groups including Orientation, Dealing With Reality, Social Skills, Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Dilemma, Skill Streaming, Commitment to Change, Advanced Social Skills, Transition and Pre-Release. As part of its treatment program, Mountain View operates a 24-bed Sex Offender Program and a 12-bed Level III Alcohol and Drug program. We also offer on-site mental health services, family therapy, a round-the-clock health clinic, recreation services and religious activities.
Mountain View Youth Development Center is accredited by the American Correctional Association.
Contact: Steve Houston, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
809 Peal Lane
Dandridge, TN 37725
(865) 397-0174
New Visions Youth Development Center (YDC) is the only hardware-secure facility for adolescent females in Tennessee. It has a capacity of 50 beds and is located in the Metropolitan Nashville area. New Visions’ mission is to provide a secure, therapeutic environment for delinquent girls from 13-19 years of age. The admission criterion includes youth who have committed a violent offense or three (3) or more felony offenses. For many of the youth, New Visions may be the last step before adult corrections. In recognition of this, the staff works diligently to provide an environment of positive role modeling, intense therapeutic interventions and a structured learning environment.
New Visions has a fully accredited school program that offers academic, vocational and GED services. Our on-site clinic provides medical, psychiatric and dental services. Our counseling/case management department offers individual psychotherapy, alcohol/drug treatment, family therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT); and other groups on issues such as anger management, relationships, and teenage parenting. Treatment is tailored to meet the gender-specific needs of girls whenever possible. A structured work program, on-site recreational opportunities, volunteer programs, mentoring and spiritual programs are all designed to provide a continuum of services to meet the needs of the “whole person”.
Since New Visions is the only YDC serving females in Tennessee, our students come from all 13 regions, ranging from Memphis (West Tennessee) to Johnson City (East Tennessee). Being a service provider for all 95 counties in Tennessee can sometimes limit active involvement of some families in their child’s treatment. In consideration of this; the staff at New Visions uses community/family outreach and technology support systems to facilitate involvement of families during the youths stay at New Visions.
Although our students have committed serious delinquent offenses, nearly all of these young women have been victims themselves of emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse. In many instances, they have experienced abuse throughout their childhood. Many come from very challenging environments in which they have not been taught socially-acceptable ways of coping with these experiences and have not been consistently exposed to appropriate adult role modeling. In addition, many of these young women have significant mental health needs that have gone untreated prior to coming to New Visions.
New Visions is committed to providing the very best care to help these young women reach their full potential. Within this environment negative behaviors are addressed, new and/or better decision making processes are taught, and appropriate coping skills are practiced. Obtaining skills to further educational goals, obtain employment, and live independently are all taught to facilitate these youths in becoming productive citizens.
Contact: Barbara Lonardi, Superintendent
New Visions Youth Development Center
3981 Stewarts Ln.
Nashville,TN 37218
office: (615) 532-5470
fax: (615) 532-5430
Taft Youth Development Center is located in Bledsoe County near Pikeville and serves 156 male students, ages 16 through 19, from across the state. Taft is the most restrictive of the Youth Development Centers as it serves older and more serious male offenders.
Typically, the youth at Taft have adult sentences, serious delinquent offenses, are serving a third commitment, or have exhibited severe behavior problems at one of the regional Youth Development Centers.
The on-site school at Taft provides basic academic subjects, vocational training in ten subject areas, special education services, plus GED preparation and testing. The program options at Taft include individual and group therapy, alcohol and drug treatment by certified substance abuse counselors, a specialized program for violent offenders, and an extensive recreation and arts program. Taft's interscholastic football program includes competition with area high schools.
Contact: Roger Chute
Department of Children's Services
900 State Route 301
Pikeville, TN 37367
(423) 881-3201
Fax: (423) 881-4617
John S. Wilder Youth Development Center is in Somerville, Fayette County, and has room for 144 male students. This program serves students primarily from West Tennessee. A fully accredited school, a strong emphasis on treatment, and extensive group and individual counseling are at the core of Wilder's teamwork approach to preparing young men to re-enter the community.
One of Wilder's most successful programs is the Behavior Management Unit that serves students with the most pronounced behavior problems. Students in the program have special mental health needs and are unable to control their behavior sufficiently in order to adjust to the regular treatment program. The unit provides a more structured dormitory and classroom setting. It also promotes a positive peer culture where both confrontation and commendation are consistently applied. Students who are committed for violent offenses, or who have displayed particularly violent behavior while at Wilder, are provided aggression replacement training. Older students are provided with independent living skills training.
A responsibility and impulse control program is used to help immature students learn to take responsibility for their actions and exercise self-control. A transition program provides an opportunity for students to prepare for reintegration into the community upon release.
Contact: Jane Hayes, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
P.O. Box 639
13870 Highway 59
Somerville, TN 38068
(901) 465-7359
Fax: (901) 465-7363
Woodland Hills Youth Development Center is located in Davidson County. Woodland Hills serves up to 120 male students from Middle Tennessee and 24 female students from throughout the state. This facility is the only Youth Development Center to provide services to both males and females. Generally all youth at Woodland Hills are between 13 and 19 years old.
During the first two weeks of a juvenile offender's placement at Woodland Hills, a multi-disciplinary assessment is completed to determine the youth's treatment and security needs.
Subsequent treatment needs and progress are assessed on an ongoing basis. Woodland Hills offers group and individual counseling in the areas of substance abuse, aggression replacement, anger management, sexual victimization, sex-offender treatment, independent living skills, parenting skills and individual psychotherapy.
Contact: Tracy Haney, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
3965 Stewarts Lane
Nashville, TN 37243-1297
(615) 532-2000
Fax: (615) 532-8402
