Good Morning,

June was such an inspiring month for our agency as we had some milestone achievements for our youth, including high school graduations, the Unity CrossFit Games event, and a baptism.

We also recognized some of our newest staff as they graduated from their preservice training and have now joined our agency.

Be sure to check out the upcoming calendar of events for our Buckeye United School District, and do not miss some of the available youth resources links listed at the bottom of the newsletter.

Thank you again for subscribing to "DYS Updates!" If you have any immediate questions about our agency, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (614) 466-4314.

Sincerely,

Springtime is full of new beginnings, especially for new graduates! This spring, DYS helped celebrate 50 youths who received their high school diploma or GED. Graduation is an impressive feat for any student, but DYS is especially proud of these youth for committing themselves to their futures, despite their often difficult circumstances. 

“This is a powerful reminder for each one of you that you are so much more than the worst thing you’ve ever done,” said DYS Director Amy Ast. “Earning your diploma or GED under these circumstances in this environment shows determination that very few can even comprehend.”  

Graduates from all three facilities, Ralph C. Starkey High School, Indian River High School, and Luther E. Ball High School celebrated alongside family, educational staff, and faculty on the momentous day. DYS is very proud of all the graduates and know that their high school graduation will be the first of many bright accomplishments. 

To commemorate some special moments, check out our highlight and animated slideshow videos!

From diplomas to barbells, youth from all three of the DYS facilities and the Juvenile Residential Center of Northwest Ohio teamed up with local, state, and federal law enforcement and first responders to compete in our first ever Unity CrossFit games! Throughout this intensive, physical fitness experience, the CrossFit teams compete in three different events. From 500-meter rows to nearly 500-pound squats, the teams came together and pushed themselves to their limits. 

But this event was about more than just physical endurance, it was also mental test. This trauma-informed approach to physical fitness was a chance for DYS youth to gain positive memories with law enforcement and embrace community support as they endured physical challenges. This event would not have been possible without the help of Expanding Horizons and CrossFit Crave, the Indian River staff, the Ohio Department of Public Safety (DPS), Ohio State Highway Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration - DEA, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships. 

Thirteen youths at the Indian River facility were baptized in June. Featuring numerous speakers and musical performances, the event was a special one for our youth, their families, and our educational staff.

Kimberly Dove, chaplain at Indian River, helped prepare, organize, and lead the event for the youth and shared her message on the importance of the occasion. 

"I remember going to a church and wanting to get baptized, wanting to change my life," Dove said. "I'm very proud of our youth because they didn't just do this, they had to prepare for this." 

One youth was especially excited to get baptized. He shared his experiences engaging in robbery and theft, feeling like he was lost in his own life. He decided to devote his life to religion and find a new path he could follow. 

"I feel transformed, I feel like a new person," he said.

DYS would like to thank all of the staff and faculty members at Indian River for putting on this inspiring event for the youth! 

June Graduation

The agency continued to welcome nearly 30 new members to the DYS family at the June Preservice Graduation!

Monisha Gray Crayton joins DYS as a Youth Specialist at Cuyahoga Hills. Crayton is a former DYS youth herself, and she believes it was her social worker, Miss Jackson, and the staff at Scioto in Delaware that pushed her to be the best version of herself. 

"I want to help others, and I understand what the youth in the facility may be going through," Crayton said. "I want to push them and maybe change their life, just like how I changed mine for the better." 

The DYS Training Academy goes above and beyond as always to equip new staff with the knowledge and tools they'll need to succeed.

Pup Patrol!🐾

Pup Patrol K-9 Sir Ivy and K-9 Winnie reunited for an employee wellness visit  with DYS staff at the agency's Central Office. 

Pup Patrol welcomed a new member, Bailee, a one-year-old female Berna-doodle. Bailee made her DYS debut during Employee Recognition Week. She joined Sir Ivy and visited employees during preservice training to highlight the importance of employee wellness and to welcome new staff to the team. 

Pup Patrol, with Sir Ivy and Winnie, also visited the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities as they hosted their agency’s “Bring Your Child to Work Day.” The building was full of smiles and laughter from kids and adults alike as the pups made their way through the building. 

DYS at American Legion Buckeye Girls State Program

Yolonda Frierson recently attended the American Legion Buckeye Girls state program at Bowling Green State University. DYS has attended in the past as the program is designed to provide female students completing their junior year with a learning experience in state, city, and county government functions. The young ladies, serving in their roles as delegates representing various roles in local government, also received a visit from the Governor.