By Anita Weier
Northside News
Since 1995, boys who do not respond to sanctions-based rehabilitation services at Wisconsin’s youth correctional institutions have had access to treatment at the Mendota Mental Health Institute (MJTC) on Troy Drive. Girls have not had the same opportunity.
That is now changing, as construction has begun on an expanded facility that will serve girls and more boys. Ground was broken in March to start construction of a $65.9 million expansion and renovation of the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center.
The Juvenile Treatment Center is a secure mental health treatment facility that uses intensive therapy to provide care, encouragement, treatment and education to help young people overcome resistance and opposition to conventional behaviors and lifestyles.
Over time youngsters act out less frequently and become more available for participation in further rehabilitative services. These services include individual and group activities and classes focused on helping patients accept responsibility for their actions, learn social and problem-solving skills, resolve mental health issues, and build healthy relationships.
The theory behind the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center is that, instead of placing young offenders in a juvenile prison that often does not reform them, the center will be operated by psychologists and psychiatric-care technicians as opposed to wardens and guards. Staffing levels are heavier than other juvenile-corrections facilities, officials said. The goal is to help patients successfully reintegrate into their communities.
Research studies have shown that young people treated at Mendota commit significantly fewer crimes after release when compared to similar youth who did not have this access.
“For our patients, a gradual compassionate process of care is needed to help deal with trauma and other serious psychological disturbances,” said Dr. Gregory Van Rybroek, director of the Mendota Mental Health Institute and a developer of the approach used at the MJTC. “This construction work is our part of helping. We help set the conditions to help the staff to help the patients help themselves. Brick by brick today. Youth by youth tomorrow. It all connects. The credo of the Mendota Mental Health Institute is ‘How can we help?’ The expanded Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center is an example of how we can.”
Once fully operational in 2025, the new campus will provide greater opportunities for boys as well as first-time access for girls to receive the mental health treatment they need to thrive.
At 102,000 square feet, the expanded building will be four times the size of the original campus. Constructed by Findorff and designed by BWBR, the larger building will be able to house 93 patients ̶ 73 boys and 20 girls. Previously, just 29 boys were served. Patients will be placed in one of nine units based on security needs and responsiveness to the treatment program. There will be state-of-the-art spaces for education, medical and therapeutic services.
The MJTC will remain open during the construction process. A two-story addition to the existing facility with new patient bedrooms and program spaces will be built first. Patients will move to the new space while the existing facility is renovated. New administration and visitation areas will be built last.
Increasing the capacity of the MJTC is one part of an overhaul of Wisconsin’s youth justice system that includes the closure of the troubled Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls in Irma.