Department History

Year
Historical Event
1973
The proposal to build a juvenile detention facility is approved by the Linn County Board of Supervisors.
1974
The first director of Linn County Youth Facilities is hired.
1975
The Linn County Shelter Care facility opens at 1516 Fifth Avenue Southeast.
1976
The Linn County Juvenile Detention Center opens at the County Care Facility complex north of Marion on Highway 13.
1977
An exercise room is added to the juvenile detention building.
1982
Shelter Care moves to a new building constructed on 10th Street Northwest. Capacity of the program increases from 10 to 13 youth.
1985
The In-Home Services Program is started with the help of a Juvenile Justice Grant. The Peer Group Program, which originated in 1977, becomes part of youth services. The name is changed from Linn County Youth Facilities to Youth Services of Linn County to reflect the wider range of services.
1986
Youth Services becomes a division of the newly organized Linn County Department of Human Resources Management.
1993
The In-Home Services Program becomes certified to provide services under the Children's Medicaid Initiative.
1999
The new 35-bed Juvenile Detention Center opens on Walford Road.
2006
Youth services begins facilitation of the Linn County SED Wraparound Fund Program.
2009
The Alternative Detention Initiative and LINK Detention Alternative Program are launched.
2010
The Linn County Youth Shelter Program permanently closes
2011
The name "Youth Services" is changed to "Linn County Juvenile Detention and Diversion Services."
2011
LINK tracking services were implemented in Linn, Iowa, and Johnson counties.
2013
LINK tracking services were expanded into Benton County.
2013
A pilot program of individualized day treatment on a one-to-one basis was developed and implemented. The "Solo" Program is launched in Johnson County.
2015Solo expanded into Benton, Iowa and Tama Counties
2016LADDERS, a disorderly conduct diversionary program was developed in Johnson County
2016A part-time medical director was hired to enhance the medical services provided to residents of the detention center
2017Tracking expanded services into Johnson County
2018(In)Power, a gender-specific girls group, was developed and implemented in Linn County