Partnerships

Oakland County Children’s Village (OCCV) serves as the County’s secure juvenile detention and residential treatment facility. In alignment with Oakland County policies, licensing requirements, and best practices in juvenile justice, OCCV engages community-based organizations to supplement internal services through evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive programming.

This Partnership Engagement Protocol establishes the expectations, service priorities, and administrative requirements for external partners seeking to work with residents of Children’s Village. The protocol is designed to ensure:

• Alignment with Oakland County standards, safety requirements, and regulatory obligations
• Consistency in service delivery across all programs
• Clear accountability, coordination, and communication between partners and OCCV staff
• A continuum of care that supports youth rehabilitation, positive youth development, and successful reentry into their home communities

All partnerships must support the mission of Oakland County Children’s Village and demonstrate measurable outcomes that contribute to resident well-being, skill development, and long-term success. Community partners are expected to secure their own funding, maintain fidelity to evidence-based models, and comply with all County policies governing access, scheduling, reporting, and data sharing.

This protocol applies to all external organizations, volunteers, and service providers seeking to engage with residents at Children’s Village.

Purpose

This protocol outlines the key areas of support and evidence-based services expected from community partners engaging with the residents of Oakland County Children’s Village.

These services are intended to support rehabilitation, promote positive youth development, and ensure a continuum of care from detention through reentry.

Please note:

As part of our commitment to safety, all volunteers and community partners are required to complete and successfully clear the following background checks prior to participation:

• Criminal History
• Central Registry
• Child Protective Services
• Prison Rape Elimination Act Form and Training

All required clearance checks will be provided and coordinated by Children’s Village.

Priority Service Areas

Please note: All materials to be distributed – including, but not limited to literature, writing utensils, food and beverages, must be submitted for review and approval prior to distribution. If selected a list of prohibited items will be provided.

1. Mentorship

• Implement structured, evidence-based mentorship programs such as Credible Messenger Mentoring or Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring.
• Prioritize culturally responsive, identity-affirming relationships with consistent contact.
• Support transition planning by maintaining mentorship post-release for at least 6–12 months.

2. Job Readiness & Workforce Development

• Deliver career exploration, resume building, interview preparation, and soft skills training.
• Partner with programs offering pre-apprenticeships, vocational certification, and on-site work experience.
• Align with frameworks like YouthBuild or Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) strategies.

3. Academic Support

• Provide tutoring and GED test preparation aligned with Michigan Department of Education standards.
• Incorporate literacy for struggling readers.
• Reinforce connections to school of origin or receiving school upon reentry.

4. Social-Emotional Learning & Life Skills

• Focus areas that include conflict resolution, decision-making, communication, and empathy.
• Integrate restorative practices and cognitive behavioral interventions.

5. Civic Engagement & Leadership Development

• Engage youth in service learning, community projects, and youth advisory councils.
• Promote identity development, voice, and leadership using frameworks such as Positive Youth Development (PYD).

6. Culturally Responsive & Equity-Based Approaches

• Ensure programs are grounded in cultural humility, racial equity, and trauma-informed principles.
• Train staff on implicit bias, systemic racism, and inclusive practices.

7. Religious Programing

• Support residents’ spiritual well-being by offering inclusive, non-denominational opportunities of reflections, hope, and personal development.
• All teaching provided must be non-denominational and inclusive to all beliefs.
• Religious texts such as the Bible, Quran, or other faith-specific literature may be provided to residents upon request for their personal use. All instruction, programming, and teaching within the facility must remain non-denominational.

Implementation Guidelines

All programs must:

• Be evidence-based or research-informed.
• Provide clear outcome goals and metrics for evaluation.
• Align with licensing and safety requirements of Children’s Village.

Reporting & Evaluation

Community partners will:

• Participate in a regular meeting cadence as determined collaboratively with Children’s Village staff (e.g., monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly), to review service implementation and address challenges or successes.
• Collaborate in refining service approaches to improve outcomes.
• Identify the appropriate metrics and indicators that were utilized to effectively measure progress toward those goals.

Funding Disclaimer

Please note that Oakland County Children’s Village is not a direct funding source for partner organizations or service providers. While certain programming may be eligible for support through the Child Care Fund, this generally does not extend to one-time or special events.

We deeply value collaboration and encourage innovative programming that benefits our residents. However, all external partners are expected to secure independent funding for the design, implementation, and long-term sustainability of their services. Children’s Village may provide support through coordination, access to youth, and shared evaluation efforts, but financial support is not available through Oakland County Children’s Village.

Primary Point of Contact

In accordance with Oakland County policy and established administrative procedures, all external partnership inquiries and requests must be coordinated through a designated County representative.

All inquiries related to community partnerships, program proposals, service alignment, scheduling, implementation, and ongoing coordination under this protocol shall be directed to: