Juvenile Home Schools (JHS)

The ILC partners closely with the Family Court, Day Treatment Program, Juvenile Home, and local school districts to support the successful transition of adjudicated youth back into their home schools and communities. While many students have average intellectual abilities, most perform significantly below grade level—often due to chronic absenteeism and other life challenges. With a low staff-to-student ratio, the ILC provides increased opportunities for individualized and small group instruction. Students are placed in classes that align with their academic levels and social-emotional needs and follow a seven-period daily schedule. The program prioritizes improved attendance, academic growth, and the development of social skills to help students succeed both in school and beyond. A key strength of the ILC lies in its collaborative approach between case workers and school staff and its strong focus on personalized plans for each student’s academic and social development.

YCS serves students currently residing at the Juvenile Home, with enrollment ranging from just a few days to an entire semester. Upon entry, students are assessed in reading and math to determine their academic levels. The program is departmentalized, and students attend classes as a group. YCS staff work in close collaboration with Juvenile Home personnel and the court system to support each student’s unique needs. Given the diversity of the student population, staff meet daily to monitor changes and adjust programming accordingly. Individualized instruction is a core strength of YCS, with staff assessing student needs on an ongoing basis. Consistent communication with case workers and the court helps ensure each student receives the support needed for academic and personal success.

Hoops & Screens is the Work-Based Learning (WBL) classroom at Youth Center School, housed within the Juvenile Home Schools. The program helps students develop both soft and hard skills essential for future employment, bridging classroom learning with real-world job experience.

Our goal is for students to understand and practice key soft skills such as work ethic, communication, time management, teamwork, accepting feedback, flexibility, problem-solving, and working under pressure—skills that together form the foundation of a strong employee.

In addition to soft skills, students build hard skills like resume and cover letter writing, completing job applications, following directions, typing, and using math in workplace contexts. Students also receive hands-on experience with design software including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, CorelDRAW, Microsoft Word, and DesignShop to create logos and custom designs for clients.

Work-based learning activities mirror professional environments and help students:

• Communicate effectively (both written and verbal)
• Collaborate productively in teams
• Prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Show initiative and professionalism
• Use job-specific software tools effectively
• Apply classroom knowledge to real-world projects
• Mentor and support newer students in the classroom
• Students take projects from concept to completion. Starting with a basic design or idea, they create vector images, finalize colors and sizing with staff support, and seek client approval. Once approved, students prepare the materials, print and finish the products, check for quality, and pack items for shipment via REMC or UPS.

For more information about the products we offer, contact Eric Dial at eric.dial@kresa.org or Laura Draper at laura.draper@kresa.org. You can also browse our apparel offerings at hoopsandscreens.imprintableapparel.com.