The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is proud to announce that the State Training School for Boys (STS) has achieved substantial compliance with all provisions of its court-ordered remedial plan. STS accomplished this large-scale reform in just over 4 years.
βI am grateful for the unwavering support and investment provided by Governor Reynolds,β said Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). βIowa HHS is eager to continue build upon this significant accomplishment by further refining the culture, practices, and outcomes for justice-involved youth and families in Iowa.β
The remedial plan was a product of litigation that began in November 2017 and ended with a judgment against the school and State of Iowa in late-March 2020. This litigation and subsequent remedial plan led to sweeping changes that overhauled the way STS serves justice-involved youth and families. Emphasis was placed on treatment and skill development to improve quality of life and outcomes. Youth now receive behavioral health assessments, evidence-based and trauma-informed therapeutic and skills-based interventions, individualized interdisciplinary behavioral healthcare, 24/7 crisis response, and transition and re-entry services. STS has reshaped how staff interact with youth, motivating and managing their behavior, while maintaining safety and security paramount to the facility.
Since Spring 2020, STS was subject to routine oversight by a court-appointed monitor and subject matter expert, who cited progressive improvement at each review period. The school now must maintain this compliance for a total of two years before the external oversight ceases. Iowa HHS maintains its deep commitment to serving at-risk youth at STS and serving as a national leader in this new approach.
βA special thanks goes to STS staff, as this reform would not have been possible without their dedication, compassion, and hard work,β said Cory Turner, Iowa HHS State-Operated Specialty Care Division Director.
STS currently serves 64 youth with an overall capacity of 80 beds STS is located in Hardin County, Eldora, Iowa and is 1 of 5 state-operated facilities under Iowa HHS.