I recently read…

… in the local newspaper the article that Governor Daugaard had written about the Juvenile Justice system and his plans to revamp the system and reduce costs within the system. I applaud the Governor in his work to reduce unneeded expenses which hopefully reduces taxes. However, I would caution those who are interested in and voting on these measures to get all the information and facts before formulating a position on his proposals. Keep in mind my vote was one of many that elected him to a second term as Governor.

For a well-informed view of the issues it might be prudent to talk to those folks who are actually in the heat of the battle. Those that actually are putting these youth to bed at night, that are getting them up in the morning, that listen as they share their life histories, that listen at the numerous times when they share their deepest hurts and secrets with their groups, that read their journals, that clean their self- harm wounds, that get spit on, kicked and slugged when they are at their low times and in behaviors. Those of us that get called every name in the book and many that may not be and as a last resort we are the ones that must put them in a restraint for their safety and those around them. It is during these times that we hear the core issues, those things that have broken them to this point of behavior and pain in their lives. It is during these times we hear they do not want to go back to their communities so they have to face the gangs. It is there that many maybe most say they don’t want to go back to the dysfunction of their families if they have one to go to. It is during these times when the core issues come out. Many times the reason for their behaviors is they don’t want to leave the only safe place they have known. I might add the core issues go MUCH deeper than the surface behaviors. These kids are good kids full of potential but have had trauma in their lives that has seriously broken them to this point or there have been life issues that have allowed these behaviors to develop. If you were dealt the hand they have been dealt I wonder what your behaviors might be like?

As a Youth Supervisor working in one of the facilities that the governor says is producing poor results, I remind the Governor that many decision makers really don’t have all the facts as seemingly close as they are to the subject at hand. Even if you have been on the floor in the past, things are much different now.

Before there is judgment on the effectiveness of the Residential Treatment Centers that have been put in a very dim light, please get all the facts. We pour our lives into these kids to have in many cases their Government Agency send them back to the same dysfunctional home life and community that caused their issues in the first place.

I personally have been developing a much more effective approach to the continued healing of broken youth. In many cases, not all, these kids long for a functional family. In a recent assignment they were asked what their most important emotional need was. With very few exceptions, “to be loved” was the number one answer. Many of these kids have little or no family that can be a positive influence to them and are starved for someone to love them. They have never experienced appropriate love, only abuse, and far too often sexually abused. The breakdown of the family unit and our nation excluding God is the core problem of their issues.

With that realization we have put our energies into building a family type setting that could effectively address the needs of many of the youth that are coming out of the treatment facilities. These youth have the potential for unlimited possibilities if they are given the opportunity for further training in life skills within a structured mentoring and loving family environment. But it takes time and a steady resolve. Please look at our website www.destinycentersranches.org.

I believe you may also conclude that this approach working seamlessly with the treatment centers adds value to the youth-residents, the treatment centers that are getting an unfair review at this point, as well as to individual communities and the State of South Dakota. There are no easy immediate solutions. We are dealing with broken humans. You CANNOT put a time limit on their recovery. Leaving at risk youth in the community does not always work the best. Early and decisive intervention still may be by far the best choice.

Sincerely,

Lowell S. Peterson

Youth Supervisor