Juvenile Justice Programs

Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) and YouthLEAD
HIRED’s Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) program is operated in partnership with Hennepin County. Enrollment is by referral from a correctional or probation officer, and is limited to youth in Hennepin County.

EJJ works to empower youth offenders to change their behavior by completing their secondary education and identifying useful skills on which to base a search for employment. The program’s three full-time counselors work intensively with approximately 120 youth enrolled in the program at any given time. Program support begins while participants are still incarcerated and continues into participant’s probation period.

Similar support is available through HIRED’s YouthLEAD program for youth in the Ramsey County corrections system, on probation, leaving correctional facilities, involved with gangs or at risk of becoming involved with the criminal justice system.

For information about the EJJ program in Hennepin County or the YouthLEAD program in Ramsey County, contact Jan West at 651-999-5662 or by e-mail.

Boys Totem Town
In addition to HIRED’s EJJ and YouthLEAD programs, the organization also offers job-search assistance to the youth at Boys Totem Town, helping them to secure employment as they transition out of the residence and into society. The services offered include classes on networking and building a résumé, as well as one-on-one job placement assistance and job coaching. For more information about HIRED’s partnership with Boys Totem Town, please contact Carol Aharoni at 651-999-5655 or by e-mail.

Ramsey County Drug Court
HIRED recently launched a new program to serve youth offenders in Ramsey County. The Drug Court program provides intensive job search skills, supported internships and job coaching to youth, ages 14–18. HIRED works closely with a team of three probation officers and a Ramsey County judge to develop and administer the program, which is funded through a grant from the Juvenile Substance Abuse Courts. For more information contact George Clabon at 651-999-5645 or by e-mail.