By Amie Sites
Pharos-Tribune
LOGANSPORT, Ind. — An average day for Joe Hiatt begins at 6 a.m. at the Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility. Hiatt, a youth development specialist at the facility, monitors students in the Youth Transition Reentry Independent Living (YTRI) Unit. In addition to supervising students throughout the day, he transports students from the intake facility to the juvenile correctional facility and to doctor appointments.
A youth development specialist at the facility spends days maintaining order and security of students there. The youth development specialist also supervises students both inside and outside the facility, assists in identifying student treatment needs, remains alert for signs of disorder or tension and counsels students in an informal and unofficial capacity. Youth development specialists are with students all day long.
For Hiatt, one of the big draws to the position was the chance to be a positive role model for students.
In the YTRI Unit, which is less structured, allowing students to take responsibility for basic operations while offering additional freedom and privileges, Hiatt said he feels he is able to be a positive role model.
“We get to openly communicate which results in a lot of positive interactions,” Hiatt said. “You never know what one little interaction can do for a kid.”
Youth development specialists, or correctional officers, work on a 12-hour rotation. There are currently 90 officers and more are needed.
Mark Harmon, program director at the facility, said he doesn’t think many people realize they have the opportunity available to them.
“A lot of times people hear correctional officer, they think guard — but it’s so much more than that,” Harmon said.
For some, the position gave them the opportunity to start somewhere and grow. Many employees in the facility have used the youth development specialist position as a stepping stone to another position.
Chris Dixson, now a sergeant at the facility, started as a correctional officer in June 2002. Dixson’s experience has been a unique one because he began the job at 21 years old — when he was close to the students’ ages.
In Dixson’s time at the facility he has been able to advance and has always had supervisors who were willing to help him as he moved forward, he said.
“It’s a great place to work — everyone rallies around each other and there is room for growth,” Dixson said.
Elizabeth Donnelly has been at the facility for three years and recently was promoted from youth development specialist to sergeant. Donnelly has learned how to work with and target each student individually.
“We have learned how to deescalate different situations,” Donnelly said. “Interaction between students and officers is more relaxed, but not so relaxed we don’t implement safety and security.”
The position for some has been so enjoyable that they have chosen to stay with it for several years, Harmon said.
Bev Cattin has been a youth development specialist at the facility for 12 years. Cattin also teaches the students, which has been her favorite part of the job.
Many agreed that programs and changes implemented were changing the facility for the better.
Before being a youth development specialist for the YTRI Unit, Hiatt worked over the segregation/isolation unit. Officers at the facility were able to reduce isolation by 99 percent and eventually removed the segregation unit completely. That space became the YTRI Unit, an idea that came from Dixson, who thought the space could be used for something more positive.
“That shows how far this facility has come,” Hiatt said. “Times are changing.”
The youth development specialists are the ones making an impact, Harmon said.
“They are with [the students] 24/7 ,” Harmon said. “That’s where they make the difference.”
Those interested in the entry-level position receive thorough training as well as the opportunity to shadow someone working and get acclimated. There are also many opportunities to work overtime and receive a benefit package.
Although the reasons might vary, most agreed they first got involved to make a difference in each student’s life.
It’s why Harmon got involved. He started at the facility when in opened in 1994.
“My motivation is to serve the community and impact a change on an individual,” Harmon said.
An underlying theme at the facility is community service and helping kids, Harmon said.
Tom Hickey, who started working at the facility in 1994, wanted to impact others. Now a lieutenant at the facility, Hickey first started as a correctional officer.
“We’re trying to do our best to help the kids,” Hickey said. “I think I have contributed to a smile on their face. I try to show them they don’t have to stay here.”
One of the most rewarding parts of the job is when a student calls back to check in or thank officers for the difference they made in their life, many officers agreed.
“If you have compassion to help others and are community-service minded, this is a great opportunity to do that,” Hickey said.
The position is good for making a difference in a kid’s life.
“If you want to live in this area, this is the best job to have,” Hickey said. “It’s not going to be easy, but there is a lot of opportunity to grow.”
Harmon agreed.
“There is something to this or we wouldn’t have stayed this long,” Harmon said.
Positions at the facility are entry-level. Those interested in applying for open positions can log on to http://www.in.gov/spd/careers/.