PACE programs: SCHOOL/ACADEMIC PROGRAMS PACE DAY PROGRAM
ADDRESSING SEVERE PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL/HOME/COMMUNITY: For youth that are experiencing significant problems at school including: physical/verbal aggression with peers or teachers; withdrawn; chronic tardiness or truancy; academic deficiency; major defiance (failure to follow classroom rules, complete work, etc.); destruction of property, etc. Generally, the problems extend to the home and the community and include verbal or physical abuse, running away, substance use or abuse, gang involvement, destruction of property, etc. The PACE Day Program is a gender-specific alternative education program with a skill building component for boys and girls in middle school or high school who are experiencing social, behavioral, or emotional problems. Services provided include educational programming, supervision, vocational, leisure, and social skills development, individual and family counseling. The program includes afternoon, evening and weekend programming. Eligibility:
Contact: For more information, please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700. PACE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM (CEO)SOLUTIONS FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL OR SEVERELY BEHIND IN ACADEMIC CREDIT DUE TO ACADEMIC DEFIECIENICIES OR LACK OF ATTENDANCE: CEO PROGRAM: A comprehensive academic program for youth ages 17 and older who are at least a year behind in school. As part of the Des Moines Public Schools Credit Recovery Program, youth are referred to PACE “Credit Options” to earn missing credits at an accelerated rate. In addition to academics, the program includes a comprehensive life skills component that focuses on money management, job readiness, social skills, and health and hygiene in efforts to prepare youth for self-sufficiency. A tracker/advisor provides individual case management and works directly with youth in planning for their future.
Eligibility: Youth must be 17 or older and enrolled in a Des Moines Public High School. Referrals are received from Des Moines Public Schools Administrators. Services are funded by Des Moines Public Schools.
Contact: For more information, please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700.
PACE PROJECT TURNAROUND PROGRAM DAILY SUPERVISION AND ACADEMICS FOR YOUTH ON SHORT-TERM (1 to 10 days) OUT-Of-SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS FROM ANY DES MOINES PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOL: Project Turnaround is an academic program providing on-site supervision, in lieu of suspension, that includes classroom teaching and computer-assisted tutoring for the length of the youth’s suspension. PACE caseworkers coordinate with the referring school to obtain the youth’s daily school work to prevent the youth from falling further behind. Eligibility: Must be enrolled and suspended from a Des Moines Public middle school. Referrals are received from Middle School personnel or parents. Funding is provided by United Way. Program hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Contact: For more information, please contact Project Turnaround at (515) 697-5729. COUNSELING/TREATMENT PROGRAMS PACE OUTREACH PROGRAM
Outreach Services are designed for children and youth who are experiencing social, behavioral or emotional problems. PACE provides skill-building interventions that alleviate behaviors and symptoms associated with a diagnosed psychological disorder. Treatment services include: conflict and crisis resolution; development of problem solving skills, and crisis resolution. Eligibility: In order to qualify for Remedial Services funding, you must have Title 19 (Medicaid) and approval from Iowa Medicaid Enterprise.
Contact: For more information, please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700. PACE ADDICTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM (SUBSTANCE ABUSE OUTPATIENT SERVICES) EDUCATING OR TREATING YOUTH WHO ARE USING ALCHOL OR OTHER SUBSTANCES: Addictive Services is an outpatient drug treatment program that serves males and females ages 12-17 who are experiencing problems at school or in the community due to substance use or abuse. Services include substance abuse education classes, assessments, and outpatient treatment (extended outpatient, continuing care, and aftercare.) NOTE: Substance abuse assessments are also available for adults who are referred by the Department of Humans Services or the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). Eligibility: Referrals are received from Juvenile Court, DHS, Polk County Judges and the community. Services are funded through Title XIX or private insurance; youth are NOT required to have system involvement. Education classes are held monthly and are available to the public for a fee. Contact: Outpatient assessments and treatment: please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700. Education classes: please call (515) 697-5700. PACE COURT-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAM (Diversion Monitoring Program) PACE EARLY SERVICES PROJECT (ESP) FOR YOUTH THAT HAVE COMMITTED A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE SUCH AS SHOPLIFTING OR SIMPLE ASSAULT THAT MAY ALSO EXHIBIT OTHER BEHAVIORS THAT PLACE THEM AT RISK FOR FUTURE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT. PACE Court-Based Intervention is an informal probation program for first or second-time offenders ages 12-17. Services are tailored for each individual and may include tracking and monitoring, evaluations, random urinalysis, skill building groups, and community service. Similar to an adult deferred sentence, the youth's case will be closed without further disposition if they successfully complete the program. The PACE Early Services Project is an informal probation program for youth 12 and under who are brought to the attention of Juvenile Court due to a misdemeanor offense. The foundation of services is prevention; caseworkers provide counseling and direction to the youth while also working with the parents in efforts to ensure that they have adequate parenting skills and are connected to needed community resources. The wave of the future, this program seeks to intervene in the child’s life at an early age. Eligibility: Referrals for both diversion monitoring programs are received from Juvenile Court Intake Officers and funded through a contract with Polk County Juvenile Court. Contact: Please contact the PACE office at Juvenile Court at (515) 286-3682 or the main number of Juvenile Court at (515) 286-3960. PACE SATURDAY SANCTIONS PROGRAM A CONSEQUENCE OR SANCTION FOR AT RISK YOUTH OR YOUTH ON INFORMAL PROBATION Recognizing that youth on informal probation are not eligible for the same sanctions as youth with formal involvement (ie: they can not be detained), PACE developed a SATURDAY SANCTIONS PROGRAM in an attempt to provide a consequence for youth that are not complying with their requirements. Youth can be referred at any time during the length of the probation and must complete a day of community service and pay a $20.00 fee on Saturday. Eligibility: Youth must be involved with Polk County Juvenile Court (formally or informally) or active in a PACE program. Contact: For more information, please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700. JUVENILE COURT SCHOOL LIAISON (JCSL) PROGRAM YOUTH WITH ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES, POOR ATTENDANCE, INAPPROPRIATE SOCIAL SKILLS, DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS, ETC. THAT INTERFERE WITH THEIR ABILITY TO SOCIALLY OR ACADEMICALLY SUCCEED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING: SCHOOLS: Hiatt, Hoyt, Weeks, Callanan, East, Lincoln, Hoover, Roosevelt, North, SCAVO and BRIDGES. Polk County Juvenile Court has contracted with PACE Juvenile Center to house several workers at area middle schools and high schools. The program is an intervention program that provides on-site supervision to youth that are under the jurisdiction of the court system or are considered at-risk for juvenile court involvement. Services provided include individual counseling, skill building, attendance and behavior monitoring, crisis intervention and family support. Eligibility: Referrals are received from Juvenile Court Officers or School Administrators. Youth must be enrolled at one of schools listed above. Services are funded jointly by a contract with Juvenile Court and Des Moines Public Schools. Contact: For more information, please contact the PACE Intake Director at (515) 697-5700. ADDITIONAL PACE PROGRAMS (Meeting identified community needs) PACE TECHNICAL VIOLATORS PROGRAM FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE VIOLATED THE TERMS OF THEIR PROBATION WITH POLK COUNTY JUVENILE COURT The Technical Violators Program is a 48-hour weekend detention alternative for youth who are non-compliant with the terms of their probation. Youth ages 11 to 17 will spend their weekend in a staff-secured environment and be required to complete community service projects and participate in accountability groups. Eligibility: Referrals are received from Juvenile Court Officers or Judges. Services are funded by a contract with Polk County Youth Services.
