Construction Begins on Illinois
Youth Center in Lincoln
Funding supports restorative facility for
youth in custody of Illinois
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[April 04, 2023]
Governor J.B. Pritzker announced construction will
begin on a new Illinois Youth Center for youth in secure custody of
the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ). The project will
align with IDJJ’s new residential, community-integrated, restorative
justice model. Funding is made possible by the bipartisan Rebuild
Illinois Capital program, the largest capital plan in the State’s
history.
"My administration’s landmark Rebuild Illinois Capital program isn’t
just about roads and bridges—it’s about creating a better future for
generations to come,” said Governor Pritzker. “The new Illinois
Youth Center will serve our state’s most vulnerable youth—and it is
exactly the kind of project we are proud to invest in. Youth in
custody of the IDJJ deserve access to the spaces and resources they
need to thrive in their own communities—and that’s what the Illinois
Youth Center will provide."
Situated in Lincoln, the new Illinois Youth Center will be at the
site of the former Lincoln Development Center (LDC). Funding
supports renovations of two 4,300 square foot cottages for housing
youth, with additional cottages for programming and administrative
use. Additionally, a newly constructed 27,000 square foot
multipurpose building will include educational, recreational, and
dietary services.
"IDJJ is grateful to Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton, and
Rebuild Illinois for supporting IDJJ’s 21st Century Transformation
through the restoration of the Lincoln Campus,” said Heidi Mueller,
Director of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. “This campus
will be the first Illinois Youth Center designed in collaboration
with IDJJ’s own young people and staff, and the first specifically
designed to support trauma recovery, restorative justice and
positive youth development. More importantly, the Lincoln Campus
will ensure vulnerable young people from Central Illinois remain
closer to their families and communities as they receive the
treatment and support that they need."
The renovations include upgrading mechanical, electrical, plumbing,
and fire protection systems, and providing improvements to sidewalks
and roadways. The scope of work includes a new athletic field,
outdoor basketball courts, and fencing. New security electronic
systems, including closed circuit television cameras, will be
installed on site. The upgrades will be a stark improvement to the
current condition of the Lincoln Developmental Center property,
which has remained vacant since 2002.
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The Illinois Capital Development
Board (CDB) will oversee the design and construction of the
Illinois Youth Center at Lincoln in accordance with the protocol
for state-appropriated projects. Construction is set to be
completed by summer 2024.
"Thanks to Rebuild Illinois, the Capital Development Board will
transform the LDC site that has been deteriorating for two
decades into an innovative and rehabilitative campus for
vulnerable youth,” said the Capital Development Board Executive
Director, Jim Underwood.
More than 40% of youth committed to IDJJ are from central
Illinois but are housed at youth centers in the northern and
southern regions of the State. The Illinois Youth Center at
Lincoln will establish the first youth center in central
Illinois, allowing families and community organizations to
participate more effectively in the rehabilitative process.
The Illinois Youth Center at Lincoln will provide secondary and
continuing education, mental health services, medical care,
therapeutic and vocational support, and substance abuse
treatment through licensed providers. The facility will provide
highly structured programming designed to build youth skills,
strengthen families, and promote community safety and positive
outcomes for youth.
“Lincoln's geographic location makes it the perfect place for
this facility,” said Lincoln Mayor, Tracy Welch. “Not only will
the new Illinois Youth Center better serve those committed youth
from central Illinois, and their families, by having them
located closer to home, but it will also stimulate the local
economy by creating new jobs, attracting new community members,
and generating additional revenue for the city that can be used
towards things such as road repairs and improved public
services.”
Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan
provides essential funding to support the revitalization and
improvement of Illinois roadways, state facilities,
universities, bridges, and railways over a six-year period. The
initiative seeks to address critical infrastructure and economic
opportunity.
[Text from file received] |