The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 organization, established in September 2009, with the primary goal to raise funds for programs that cannot be funded with taxpayers dollars. The Foundation is governed by a board of directors comprised of community leaders and business professionals who volunteer their services.

 

The JTDC Foundation is essential to improving the quality of life for its residents. Historically juvenile detention has operated in isolation and the community was kept at arms length. The foundation by its very nature bridges  the community and the Juvenile Detention Center; through its leadership, vision and resources, it offers an important avenue of opportunities with the community’s most at risk youth.

 

With the success of programs, funding and youth thriving and flourishing with in the facility the Board of Directors realized youth needed continual support once released back to their communities. In July 2013 the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Foundation broaden its mission to provide community- based resources and positive opportunities when youth return to their communities as productive violence free citizens.

 

MISSION

 

The Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Foundation (JTDC Foundation) enriches the lives of youth in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) to inspire them to reach their full potential.

 

The JTDC Foundation fosters community involvement in the lives of youth in detention, raises public awareness of their challenges, and supports the therapeutic goals of the JTDC with respect and without judgment.

 

The JTDC Foundation works closely with the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) to promote the physical, psychological and educational growth and development of youth placed in custody. We use a transformational approach that is guided by the Trauma Informed and Positive Youth Development evidence-based model.  We offer focused institutional and community-based support  that is designed to help youth make personal, societal, and educational responsible choices to reach their full potential.

 

 

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• On any given day, the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center  houses between 200 to 250, mostly African American, young minority males and females, ages 12-18.
• Recidivism rates are high. Some estimates are as high as 50%.
• Youth arrested for drug-offenses, the recidivism rate is even higher. More than 95% are re-arrested within 3-years.

 

Each time a youth goes into detention, even if just one day, the chance of him or her being detained increase!

 

GOALS

 

The JTDC Foundationʼs primary goal is to divert youth from the criminal justice system by helping them regain positive control of their lives. Secondarily, we work to strengthen the cohesiveness and connectivity of the youth and their families. Each time a youth goes into detention, even if just for ONE day, their chances of being detained is increased by 50%. More than 95% of the juveniles who have previously been arrested are rearrested within three years.