JRC and the BGSU Educational Department partner together for expanding educational opportunities for the youth in placement. BGSU Professors as well as students from Bowling Green State University volunteer their time to assist residents with improving their reading and study habits, who based on need, receive one-to-one instruction and tutoring when available. JRC youth with who are identified with a reading goal are offered to participate on Saturdays and if requested, weekdays in 45 minute sessions. In addition to mentoring in November of 2023, the facility facilitated in conjunction with a BGSU Professor and students a Language Arts experience day where JRC youth experienced four educational workstations to enhance and motivate youth toward language arts. The stations included creating Haiku poetry, figurative language basketball, visual thinking strategies, and story comprehension relay.
Alliance of Therapy Dogs partnership is coordinated with volunteers from the Bowling Green and Toledo area. Alliance of Therapy Dogs have an international registry of certified therapy dogs and handler teams. ATD dogs are tested, insured, and certified prior to providing service. They visit the facility on a weekly basis with no cost to the JRC. JRC residents volunteer to visit with therapy dogs as a way to improve their overall physical and mental wellbeing. JRC is exploring how to increase this partnership as ATD volunteers become available in the Northwest Ohio area.
JRC has a partnership with the University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC) to complete neuropsychological testing for youth in programming. Youth are selected for testing by the JRC treatment team based on concerns that may range from cognitive delays, concern for potential Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, or to determine current neurological functioning. One youth attends testing per month at UTMC with a results meeting scheduled afterwards to discuss significant findings. Collateral information is provided by the youth’s Probation Officer, parents, and the JRC treatment team in an effort to best understand the needs of each individual. Assessment results are then utilized to inform treatment decisions, individualize specific needs, as well as prepare youth and their families for transitioning to life outside of JRC. UTMC testing staff also provide recommendations to parents or guardians to effectively manage their youth’s behaviors and specific cognitive needs.
JRC is partnered with the Center for FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) at Ohio Guidestone to address concerns with youth that may be impacted by prenatal exposure to alcohol. Youth are referred to the Center for FASD based on the BeST screening, parent or guardian report of potential alcohol use during pregnancy, and JRC observations of concerning behaviors. The BeST screening is provided to all parents or guardians of youth that are admitted to JRC programming in an effort to understand the behavior of youth prior to their placement. With this current partnership, JRC receives consultation services, staff training, and diagnostic assistance from the Center for FASD. Once youth complete the diagnostic process, they are then connected to ongoing services with the Center for FASD.
JRC and CrossFit Fenix, out of Perrysburg, have partnered to start a CrossFit program to workout with the youth three times per week. This program started on February 3rd, 2025, and formed through discussions with the Ohio Department of Youth Services, Homeland Security, the Wood County ADAMHS Board, and CrossFit Fenix. The goal is to assist the youth in improving their physical and mental health, as well as provide additional positive adult support. As youth transition from placement, and return to their home community, the facility will work to link them with their home community CrossFit gyms, where memberships are paid for on a monthly basis, based on youth attendance.