Ohio Department of Youth Services

Ohio Department of Youth Services The Ohio Department of Youth Services is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS touches the lives of thousands of youth in Ohio.

DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10 to 21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. Beyond youth in DYS facilities and those on parole, DYS funds and supports 664 community programs throughout the state offering more than 88,000 youth (based on annual program admissions) opportunities and services to encourage positive change.

These range from prevention and diversion programs to residential treatment and community treatment in areas such as mental health, s*x offending and substance abuse. PROVIDING FEEDBACK: Because of our limited ability to adequately monitor and respond to comments posted on Facebook, individuals who are interested in providing feedback to the Department of Youth Services are encouraged to contact us via telephone at 614-466-4314 or by emailing [email protected]. Our core values:
-All people can change.
-Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated.
-Every life matters.
-We strive to provide youth everything they need to succeed.
-We want the best for youth, and we believe in families.
-We believe in being good role models. DISCLAIMER: Posted comments, images and links do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Youth Services.

🥳 127 REASONS TO CELEBRATE 🎉This week’s high school graduations reached the largest Buckeye United School District gradu...
06/12/2026

🥳 127 REASONS TO CELEBRATE 🎉

This week’s high school graduations reached the largest Buckeye United School District graduates on record to earn diplomas in a single academic year. Nearly 130 youth graduated from our facilities during the 2025-2026 school year, including 86 who earned high school diplomas.

Congratulations to all our young people and THANK YOU 🙏 to all our teachers and staff who helped them reach this significant milestone.

MORE DETAILS: https://bit.ly/3PW3bvS

🌟 STAFF SUCCESS STORY 🌟 In the modern world of corrections, there are a lot of tools required for the more than 1,000 me...
06/11/2026

🌟 STAFF SUCCESS STORY 🌟

In the modern world of corrections, there are a lot of tools required for the more than 1,000 members at DYS across Ohio. Behind the scenes, there are people who ensure staff have not only have the best possible tools but are also best equipped on how to use them. For us, Facility Resources Administrator Ken Berry is one of those people.

Whether it's hardware like body-worn cameras or radio-frequency identification badges, or skills and methods to enhance safety and security for staff and youth, he's constantly on the road providing resources to facilities.

Thank you, Mr. Berry, for your tireless efforts to strengthen fellow staff so they can be at their best for our youth.

DYS supports the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) as it helps communities safely reduce unnecessary you...
06/09/2026

DYS supports the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) as it helps communities safely reduce unnecessary youth detention while connecting youth to supportive, community-based alternatives.

Montgomery County Juvenile Court is preparing youth for the future through hands-on STEM programming at one of our community correctional facilities, the Center for Adolescent Services. Programs like Wi-STEM on Wheels builds real-world skills as it introduces youth to career pathways, engineering challenges, and science-based learning.

06/05/2026

After years of discussion, planning, budgeting, and design, we are building something that transcends brick and mortar. It transforms our agency's DNA.

The recent groundbreaking at the first of our new, downsized facilities is our biggest step to improve outcomes for staff and youth. Research has shown smaller environments with a modern design and comprehensive programming allow for more intensive, personalized treatment with improved safety for staff and youth.

Thank you to Governor Mike DeWine and our partners -- Bowen, Gilbane Building, Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Ozanne Construction Company, and The Village of Grafton -- for helping us create a vision that can positively change so many lives.

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/4g4kKUR

Recently, our Circleville facility had the honor of celebrating the retirement of two incredible team members, Norma Sta...
06/04/2026

Recently, our Circleville facility had the honor of celebrating the retirement of two incredible team members, Norma Stallins and Deborah Johnson. Both conclude an incredible 36 years of dedicated public service.

Throughout their careers, Norma (pictured) and Deborah have made lasting contributions to our agency, their colleagues, and the youth we serve. Their commitment, leadership, and compassion left an impact that will be felt for years to come.

We extend our deepest gratitude for their years of service and the legacy of hard work and positivity that they leave behind.

Norma and Deborah, we hope you both enjoy this next chapter and wish you all the best in your retirement.

DYS supports the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) as it helps communities safely reduce unnecessary you...
06/03/2026

DYS supports the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) as it helps communities safely reduce unnecessary youth detention while connecting youth to supportive, community-based alternatives.

Clark County, Ohio is helping youth build confidence through a local CrossFit program – BB Fitness 937. It offers structured workouts and mentorship to support positive growth. With capacity to serve up to eight youth at a time, participants can earn incentives like gym memberships to continue their progress beyond court involvement.

We recently celebrated an extraordinary accomplishment as Senior Juvenile Parole Officer Maria Kawental retired after 42...
06/02/2026

We recently celebrated an extraordinary accomplishment as Senior Juvenile Parole Officer Maria Kawental retired after 42 years of service!

Maria’s compassion, wisdom, and dedication have left a lasting mark on our agency and the many lives she touched throughout her career. As one colleague shared, “Her legacy isn’t just in the work she’s done—but in the hearts she’s touched and the hope she has inspired for years to come.”

Thank you, Maria, for decades of commitment, leadership, and service. We wish you all the best in this exciting new chapter!

06/02/2026

As we look back at Mental Health Awareness Month 💚, we want to highlight the healing power of music. We've been fortunate to have Conor Michael Smith, a dynamic musician from Cleveland, perform at all of our facilities.

Many of his songs capture mental health struggles he's dealt with throughout his personal and musical journeys. A big reason connected with us was to share with other young men that they're not alone & brighter days are ahead.

Thank you, Conor, for engaging with our youth, and to Dennis Castiglione at Power of Harmony Foundation for a partnership that shows how transformational music can be.

This May, DYS welcomed more than 20 new members to our agency! These people will serve in eight new roles across the age...
06/01/2026

This May, DYS welcomed more than 20 new members to our agency! These people will serve in eight new roles across the agency, committing to our mission to transform and save lives in a multitude of ways.

Congratulations to our new teammates, and welcome to the DYS family!

Address

30 W. Spring Street
Columbus, OH
43215

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+16144664314

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ohio Department of Youth Services posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Ohio Department of Youth Services:

Shortcuts

Share

Category