Shanna has worked at the Center since 1994 and she clearly has a gift for the work. “We teach them skills the world will expect – respectful language, appropriate manners, diligent work, Shanna said. “We’re not just a lock-up facility.”
On a typical day, kids rise at 5 a.m. and jog a mile before showering and having breakfast. They go to school from 8 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., with an hour or so for lunch. The late afternoon is a good time for meetings with probation officers and other adults providing care. After dinner, they are involved in group activities, discussing boundaries, practicing conflict resolution, preparing for job interviews, etc.
The Center offers schooling year-round, partly to get the children caught up, but also to keep them occupied. Even on Saturdays they have opportunities to engage in skill development in area like auto mechanics and cooking, which can lead to high school credit. The Center emphasizes the importance of high school graduation and prepares kids for the Hi-SET (high school equivalency test … the new GED), which they administer on-site. Nine JDC kids will receive high school diplomas this year. When the student is an American Indiansthe Center offers an eagle feather ceremony as part of the graduation ritual. The Superintendent of Great Falls Public Schools comes over to the Center to hand the graduate the diploma and make the occasion memorable.
The state just completed one of its regular inspections and once again Great Falls’ Juvenile Detention Center got a perfect score. “Ravalli and Flathead Counties bring their kids to us,” Shanna pointed out. “Why? Because we do the right things. We have drug-testing, high expectations, strong support, and year-round programming.”
“I love my job,” Shanna told Rotarians. “I love seeing kids turn things around. Even the ones who don’t are really appreciative of us. It’s a good feeling.” It's also a good feeling to know that someone as diligent, competent, and caring as Shanna Bulik-Chism is where she is. Think of the difference she’s making in our community!
