2-20-2025 10:25pm

DYS Behavioral Health Grant Delivers Results for Warren County Juvenile Court

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo courtesy of Ohio Department of Youth Services

Story and photos courtesy of Ohio Department of Youth Services

WARREN COUNTY, OH -- The Ohio Department of Youth Services awarded a behavioral health grant to the Warren County Juvenile Court, which was recently used for room upgrades to the Warren County Juvenile Detention Center with trauma-responsive art to assist with youth de-escalation.

“As we continue to move toward a system transformation of being trauma-responsive and following those best practices, we are seeing the results that these investments are paying off in instances of de-escalating youth,” said DYS Director Amy Ast. “We appreciate the Warren County Juvenile Court for applying for this grant in order to invest in these positive practices that are now helping youth at their center.”

The court partnered with an artist to revitalize over a dozen spaces with vibrant colors and imagery, carefully chosen based on research demonstrating their positive impact on youth experiencing emotional dysregulation.

“The project exceeded expectations and has really been transformative for our youth,” said Warren County Juvenile Court Administrator Laura Schnecker. “We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and collaboration with the Department of Youth Services.”

The court noted several instances of either the youth acknowledging the new art or, in a certain case, a youth who was struggling with his emotions de-escalated after seeing the artwork.

The $36,000 grant that was awarded was made possible through funding from Ohio’s operating budget.