The Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln will open its doors in two months, but the facility does not look how most people would expect.

LINCOLN, Ill. (WAND) - In two months, the Monarch Youth Center will open its doors for 30 youth residents and 100 staff members. The facility, run by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ), is a secure facility for young adults in state custody. But it does not look like what most people would expect. 

The facility posts a bright, welcoming sign and entrance, with pops of bright orange, green and blue throughout the facility. Almost every room has skylights and windows, or access to a secure outdoor space. 

"Our mission is rehabilitative and our goal is to build youth skills and strengthen families," said Robert Vickery, the IDJJ's Acting Director. "So while kids are here because of a legal situation and this is a consequence, this environment doesn't need to be punitive. It needs to be developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed and healing." 

When designing the facility, the team had two goals in mind. One was to focus on mental health and trauma resources, and the other was on providing a solid education. 

The facility has an entire wing dedicated to learning, with classrooms, office space and vocational training areas. 

"When you look at how we integrate youth back into their communities, you definitely want to set them up for success," said Tyrie Fluker, Superintendent of the Monarch Youth Center. "We know that education offers them the opportunity to do that, not only education, but vocational programming. And so we want our youth to be able to integrate back into their communities and not come back into a youth center and or go into the Department of Corrections or something far worse.

Fluker said continuing education while incarcerated makes a significant impact on the chances of people re-offending. It also gives them a head start in the future as they can pursue employment immediately after release. 

Another priority is the mental health of young adults at the Monarch Center. The facility has dedicated spaces for group meetings and individual sessions with counselors, as well as places for case workers to work out of the housing units. 

"We'll have great psychiatry services, mental health counseling, in substance use disorder treatment," said Vickery. "Our goal is that young people come to us, they gain those skills, they grow, they heal and they're a different sort of person when they leave. And they're not going to continue to do harmful things, moving forward."

This is a large element of the facility's mission, amplified by the name chosen for the facility. The Monarch Butterfly is the state insect, but also a symbol of transformation and growth. The team hopes youth are inspired by the Monarch and the change it signifies. 

"We want to incorporate that idea, we transition youth into the facility to really tap into what are you rising above and what do you aspire to be," said Fluker. 

Vickery says this is the first facility of its kind in Central Illinois and will help local youth be closer to their family and friends. 40% of youth in IDJJ's care are from Central Illinois. 

Monarch Youth Center is hiring. For more information on the process and what positions are open, visit their website. 

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