Department of Children's Services
Dr. Viola Miller, Commissioner
Youth Development Centers
Community Residential Programs | Youth Development Centers
Mountain View Youth Development Center is located in Dandridge, about 30 miles east of Knoxville. The facility serves up to 144 male juvenile offenders, ages 13 through 18, who are primarily from East Tennessee.
The youth at Mountain View benefit from a full range of services. It operates an accredited on-site school that offers course work leading to a high school diploma, vocational programming, special education services, GED preparation and testing, ACT testing and career counseling. Our treatment program offers case management and individual and group therapy.
As students work their way throughthe program they participate in various groups including Orientation, Dealing With Reality, Social Skills, Aggression Replacement Training (ART), Dilemma, Skill Streaming, Commitment to Change, Advanced Social Skills, Transition and Pre-Release. As part of its treatment program, Mountain View operates a 24-bed Sex Offender Program and a 12-bed Level III Alcohol and Drug program. We also offer on-site mental health services, family therapy, a round-the-clock health clinic, recreation services and religious activities.
Mountain View Youth Development Center is accredited by the American Correctional Association.
Contact: Philip Ellis, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
809 Peal Lane
Dandridge, TN 37725
(865) 397-0174
New Visions Youth Development Center is a 36 bed facility designed for girls between the ages of 13 and 18. New Visions offers services that meet the needs of teenaged girls. New Visions works hard to value the female perspective, to honor and celebrate the female experience and to empower young women to reach their full potential.
The primary role of the 70 member staff is to model effective working relationships with one another and to develop influential and positive relationships with the residents.
New Visions Academy is a fully accredited school program that offers Vocational Credit Classes such as keyboarding, career management and cosmetology. The Student Work Program includes but is not limited to flower arranging, lawn and gardening, knitting, sewing and culinary arts.
While the programs take place in a secure building, New Visions aims to provide an warm environment that focuses on meeting our young women's physical, mental and emotional needs. We also know that these girls won't be in the facility forever: The center concentrates on helping the residents re-integrate in their home communities.
For this reason New Visions has a Mother/Child dorm for young mothers to spend meaningful time with their children and receive parenting services all under the supervision of qualified staff.
Contact: Superintendent
New Visions Youth Development Center
3981 Stewarts Ln.
Nashville,Tn. 37218
office: (615) 532-5470
fax: (615) 532-5430
Taft Youth Development Center is located in Bledsoe County near Pikeville and serves 156 male students, ages 16 through 19, from across the state. Taft is the most restrictive of the Youth Development Centers as it serves older and more serious male offenders.
Typically, the youth at Taft have adult sentences, serious delinquent offenses, are serving a third commitment, or have exhibited severe behavior problems at one of the regional Youth Development Centers.
Taft does not provide services to youth who are mentally retarded.
The on-site school at Taft provides basic academic subjects, vocational training in ten subject areas, special education services, plus GED preparation and testing. The program options at Taft include individual and group therapy, alcohol and drug treatment by certified substance abuse counselors, a specialized program for violent offenders, and an extensive recreation and arts program. Taft's interscholastic football program includes competition with area high schools.
Contact: Bob Bowen, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
900 State Route 301
Pikeville, Tennessee 37367
(423) 881-3201
Fax: (423) 881-4617
John S. Wilder Youth Development Center is in Somerville, Fayette County, and has room for 144 male students. This program serves students primarily from West Tennessee. A fully accredited school, a strong emphasis on treatment, and extensive group and individual counseling are at the core of Wilder's teamwork approach to preparing young men to re-enter the community.
One of Wilder's most successful programs is the Behavior Management Unit that serves students with the most pronounced behavior problems. Students in the program have special mental health needs and are unable to control their behavior sufficiently in order to adjust to the regular treatment program. The unit provides a more structured dormitory and classroom setting. It also promotes a positive peer culture where both confrontation and commendation are consistently applied. Students who are committed for violent offenses, or who have displayed particularly violent behavior while at Wilder, are provided aggression replacement training. Older students are provided with independent living skills training.
A responsibility and impulse control program is used to help immature students learn to take responsibility for their actions and exercise self-control. A transition program provides an opportunity for students to prepare for reintegration into the community upon release.
Contact: Jane Hayes, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
P.O. Box 639
13870 Highway 59
Somerville, Tennessee 38068
(901) 465-7359
Fax: (901) 465-7363
Woodland Hills Youth Development Center is located in Davidson County. Woodland Hills serves up to 120 male students from Middle Tennessee and 24 female students from throughout the state. This facility is the only Youth Development Center to provide services to both males and females. Generally all youth at Woodland Hills are between 13 and 19 years old.
During the first two weeks of a juvenile offender's placement at Woodland Hills, a multi-disciplinary assessment is completed to determine the youth's treatment and security needs.
Subsequent treatment needs and progress are assessed on an ongoing basis. Woodland Hills offers group and individual counseling in the areas of substance abuse, aggression replacement, anger management, sexual victimization, sex-offender treatment, independent living skills, parenting skills and individual psychotherapy.
Contact: Albert Dawson, Superintendent
Department of Children's Services
3965 Stewarts Lane
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1297 (615) 532-2000
Fax: (615) 532-8402
